Photo Captures 'Kite's-Eye' View
VV
POUNDID 1651
104th YEAR
2 SECTIONS-30 PAGES
Th Oregon Statesman, Salem, Oregon, Tuesday, March 8, J 955
PRICE 5c
No. 346
A-Blast ' Shakes Earth for i 3 60 Miles
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Here Is a new ingle on the old standby spring picture of a young boy
: March. Instead of the usual ground up shot, this one was taken from the sky down, it wasn't taken
i bv 1 nassinr robin, however, but by Statesman Staff Photographer John Ericksen who shot from
; the top of McCulloch Stadium
made kite. (Statesman Photo).
Calm Returns
To Volcano
Struck Isle
I PAHOA, Hawaii UFi Relative
calm returned to the stricken east
ern tip of Hawaii Monday after a
week of volcanic eruptions, but au
thorities warned the danger was.
not yet over.
Rivers of lava which had seared
hundreds of acres of lush sugar
cane land and forests and raked
the edge of the village of Kapoho
had all but stopped. .
! The earth still shook occasional
ly but nothing like anxious Satur
day .night when shocks came at
the rate qf 1Q0 a minute. N ;
i Only one lava fountain east of
Pahoa still spurted SO feet into the
air, although others still bubbled.
' Authorities were considering the
possibility of allowing some of the
600 refugees - to return to their
homes. x .
i Sizing up the' situation, volcanolo
gist Gordon A. MacDonald said:
"Pahoa is still . not out of danger
but things definitely are looking
better."
U.S.JEnvoy
v Asks Meeting
With Bulganin
MOSCOW I U.S. Ambassador
Charles E. . Bohlen and British
Ambassador Sir William Hayter
applied Monday for private inter
views with Premier Nikolai Bulganin.
The requests are in line with ai
new policy initiated when Bulgan
in - received Swedish Ambassador
Rolf Sohmlmaih. dean of the diplo
matic corps, last Saturday.;
Personal contact between the So
viet government chief and the for
eign diplomatic corps were rare in
the days of Premiers Stalin and
Malenkov,
Dutch Ambassador Teixera de
Mattos planned to apply Tuesday
for an interview.
The ambassadors said the visits
to Bulganin's Kremlin office would
be "courtesy calls,
Max. Mln. Precip.
Salem
Portland
1
21
59
39
60
69
70
87
. 20
36
27
11
28
33
26
40
90
S
26
.CO
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
trace
trace
Baker .
Med ford
North Bend
Roseburg
San Francisco.
Los Angeles
Chicago ..
New York
Willamette River .6- foot.
FORECAST (from U. S. weather
bureau, McNary field.- Salem):
Increasing cloudiness this morning,
occasional showers this afternoon and
tonight. High today near 54. low
tometit near 37. Scattered showers
and artial cleariiu Wednesday.
Temperature at 12.-01 a.m. today
WU 39.
SALEM PaEClPITATlOS
Since Start of Weather Tear Sept.
This Tear Last Tear . Normal
. 21 Jl 33.74 , 30.41
ANIMAL CRACKERS
V WARREN GOODRICH
t 'u mi
. iflll.
J 1
at Steven Anderson Jr., Bush School fifth grader, and his home
.
TV Prizes Go to Disney, Gobel,
LorettaYoung,Dqnny Thomas
By BOB THOMAS
HOLLYWOOD (JF) Walt Disney, Lpretta Young, Danny Thomas
and George Gobel Monday night won top. honors in the seventh an
nual Television Academy awards. , 1
Disney, no .newcomer to winning honors he has 22 Oscars col
lected the Emmy for the best variety series with his "Disneyland."
The show also won an Emmy for
Stock Rise Not
Guaranteed,
Financiers Say
WASHINGTON W) Two West
ern stock market presidents torn
the Senate , Banking Committee
Monday there is no guarantee that
the present market boom will go
on forever. . . - -
have no crystal ball, said
James E. -Day of Chicago, presi
dent of , the .Midwest Stock Ex
change. "I do believe in the future
progress of business, but I want
to make it quite clear the stock
market, can go . down and , sub
stantially." .if.
And Ronald E. Kahler, president
of the San Francisco Stock Ex
change, said he thought that when
stock earnings fall to the current
evel of bond yields, people . "will
stop buying stocks and buy bonds."
Neither . day nor Kaehler,
however, expressed . any" . fears
about, the', state v of - the market.
Both said investors and brokers
are doing ""very well."
The two men. were called as part
of what the committee chairman,
JSen. Fulbright D-Ark), has de
scribed as a "friendly study" of
stock market conditions. Previous
witnesses - spoke glowingly of the
future -of the market.
Fulbright told reporters after the
day's session ended that he would
caUcdmment"atdr "Walter "Winchell
in for questioning, after the sched
uled end of the current phase of
hearings March 23, at a date to be
set later
Wihchell's name" figured in pre
vious testimony 'when it was said
stock tips he had passed out over
the air had 1 sent buyers pouring
into the market. He has asked for
chance, to .be - heard,
Also to be called later, Fulbright
said,. are; Sewell Avery and Louis
Wolf son,, currently vying for the
future . control . .of . Montgomery
Ward & Co.
Thief Decides
Tug-of-War
MONTGOMERY. Ala. lm It
was cold early Sunday when Mr.
and MrsV Billy H. Kelton began a
sleepy tug-of-war ovef a bedspread.
Kelton told police he felt the bed
spread .slipping and thought his
wife was pulling it. His wife
thought he was pulling it
Kelton finally opened his eyes
and saw the' bedspread sliding out
of a window. A burglar es
caped with it,
Oak Grove "Woman -
Killed by Tractor
OREGON CITY W Mrs. Laura
May Cranston, 50, of Oak Grove,
was kiDe'd Monday when a home-made
tractor operated by her hus
band ran out of ' control and
crashed into a tree. "
She was thrown to the pavement
in the mishap and was dead on
arrival at ah Oregon City hospital
The husband, Ralph Earl Cran
ston, 46, was knocked unconscious
by the crash.'.
flying a kite on a sunny day in
i ' -
the best individual program its
""Operation Under Sea." I
Loretta Young added to the mov
ie accent in the nationally televised
awards. She drew the accolade for
the best actress. The film veter
an, who stars on her own show,
is believed to be the first star to
win both an Emmy and an Oscar,
Miss Young's victory was some
what; of a surprise, and so was that
of Danny Thomas, who was named
the best actor starring in a regular
series. His "Make Room For Dad
dy" was also nameti the best situ
ation comedy series. '
Little George Gobel started off
the Show at the Moulin Rouge with
a bang; winning . a . highly ' popular
award as TV s most outstanding
newi personality.- He accepted the
award from veteran comic Jimmy
Durante. ;
Danny- Thomas was amazed at
his two wins. "This is impossible!'.'
he exclaimed. "I've done so many
benefits; now, one is done for me.
The biggest applause from the
1,500 TV notables , at the awards
event was for Dinah Shore, who
was;' named' the best female singer.
Perry .Como who was given .the
best male 'singer Emmy, was one
of" the . few winners ' not present.
He is. vacationing in Palm Springs.
Also absent was Jack Webb.'who
is filming in New Orleans. His
"Dragnet" was termed the best
mystery or intrigue series. .
Mental Illness
Major Health
Threat in U.S.
WASHINGTON Uh Mental ill
ness .is the. greatest single prob
lem in the nation s health picture.
a Hoover Commission, task force
said Monday. ' 1
The commission said more than
half of the -hospital -beds in the
United States are devoted to .care
of the mentally ill. It added about
250,000 new patients will "have
their first admission to such hos
pitals this year.
The commission urged the' ad
visory council of health, which it
proposed, study means of estab
lishing cooperative planning among
federal agencies providing psychi
atric care, and that ' the military
services and veterans adroinistra
tion give greater emphasis to pre
ventive psychiatric services.'
MRS. ROOSEVELT ON TRIP
NEW YORK Mrs. Franklin
D. Roosevelt left by plane Mon
day for a 24-day visit' to England,
France, Italy and Israel
Kiddies Parade
Next Saturday;
Prizes Off ered
- .-
! ' The annual Kids' Parade spon
sored by the Downtown Mer
chants Association will assemble
lat the capitol mall at 9:15 a.m.
:S3turday, . Chairman. Aleck Co
hen has announced, to compete
! for several hundred dollars in
'prizes. --. ; 4
f There will be three classifica
tions pets, costumes and bU
! cycle entries. Everyone up . to
and , including the age of 12 is
welcome to enter. Free ice
cream and a free noon me vie at
the Elsinore. Theatre are prom
ised participants. ' ; 1 ;
Officer Arrests '
Brother for Theft
From Gas Station
CORVALLIS (P) State Po
liceman Everett Hockema of
Newport had " the unpleasant
task of arresting his 17-year-old
brother, Virgil, in connec
tion, with the burglary of an
Alsea service station.
The policeman was called by
a third brother, Lloyd Hock
ema, who said he found seven
new tires in an outbuilding.
He went to Newport to bring
back Everett to make the arrest
Sunday.
About a dozen tires were
taken in the burglary of the
ervice station.
Virgil was held overnight in
the Benton County jail here.
Two other youths are sought
in the case, police said.
Feb. 25 Crash
On 99 Fatal to
Mother of 4
. Statesman Newt Service
ALBANY Mrs. Arlene M. Nes
bitt, 22-year-old Kankakee, -111.,
mother injured in a crash near
here Feb. 25, died Sunday in an
Albany hospital. ,
She was a passenger in the car
driven by her husband when any
it crashed head-on with an-
other 2 miles north of the :
Santiam River on Highway 99E.
Her death brings 1955 Marion
County traffic fatalities up to
four and to seven for the Polk
Marion County area. ' '
The other driver, Merrill Hof
ferber of Eugene and his passeng
ers had all been released from
the hospital. 1
Mrs. Nesbitt enroute to visit an
Albany relative, leaves her widow
er and four small children.
Dulles Report
Due Tonight
WASHINGTON (JB Secretary
of State Dulles stayed late at his
office Monday writing the report
to the people he will make Tuesday
night on the results of his defense
tightening visit to the Far East.-
The secretary, after winding up
his formal report to President Eis
enhower, passed up afternoon ap
pointments so he could devote the
rest of the day to writing his half
hour talk.
There, won't be time . Tuesday,
He must go before the Senate For
eign Relations Committee (10:30
a. m.) and the House Foreign Af
fairs Committee (3:30 p. m.)'. !
These reports at the Capitol will
be behind closed doors. His report
to the nation will, be recorded, and
filmed in the early -evening.. It .will
be radio-broadcast by CBS (7 p. m,
PST),-ABC -(7:30 p. m.- PST) and
MBS (8:30 p. m.. PST),. and. tele
vised by CBS (8:15 p. m, PST)
Officials who normally, know
what. Dulles . plans,. to,talk ..about
were at a loss to predict his topics
this time.. .(Story and " picture on
page .4,.Sec. 2.) ; , . , ; .
U. N. Truce Board
Censures Egypt
. JERUSALEM, Israeli Sector (J
The U." N.-sponsored Egyptian-Is
raeli Mixed Armistice Commission
Monday censured Egypt for "wan
tonly murdering' an unarmed Is
raeli civilian on Israeli territory
near the Gaza Strip border Feb. 25.
' This latest censure vote in a se
ries ot Armistice commission
meetings on the bitter border ten
sion in Southwest Palestine fol
lowed by only 24 hours a commis
sion vote condemning Israel for
"brutal aggression" against Egypt.
Pearson Offers Increase Tax Boost
Linked to Witholding Tax Increase
By HECTQR L. FOXi
Associated Press Writer
A new personal income tax
formula, with a 2 per cent with
holding tax, appeared Monday as
the Oregon Legislature began its
ninth week. :
The bill, by Rep. Walter J.
Pearson (D), Portland, former
State Treasurer, would hit earn
ings between $5,000 and $20,000
the hardest. .
Pearson's plan would remove
the present $600 exemption for
each person, and substitute a $10
tax credit for each dependent. Re
turns would be filed by persons
whose total earnings equal $500
multiplied by the number of de
pendents. The tax rate would be 2 per
cent on the first $3,000 of taxable
income, 4 per cent on the next
$3,000, and 6 per cent above that
Pearson said his formula would
raise $5,000,000 in the next bien
nium. That's the amount which
the House Taxation Committee ,6f
which Pearson is a member, says
the state needs. ; '
The committee tentatively plans
to raise . $39,000,000 by boosting
1,600 Families
Endangered
By Ohio River
CINCINNATI W) The Ohio
River crept Monday night. "toward
its highest level in seven years,
forcing hundreds of families along
its banks to find new shelter. -
American Red Cross officials in
Columbus, Ohio, said the Ohio has
reached "disaster' proportion.
Some 1,600 families hi Ohio, Ken
tucky and West Virginia have suf
fered damage, Mrs. Helen Evans
of the Franklin County (Columbus)
Chapter reported."
However, in Cincinnati Col. J.L.
Person, the Ohio River engineer,
did not view the damage as disas
trous. '
He estimated damage at several
million dollars but cautioned that
an accurate accounting could not
be made until reports were filed.
Pomeroy, Ohio, and Catletts
burg, Ky., were hit hard, he said.
However, he foresaw no great
damage unless there were a lot
of rain and none was sighted in
the Weather Bureau . forecast.
But, he recalled, the river is at
about the same level now as it
was during the early stages of the
1937 flood when the Ohio rampaged
to '80 feet.
The Red Cross has sent 21 disas
ter specialists from its Eastern
area headquarters to strategic
points along the Ohio in West Vir
ginia, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana
Ten shelter centers were dis
tributing food and clothing to 1,000
1,200 persons.
At Catlettsburg, 100 families al
ready have been evacuated and
another 200 will be moved out if
the river goes beyond expected
levels.
; The Weather Bureau in Cincin
nati declared Mortday night it was
a "major flood" i because more
than two-thirds of the length of
the, Ohio Was at least five feet
above the flood stages.
Clear weather brought hope the
bureau's new crest forecasts would
hold. In that event, .there appeared
to be slight danger of any major
raamage.
Tooth Paste of
Little Worthy
Says Dentist
PORTLAND un Dr. Daniel
F. Lynch, president of the Amer
ican Dental Assn.. said Monday
that tooth paste doesn't do much
good. -
"The American Dental Assn. has
no evidence of any tooth paste or
powder on the market that does
anything to prevent tooth decay.
And, if there was any evidence we
would have it," he said in an inter
view. -
"A' person Is just as well off
brushing his teeth with water as
he is with any tooth paste or pow
der on the arket," he added.
His advice to prevent tooth de
cay: 1. Brush your teeth three times'
a day.
2. Always brush from the gums
to -the tooth, never from the tooth
to the gums..
3. Use a dry tooth brush.
Asked what he used to clean
his teeth, Lynch replied: "I use
tooth paste , because it tastes
good." ' 'I
Lynch was here to address the
annual meeting of the Oregon
State Dental Assn.
The organization will ask offi
cials of schools over the state to
stop sale of candy and 'soft
drinks in public schools.
TO START TOWN
LAKE VIEW in K. O. and
Anna Llouise Buick of Klamath
Falls have filed with the Lake
County clerk a plat for a new
town 15 miles .southeast of Fort
Rock. The town would be named
Buick.
income rates in some manner.
The Democratic-proposed income
tax increases made by a 30 per
cent surtax would raise $22,000,
000. The tax committee tabled a bill
by Rep. Katherin Musa'(D), The
Dalles, to levy a 6 per cent tax on
gross revenues of utility com-
TUESDAY EVENTS -Sworn
testimony on charges of
irregularities in liquor commis
sion employes' work Senate al
coholic committee, Room 403, at
1 pjn.
Senate action, on bill to revise
public . employes' retirement sys
tem, 2 p.m.
Hearing on state educational
television station proposal Ways
and means committee, Poom 6, at
8 p.m. .
panies. The committee tentatively
is planning a 5 per cent tax on
telephone bills.
Up for consideration at an 8:30
am. meeting today of the tax
committee are two bills bearing
on taxation of charitable institu
A tom Flash Seen by 4
In Plane Over Salem
Monday's pre -dawn explosion
in Nevada, most powerful atomic
weapon of current tests, was
seen by four Salem residents
who awaited the blast in a plane
13,000 feet over Salem.
."I was disappointed the way
it was like a flashlight picture
so quick," said Edward J. Dyke,
1745 S. 13th St, who added how
ever, "It was bigger than I ex
pected.' Dyke, accompanied by his wife
and Loren and Don Croxton,
said the flash covered from 20
to 30 degrees of the horizon, out
lining the mountains from
Three-Fingered Jack to ML
Shasta. The color of the flash,
he said, was like the sunrise.
Nationalists Vow to
Defend Matsu Isles
By SPENCER MOOSA
TAIPEI, Formosa (JP) The Matsu Islands 100 miles northwest
of Formosa will be defended and are steadily being reinforced, jun
ior Nationalist officers declared Monday. V
Apparently this meant with or without U.S. supportjThe United
States has not committed itself publicly to defend tht islands 20
miles off the Red mainland. - , . ;
The officers told foreign corres-
pondents that strong fortifications
are being thrown up in the Matsus.
The islands arejeing laced by a
system of military roads.
The officers said the Matsus will
be built up to greater strength
than the Tachen Islands, which had
a garrison of more than 11,000 men
before they were abandoned. The
Matsu garrison has been estimated
at 5,000.
The junior officers, who channel
news to the press, took pains to
impart confidence that the islands
will not be abandoned. There has
been much speculation here that
the Matsus would be yielded.
The junior officers asserted the
United States had proved a gen
erous ally who understands the
military and psychological im
portance of . not yielding the Mat
sus or Quemoy, across Formosa
Strait.
Thus the Nationalists seemed to
have convinced themselves, at
least,-that U.S. help is forthcom
ing . in a defense of the islands.
The United States, however, has
given the impression this might be
the case , only if the attack on the
offshore - islands was part
of a
drive toward Formosa.
24-CentGas
Signs Increase
A cease-fire appeared to be
brewing in Salem's gas price war
Monday night as 24-cent gasoline
prices began reappearing.
The trend upward started Satur
day after several days which saw
gas go down to a low of 20-cents
at many stations.
The war Monday brought ' a
threat of 'closure to two service
stations whose manager said price
cutting, if not stopped, would force
his stations out of business by Wed
nesday or Thursday. The operator
blamed major distributors for the
price war. . '
Solons at Olympia
Miss Payday Again
OLYMPIA UR-. Some 250 em
ployes of the 34th Legislature had
another payless payday Monday.
They haven't .been paid since
Feb., 14 because the money to meet
their, payroll has been, tied up in
a wrangle between the Senate and
House over the makeup of the
Legislative Council.
tions. One is to clarify present law
and the other would tax charitable
institutions under the corporate
excise tax for any businesses that
are operated by the institutions.
A motion to table the bill in
creasing basic school support was
made at one of two Monday meet
ings of the tax committee by Rep.
Pearson who last week had tang
led with Oregon Education Asso
ciation representatives over the
high cost of education buildings
and other costs.
Pearson got a second from Rep.
Ward Cook (D), Portland, but
the committee decided 6 to 2
against killing the proposal. Mem
bers-indicated, however, they in
tended to hold back the . state
school support bill as long as
possible" while their tax program
is developing. ,
The education - association ori
ginally wanted the basis of state
support raised from $80 to$100
per school census child, but
agreed in view of state finances
to go along with a bill to raise the
amount to $90.
- (Additional legislative news on
page 9, sec i).
Dyke, a member of! Salem Pi
lots Association, ! said he and
companions flew around for
about an hour and 20 minutes,
getting up at 4:30 aj. to be on
time. Following the flash they
climbed another 1,50) feet with
hopes of seeing the atomic cloud
when the sun , came op, but
didn't. 4
"It was a little bit 5 more than
I expected," Dyke concluded,
"I'm glad I got ap early."
Among those who went to less
trouble to see. the flash was W.
T. Bell of Turner wio stood in
his yard. He described the blast's
appearance as similar to a big
flash of lightning. . 4
Tito Claims
His Nation Has
! 4 ; -
Atomic ABility
BELGRADE. YugaslaviaUH
President Tito said Monday Yugo
slavia has "ample raw materials"
and know-how to produce nuclear
energy for peaceful cses. He called
for destruction of nuclear weapons
and "active coexistence" among
countries of the world.
Tito made a 90-minute address
at the first session, of Parliament
this year. He was well tanned aft
er his. recent 74-das good will trip
to India, Burma, and Egypt.
His statement was the first offi
cial assertion that this country has
discovered within- Its borders the
essential raw material, presumab
ly uranium, for nuclear power. He
made no reference! to atomic or
hydrogen bombs, confining himself
to the tern nuclear energy.
It has been no secret the govern
ment has ' constructed an atomic
energy plant outside Belgrade for
experimental purposes. Tito gave
the additional icformation that
well-equipped institutes for nu
clear research have been set up in
Zagred and Ljubljana as well as
in the capital areaj j . v
Tito scored the j use of nuclear
energy for military! purposes. In
addition to demanding the destruc
tion of "all existing nuclear arms."
he' said efficient international con
trol would be necessary to prevent
the "misuse" of nuclear power.
. Tito said that ftvrmalization of
relations with Rassia and other
East - European Ciminform coun
tries with which Jugoslavia split
m 1948 was a contribution to
peace and stabilisation." He said
the claim in som$ of these coun
tries that Yugoslavia was confess
ing its "blunders'! - was nonsense-
Mercury Dip
3; ! i
On Forecast
Salem, with a Ugh of 61 Mon
day, enjoyed the warmest day of
the year so far bat it s going to
be slightly cooler today when the
high is to be around 54,
Showers are predicted for this
afternoon and tonight Wednesday
there s to be scattered showers
and partial clearing, j
The state highway; department
Monday warned metorists to carry
chains in Government Camp, Tim-
berline and Austia areas because
of packed snow aid icy spots
Icy spots were reported at Wil
lamette Pass, Eugene, Sunset
Summit, Meacham .and Seneca
Highest January temperature
in Salem was 55; kighest in Feb
ruary, 58, the McSary field wea
ther bureau reported.
General Taylor
New Far Eastern ,
U. S. Commander
TOKYO If) Gt nj Maxwell D.
Taylor Tuesday was appointed U.
S. Far East commander and head
of the United Nations Command,
effective April 1. I
A joint announcement in Tokyo
ana Washington said the com
mander of all 1 ground forces in
Japan, South Korea and Okinawa
was replacing Gem John E. Hull,
who. heads for: home and retire
ment ' f 1
The announcement said IX Gen.
Lyman L. Lemnitaer, deputy chief
of staff for plans and research.
would succeed Tajlor,.whose com61
mand includes the U.S. 8th Army
in Korea. i '
Test Observe
Throughout 11
West States I
LAS VEGAS. Nev. LB The big
gest blast of the new atomic test
series flashed forks of light visible
in a dozen states Monday, caused
an earth rumble 360 miles away,
and sent scientists and soldiers
scurrying for safety from the Ne
vada test site. '
The predawn flash of a nuclear'
device believed to be at least 1
times the strength of the standard
A-bomb was seen in the Black
Hills of South Dakota more than
800 airline miles northeast, south
of the border in Mexico, and hi
all 11 Western states. The fireball
lasted 20 seconds. ;
The shock caused a minor earth
quake scare in Salt Lake City. One
man in Murray, a Salt Lake City
suburb, reported the concrete on
his front porch cracked. .
Windows Rattle
Windows and plates rattle!
sharply in the Utah city a half,
hour after the explosion, which
came at 5:20 a.m., 20 minutes be
fore dawn.
But the only radiation threat
from the big shot which had
been nicknamed "Operation Jinx"
came to the testers themselves.
A sudden wind shift forced more
than 100 Atomic Energy Commis
sion scientists and 575 Army and
marine personnel to evacuate Yuc?
ca Flat 10 minutes after the deto
nation. Military maneuvers for the sol
diers and marines were canceled, .
They had taken the impact of the "
blast well-protected in six-foot
trenches 5,500 yards away from,
ground zero the 500-foot tower
from which the device was ex
ploded. No casualties were report-
ea.
Trigger Device
Speculation on the device itself
centered on the possibility it was
a new atomic trigger for the hy
drogen bomb. - . ;
Experienced observers rated the
bomb in the 30 to 40 kilotoo class. .
The mushroom of the nuclear
cloud rose to 40,000 feet, highest
of the series, and was being blownr ;
eastward across Southern Utaht '
Southern Colorado, a corner of '
Kansas and the Oklahoma Pan- ;
handle. It was expected to reach -North
Carolina on a front of per- .
haps 200 miles, within 72 hours, the
AEC indicated. ;
The Att gave its . assurance
that the radiation -fallout was
being closely observed throughout
the nation. . . ;
Oil Found on
Land of Man
In Death Row
JOLIET, HI. CUP)Harry Spe-
gaL 28, had his full share of irony
Monday. There's oil on his Okla
homa farm, but he's in Statevflle
Prison's death row awaiting execu
tion. However, Spegal had grounds for
hoping the oil might save his life.
His court-appointed attorney!
C. E. Tate, said the money could
be used to appeal Spegal's casi
all the way to the U.S. Supreme
Court.
Spegal, a former Champaign,
m., taxi driver, was listed as a
pauper when he was convicted and
sentenced to death Oct. 14, 1953,
on charges of strangling a six
year old boy in a Champaign room
ing house.
The case was appealed to the
State Supreme Court with Cham
paign. County footing the bill be
cause Spegal was supposed to be
broke.
His only sizeable property , was
a 40-acre UKianoma . tract wnicn
he had inherited ' along with four
other -persons. The land was be
lieved to be worthless. .
Then, this weekend, Tate dis
closed that an oil strike had been
made on the land by the Sinclair
Refining Co. One well was flowing
and the company plans to sink
three more, Tate said.
If the state Supreme Court turns
down Spegal's appeal, he said, the
oil money could be used to . take
the case to the U.S. Supreme
Court. - - -
Spegal is staking his bid for free
dom on grounds that the convic
tion was based on his admission
of "facts in the case." buf that
no body was ever produced.-
In any case, the lawyer said.
he will advise Spegal to put first
things first.
I will advise him to consider
wffl." Tate said.
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