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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 26, 1950)
Paragon Guilty of Declared Lying; Medford Tmbune United Press Full Win United Press Full Lease Wire Faces Prison Term 45th Year. 16 Pages MEDFORD, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1950 NO. 30 "At Lb Ail Explosion Wrecks Apartment House; No Known Deaths Dry Boiler Blows Up; Gas Main Ruptured Seattle, Wash., Apr. 26 U.R) Twenty persons were injured 'hen an explosion wrecked a modernistic, four-story suburban apartment building early today but a search revealed no dead. Fire Chief William Fitzgerald said the blast resulted when a dry boiler blew up and ruptured a gain main causing it to ex plode. Two distinct explosions were reported by residents. Damage Extensive Mrs. Oren Diamond, owner of the apartment house, Linnea court, said damage would exceed S275.000. She said approximately 100 persons were living in tne building. Police Captain Richard Ma honey said 20 persons were in jured. Eight of them were hos pitalized. Three were treated at hospitals and released. Nine oth ers were given first aid by am bulance crews. Mrs. Sylvia Jones, whose aDartment was directly over the boiler room, suffered a severed ipinal cord. Her husband also was in "unsatisfactory" condi tion with both legs broken. Their three-year-old daughter, Kath leen, was hospitalized with burns but attendants said her condition was "satisfactory." Coroner's deputies said no one was known dead. Search Halted A search of the ruins was halt ed for five hours when illumi nating gas threatened a second explosion. Later firemen wear ing gas masks went into the building to look for possible vic tims.. The force of the blast blew a wooden door through the brick side of the building. Windows were broken in other dwellings four blocks away. The rear of the U-shaped 34 unit apartment was buckled. Bed covers flapped in the breeze out of rear rooms, laid bare by the crumbling walls. Draft Law Extension Will Be Requested Washington, Apr. 26 U.P.) Chairman Carl Vinson of the house armed services committee said today that in view of wor sening world conditions he will ask congress to extend the pre sent draft law without change for two years. The George democrat, a key figure in congressional defense matters, said he will lay the pro posal before his armed services committee next week. He said the committee's previ ous plans to let the draft die but continue registration and classi fication now must be abandoned. The committee never had ap proved the registration plan formally, but sentiment had been overwhelmingly for it. The pre sent draft law expires June 24. Nobody has been drafted since January, 1949. Siskiyou County Gets New Prices on Milk Sacramento, Apr. 26 'U.R) New minimum retail prices for milk will go into effect in Siski you county May 1. but they won't change the prices already being paid, the state bureau of milk control announced today. The new minimums were 20 cents a quart for milk testing 3.5 to 3.8 per cent buttcrfat. the most common in the area; 21 cents for 3.8 to 4.2 milk, and 22 cents for milk testing over 4.2 per cent. Prices would be the same in stores or delivered. Austrian President Quits Because of Health Reasons Budapest, Hungary, Apr. 26 U.R) Arpad Szakasits, 65, chair man of the communist-dominated workers' party, has resigned as president of Hungary because of his health, it was announced todav. All morning papers published a ' government announcement saying lhat Szakasits' letter of resignation, containing a single sentence, was presented to the ,prpkcr of the Hungarian parlia ment under last Monday's date. The letter mentioned only "reasons of health" as the basis for the president's resignation. The announcement said that Sandor Ronai. minister of for eign trade and member of the Politburo of the workers party will be proposed as azakasiU' Ml i i A 1 1 ... hV fl (Acme TelephotoJ PRESIDENT VIEWS LATEST WAR MACHINES - secretary of Army Frank Pace (right) presents to President Truman a minia ture tank shortly after the President's arrival at Ft. Benning, Ga, to view some of the nation's latest war machines in action. The President, who fired plenty of 75's as an artillery battery commander In World War I, climaxed his visit to Benning by partclpating in the firing of a field artillery battery consisting of six 105-mm. guns. Committee Votes Cut On Admission Taxes Washington, Apr. 26 (U.R) House tax writers tentatively agreed today to cut movie, thea ter and sporting events admis sions taxes from the present 20 per cent to 10 per cent. ; The house ways 'and means committee, considering Presi dent Truman's tax revision pro gram, also reconsidered an earl ier decision and tentatively vot ed to cut the tax on luggage from 20 per cent to 10 per cent. Subject to Approval These and all other decisions which the committee has made to date are subject to final ap proval later. As of the moment, the committee has approved cuts totaling S575 million, which is about $385 million more than the cuts recommended by Presi dent Truman for the specific items considered. Committee staff experts said Gebhard Indictment Found Faulty by Court Enterprise, Ore., Apr. 26 (U.R) The manslaughter indictment filed here against Allen Gebhard, Medford cabinet worker, was successfully attacked by defense attorneys in court here this week. Edward C. Kelly. Medford lawyer, who with S. H. Bunlcigh, LaGrande, is representing Geb hard, contended that the indict ment failed to include a specific allegation of negligence on the part of Gebhard in the elk-hunting accident which resulted in the death of Reed Wade last De cember. District Attorney Keith Wil son of Wallowa county said the indictment will have to be re written and resubmitted to the grand jury. Gebhard was slated to go on trial Tuesday, but the hearing has been postponed un til the redrawn indictment can be presented. SMUDGE MODERATE The temperature dropped to 27 degrees in the coldest spots here last night but County Agent C. B. Cordy said there was probably no additional damage to the valley's fruit crop other than that sustained in some un heated orchards Monday morn ing. There was moderate gen eral smudging last night. successor by the communist front group dominated people oi parties. The workers party, which Szakasits headed, was formed in August of 1948 by a merger of the communist party and the so cial democratic party. Both Szakasits and Ronai were members of the social dem ocratic party. Szakasits was chairman of the party at the time of the merger. Immediately after the merger he was elected to the presidency by the na tional assembly for a four-year term. Szakasits succeeded Zoltan Tildy. who resigned after his son-in-law was arrested on charges of 'treason and espionage." reduction in admission taxes would cost the government $189 million in revenue. The president had asked that the admission tax be left un changed The tax the government, col. lects from persons who go to the movies, football games and other such events is one of the largest excise tax producers on the statute books. The federal government now collects an estimated $295 mil lion a year from this source. Charity Events Exempt The committee voted to ex empt from admission taxes most events sponsored by non-profit educational and religious organ izations. But this would not in clude college and university football games and other colle giate sports events. In other tentative decisions to day the committee: 1. Cut the rate of tax on matches from two cents per thousand to one cent per thous and. 2. Exempted electric air space heaters from the 10 per cent tax on electrical appliances. 3. Decided to make commodi ties sold at auction subject to the regular excise taxes except where the auction is conducted by the legal guardians or ex ecutors of an estate. 4. Exempted photographic ap paratus and films used for busi ness purposes from the excise tax, which the committee has voted to fix at 10 per cent. Fear Spreads for Safety of Youngster Corvallis, Ore., April 26 UR Fear spread today for the safety of seven-year-old Tommy Pick ett as a widening search by more than 150 officers and volun teers failed to produce any clue to his three-day disappearance. The child, son of Mr. and Mrs. Laylon Pickett, disappear ed Sunday while his family picnicked near a mill race at the Chapman manufacturing com pany. Stale police from Salem, Ore., were investigating a report that C. C. Clay, Florence, saw the child walking along the highway about 27 miles from Corvallis Monday. Clay reported the inci dent after hearing radio broad casts last night. YOUNG DEMOS TO MEET Young democrats are invited to meet today at 7:30 p.m. on the mezzanine fioor of the Medford hotel for the purpose of reviv ing their Jackson county organi zation. The meeting, at which James J. Boyle will act as tem porary chairman, is open to all democrats aged 14 to 40 years, according to Boyle, who especi ally welcomes war veterans. MEDIATOR DUE Guy V. Lintner. a mediation officer wilh the Portland office of the national labor relations board, was expected to arrive in Medford early this afternoon to assist in wage negotiations be tween two Medford bakeries and members of the Bakers and Confectioners union. UUI Owen Lattimore Witnesses Fail To Attend Hearing Financial 'Angel' To Testify Friday Washington, Apr. 26 (U.R) Three witnesses in the Owen Lattimore case failed to appear today before a senate sub-committee investigating charges of communism in the state depart ment. A fourth, Frederick Vander bilt Field alleged financial "an gel" for pro-communist causes accepted a subpoena and will testify Friday. Hearing Cancelled After the scheduled witnesses failed to appear, senators can celed today's scheduled public hearing on Sen. Joseph McCar thy's charges that Lattimore is a communist spy. Here's how it happened: 1. John J. Huber, who failed to show up last night despite a subpoena, telephoned his wife at Mt. Vernon, N.Y., reporting that he had "blacked out" in Wash ington and had returned to New York. 2. Senate Sergeant - at - Arms Joseph C. Duke reported that he had been unable to serve a sub poena on Earl Browder, ex-boss of American communists. The committee wanted to question Browder today. Unable To Accept 3. An attorney for Jack Sta chel. convicted communist party leader, telephoned the commit tee that Stachel would be un able to accept a subpoena be cause he is confined to his home with a heart attack. Committee Counsel Edward P. Morgan told reporters that mem bers would meet later today to consider what to do about Huber, a former FBI informant who re- ported on communist party, aci- Huber disappeared from Wash ington's swank Carlton hotel yesterdav. There had been some speculation that he might have been the victim of foul play." Morgan said Huber tech nically was "in contempt of the senate committee" and that steps might be considered to force his presence. 'Teenicide' Leads To Arrest of Boys Salem, Ore., Apr. 26 UR) The kind of reckless driving that has been described as "teen icide" caused the arrest of two 14-year-old boys here Tuesday. The officer who spotted the youths, gave this graphic de scription: "One was driving and the other was in the back scat. The driver opened the door on the right side of the car, climbed on the running board and got into the back seat. At the same time the boy in back opened the left hand back door, walked on the running board to the front door and took over the driving. "It was a continuous merry-go-round, one change after the other, and all at a speed of about 30 miles an hour." The officer followed the boys to another street, where they skidded around a corner and al most crashed head-on into an auto operated by an elderly woman. Suffering Mounts In Flooded Region Grandforks. N.D., Apr. 26- IU.R) Suffering and property damage mounted in the North Dakota-Minnesota flood zone to day, and a fresh blanket of snow threatened to prolong the Red river's disastrous rampage. Flood conditions spread south ward through the midwest. Seri ous flooding was reported along the Missouri river between Ne braska and Iowa, and minor flood conditions cropped up In Indiana and Illinois. The number of person? affect ed by flooding in North Dakota and Minnesota rose to 25.000. the Red Cross reported. About 14.000 were driven from their homes nr inconvenienced in North Dakota, and nearly 11,000 in Minnesota. Hundreds of others were routed or Isolated by the Red river in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Damage estimates ran into the. millions of Hollars, ' WEATHER FOREC AST: Mntlly tlolidr nlfht htromltn purtlr floudy Thurtday. Warmer tonlfht. Tmp. nithril Vfilrdr 14 l.owttt Ihlf Mornlni ..... 11 Mil si i n i -1 ' N . , (Arm T eir photo 0 KILLS MATE - Mrs. Martha Hochfeld, 33, the mother of five children, sits in New York police station, charged with murdering her husband. Police said she ad mitted killing her husband with a wooden end table after money argument. Woman Takes Own Life; Had Been III Mrs. Belva L. Farster, 65, of 41 Rose avenue, apparently took her own life by hanging in the closet of her home yesterday, Coroner Carlos Morris said to day. She reportedly had been in ill health for many years. According to a police report the woman was found by her husband, Ord P. Farster, who had been away frun the home for a short while. A doctor un successfully applied artificial respiration. Services Friday The body was taken to Burns today by the Conger-Morris fu neral home for services and in terment there Friday afternoon. Mrs. Farster was born in Cori don, Ind., Feb. 23, 1885. and moved to Medford from Burns last August. Other survivors are five chil dren, Mrs. Athelda Bradshaw, Stratton, Colo.: Mrs. Thelma Halvcrson, Medford: Burdettc, Burns; Baxter, Medford and Bruce, Hines, Ore.: six grand children, and one brother. Curry McMonigle, New Albany, 111. Air Defense Area Slaied in Northwest Boise, Ida., Apr. 26 tU.R) The air force today gave notice that it has activated an air de fense area in the northwest United States effective May 5, and that pilots failing to follow certain procedures may be inter cepted by fighter planes. H. M. Bray, chief communi cator of the Boise civil aeronau tics radio station, announced that he had received warning from the CAA's regional office In Se attle that the area would be es tablished. The northwestern air defense zone will further cloak the huge atomic installation at Hanlord with a zone in which U. S. fight er planes may Intercept and in an extreme situation force down unidentified aircraft. fire Hungry Douks Start Blaze in House Krestova. B. C. Apr. 26 U.R. Fire hungry Doukhobors spread out today for the first time in the current nude arson raids and set ablaze a large house in near by Shoreacres. Shoreacres was the scene of a six weeks radical Sons of Free don fire and nude demonstra tions in 1047 when half of it was destroyed. The town of an esti mated 500 Doukhobors is three and a half miles from Krestova. The fire was blamed by police on radicals who were sneaking through a police cordon around Krestova at nights. Fifteen buildings have now been gutted since lest Wednes day. Habitual Criminal Act Sends Man to Prison Albany, Ore., Apr. 26 U.R) Fifty-nineyearold Albert L. Moore today began a life term in the Oregon stale penitentiary under the habitual criminal act. In January, 1940, outgoing Cov. John Hall commuted Moore's 10-ycar burglary sen tence afle an affidavit from a "responsible physician" slated ! t.I Moore was In poor physical condition but would live longer if h won bis freedom. House Committee Approves Millions In Defense Funds. Money To Be Used For More Warplanes Washington, Apr. 26 (U.R) The house appropriations com mittee today approved $350 mil lions in extra defense funds to be used mainly for buying more warplanes. The committee acted barely two hours after Defense Secre tary Louis Johnson told subcom mittees that the extra money is necessary at this critical world period. Johnson also warned that the world situation will require ad ditional defense spending in fu ture years. Didn't Get All The new money includes $200 million for air force planes, $100 million for navy aircraft and $50 million to convert naval vessels for anti-submarine war fare Johnson didn't get immediate ly all he asked for this morning. Johnson asked for $553 million. The other $203 million would have restored a cut previously made in the defense department appropriation by the committee. Chairman Clarence Cannon said the committee will consider la ter whether to put back any or all of that amount. Would Raise Total The $350 million addition ap proved by the committee would raise the defense establishment's total for 12 months starting July 1 to $14,261,127,300. Of the new amounts the air craft procurement funds are in contract authority and the anti submarine fund Is in new cash. Johnson also asked for diversion of $24 million from other money to build tanks. Cannon said "it is hoped" that the extra mcney will be made up by savings elsewhere. Two Additional Recall Petitions Filed Here Two additional recall peti tions, making six filed so far, have been left at the county clerk's office by the Ashland city recorder as part of the current recall movement directed against Mayor Thomas Williams and Councilman Elmer Sheldon of Ashland. The recall committee has al ready filed petitions with 687 valid signatures against the may or and 6B4 against the council man. Only 493 are needed to force a recall election against the two. Approximately 25 sig natures may be validated on each of the two papers filed today. Ashland City Recorder John Austin said yesterday that the two officials now have five days in which to resign, but both men have stated they will stand on the results of the recall election, expected to be called May 19 In coincide with the primary election. Effort Being Made To Find Man's Body Grants Phs, Ore., Apr. 26 U.RI An all-out effort to recov er the body of Walter Crouse Sr. from the Rogue river will he made tomorrow. Grants Pass Irrigation District Manager Ted Hon said today. Hon asked all residents who can spare the time to line the hanks of the river from Grants Pass to Savage Rapids dam to look for Crousc's body. Crouse was believed drowned in a boat ing accident April 18. Hon said the pond above the dam will be lowered to provide downstream flushing which is hoped will bring Crouse's body to the surface. Bullet-Marked Baltic Offers Stockholm, Sweden, Apr. 26 (U.R) A bullet-marked airplane landing wheel fished up In a Bal tic sea salmon net west of Lat via offered American authori ties a new cine today to the fate of an American navy Privateer believed shot down by the Rus sians. The wheel was described by customs authorities on the Swed ish island of Gotland as about a yard in diameter, possibly the size of a tuil wheel on the type of plane which disappeared April 8 with its 10-man crew. The wheel was equipped with a Firestone tire. It bore an Eng lish language inspection plate on the shock absorber dated March, 1948. Washington, Apr. 26 (U.R) A federal court jury today con victed John Maragon on two of three counts of lying to a senate investigating committee. Maragon, who used to make himself at home in Maj, Gen. -Harry Vaughn's White House office, was found innocent on the third count. The jury deliberated one hour and 36 minutes before return ing its verdict. Maragon faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. The penalty for each count is two to 10 years. No date was set for sentencing. Federal Judge Jennings Bailey Immediately committed Maragon to jail after denying a defensa request that the 56-year-old defendant be freed on bail. The jury found Maragon guilty of lying when he told sena tors investigating "live per centers 1. He had onjy one bank ac count that in a Washington bank in 1945 or 1946. 2. That he had quit his job with the Chicago perfume com pany when he undertook a mis sion to Greece for the slate de partment in 1945 and 1946. He was acquitted of lying when he said that from 1945 to 1949 he negotiated no govern ment business for private firms and received no fees for such business. The one-time Kansas Cily bootblack who was described by his attorney as a "peanut vendor among princes," was tried lor perjury in connection with tes timony he gave at a secret ses sion of Ihe senate "five per cent er" investigating committee last July 28. The committee was in vestigating influence-peddlers in Washington persons who prom ise to gVt government contracts for a fee. Defense Attorney Irvin Gold stein first announced he would file a motion for a new trial within 14 days. Later, however, he said he would submit the mo tion sooner because Maragon now is in jail. Serious Burns to Man Result from Blazing Mattress William L. Kearney, 33, of 375 Vi South Central avenue, was seriously burned on the left arm and side of the body early today when his mattress caught on fire. Firemen said he apparently had been smoking in bed. Kearney was living in a small house at the rear of 375 South Central, and the fire was dis covered bv Don Cruse and John Monroe, who lived in the front house. The two merrcalled the fire department and then dragged Kearney from the blazing room. The alarm was given at 4:4Z a. m firemen said. The fire was quickly extinguished. Condition 'Fair' Kearney was taken to the Community hospital by Perl am bulance and was said by the at tending physician to be in "fair" condition today. The doctor re oorled that his arm and side had third degree burns and that it will be several days before the outcome of (he Injuries can be determined. It was thought for a time that amputation of the arm might be necessary. Kearney was employed oy Veneer Products company, but had been In ill health for about a week. Police and firemen spec ulated that he may have been un der sedatives because he did not awaken when the fire reached his body. Acting Chief Leo Weidner this morning praised Cruse and Mon roe for following the correct pro cedure in reporting the fire. Not only did they call the department first, Weidner said, but they then assisted the victim, and had someone In front of the house to show firemen where the blaze was located. GOP Maintains Strong Lead Within Medford Medford remains a staunch re publican stronghold in the coun ty, according to figures released today by the county clerk's of fice. Registered republican vot ers In Medford's 25 precincts to tal 5,128 compared with 3,708 democrats, registration figures show. Total registration in the city is 9,012, including 176 mis cellaneous registrations. The miscellaneous classification in cludes voters who list themselves as non-partisan, progressives, so cialists and those who refuse to list their parties. In Ashland the gap between the two leading parties was far smaller than in Medford. There are 2.255 republicans and 2,142 democrats, with 73 miscellane ous to make a total registration of 4,475 eligible voters for the May 19 primary election. Airplane Wheel Found In Clue to Missing Plane The find was hauled up eirly Tuesday by the crew of a Soel vesborg fishing boat at a point 100 miles due south of Burgsvik, on the southern point of Gotland island. This would be at a point In the Baltic about 100 miles south west of Liepaja, Latvia, where the Russians reported their fight ers fired on an American bomb er the same day the Privateer disappeared. Realizing the Importance of the find. Capt. Anton Milsson of the fishing boat Immediately pulled up all his nets and head ed for Burgsvik, the nearest port. At Burgsvik he handed the wheel over to Swedish customs mat: Agreement Near In Phone Dispute; Rail Talks Slated Chicago, Apr. 26 (U.R) Nego tiators were reported nearing agreement in the telephone dis pute today as federal mediators prepared for new attempts to avert a railroad strike scheduled for May 10. The CIO Communications Workers of America postponed its strike, scheduled for mid night, idefinitely after finding "areas for agreement" with the American Telephone and Tela- grapn company on its demand for a 15-cent hourly wage boost. Settlement Denied Officials of CWA division 10. representing 21,000 long line workers, said it had reached agreement "regarding principles involved" but AT&T denied that any settlement had been, made. Negotiations between division 10 officials and the company were to resume in New York this afternoon and a federal media tor said the situation could pro vide a "basis for agreement on settling disputes btween AT&T and 24 other divisions of the union. New Negotiations In the railroad's dispute with the Brotherhood of Firemen and Enginemen, the national railway mediation board will open new negotiations tomorrow at Chica go in an attempt to settle the union's demand for an addition al fireman on multiple-unit dicsel engines. Th firemen had been poised to strike seven rail roads today but postponed the walkout at the board's request. At Detroit, meanwhile, the CIO United Auto Workers strike against Chrysler corporation en tered its 14th week and the un ion asked its 700,000 members to continue a $1 weekly strike fund contribution "for as long as nes essary." Talks for settlement of the strike continued despite a stalemate on issues. Lockout Charged In Oil Refineries Denver, Apr. 26 (U.R) Tha Oil Workers International union (CIO) charged today that Texas Oil company officials "locked out 6,000 workers at refineries in Casper, Wyo., and Port Neches and Port Arthur, Tex., when they attempted to return to work early this morning. O. A. Knight, Oil Workeri president, said the men were re quested to return to work in "an effort to achieve more effective bargaining" in the strike of 8,000 refinery workers at five Texas company plants. The president said he could , give no reason for the company action in refusing the men to enter the plants and resume work at the three refineries. Vehicles Damaged in 3 Separate Accidents Three collisions in which ve hicles were considerably dam aged today and yesterday were reported by citv police or In ac cident reports filed with police. A panel truck operated by Mylo E. Turner, 1617 North Riverside avenue, and a coupe driven by Louis G. Lemire, 10 Laurel street, collided at Ninth street and Central avenue about 9:30 a.m. today. Trucks driven by Eugene Frazier. route 3, box 218, and Ray Doran, route 2, Central Point, were in a collision yester day morning at Eighth street and Riverside avtnue. Cars op erated by James Vernon Lan ders, 1212 West 10th street, and Lloyd James Christian. 844 West ..love lacks son street, were in a wreck at Main night. and Fir streets last authorities, who said that their inspection indicated the wheel rim had been punctured by what was "evidently a machine gun bullet." Authorities said the wheel would be forwarded to Kastrup airport at Copenhagen and hand ed over to U. S. naval authorities there. The wheel is the latest in series of items found in the Bal tic during the past 10 days. Oth ers included two vellow life rafts, one scorched by fire and perforated by what appeared to be bullets. All have been sent to the U.S. naval station at Port Lyautey, North Africa, home base of the Privateer, tor inspection.
