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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 1958)
... : ' ;" '"' -"' SOT tasoufi's MAD DOG KILLER Charles Starkweath er, 19, reclines on bunk in county jail in Douglas, Wyo., after his capture by police. He is being held in connection with the slaying of nine persons in the Lincoln, Neb., Mass ICiiler Taken To Scene Gering, Neb. IT Mass murderer Charles Stark weather, 19, who has admit ted killing 11 persons be cause of a "hatred that built up in me," left here today on the 420-mile trip to Lincoln, Neb., scene of 10 of his mur- Streams Continue To Recede; Storm Hovers off Coast Streams of the Rogue River basin continued to recede to day after minor flooding in midweek, but the weather bu reau warned that a storm off the coast bears watching. Only minor damage to roads was reported from this week's local flooding, according to Jackson County Engineer Paul Rynning. A few slides and some blocked culverts spread debris across roads, he added. Another storm was hover ing over the Pacific ocean, about 450 miles off the south .. em Oregon coast at 4 a.m. to day. The weather station here said that if the storm moves toward this area, it could bring rain which would start rivers rising again. Local Forecast Local forecast is for occa sional rain tonight and Satur day with showers Saturday afternoon. Gusty southerly winds are possible tonight. The weather bureau indicated that streams should continue to fall through midnight, pro vided most of the rain is light. Rogue river measurement was 11.38 feet this morning at Grants Pass. The river crested Wednesday evening at 21.5 feet. January rainfall through yesterday amounted to 5.63 inches,' 3.20 more than nor mal for the month. Rainfall since the start of the agricul tural year on Sept. i, 1957 to tals 14.27 inches or 3.48 above ,rmal. Three panels of the Min thorn bridge over Evans cteek were knocked out by logs and other debris brought down by the flooded stream earlier this week, the county engineer said. The approach to the bridge forced people to detour along the west side of Rogue river to another bridge IV2 miles away. Tra7 Man Sentenced To County Jail Term Albert Elza Herring, Trail, was sentenced to 20 days in the county jail on charges of taking a horse without the permission of its owner, after appearing in circuit court yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Geraldine' Blanche Griffin, Rogue River, was sentenced to two years in the Oregon state penitentiary for forgery. Execution was sus pended, and she was placed on probation and ordered to make restitution within 90 days. Mothers, Disappointed at Win Sons' Freedom, Back San Francisco HP) Three American mothers arrived here today "disappointed but not crushed" by their failure to win immediate freedom for their sons imprisoned on spy charges in Communist China. Hope Not Abandoned "We have not given up hope," said William Downey, 25, who accompanied his mother and the other women into Red China. The weary travelers were Mrs. Mary Downey, New Brit ain, Conn., mother of John T. Downey, 23; Mrs. Ruth Red of Crimes ders, to face formal charges. Starkweather, still clad in a bloodstained shirt, his hands chained to his belt, was wedged into a police car be tween two hefty deputies. His young girl friend, Caril Fu gate, 14, was placed in a sep arate car for the journey Two state patrol cruisers led the way. Extreme precautions were taken, and officers declined to say publicly where stops would be made. The trip was expected to take seven or more hours. In Good Spirits Starkweather was in good spirits, laughed freely and ate two helpings of bacon and eggs. The girl also ate a breakfast of bacon and eggs tut appeared to be in a state of shock," Mrs. Steve War rick, wife of the sheriff here, said. Mrs. Warrick said the girl did not seem to realize her parents, Mr. and. Mrs. Marion Bartlett, were dead. The Bartletts and their daughter, Betty Jean, 3, were the first victims of the mad killer. Caril said she remembered that Starkweather threatened to kill them if they would not permit, her to run away with him. Find Shotgun Shell Sheriff Warrick refused to let Starkweather see a news paper and kept him overnight in a solitary cell where he could not hear radio broad casts. He said he found a shot gun shell in the lining of Starkweather's jacket, but said, it probably slipped through a hole in the jacket pocket. Starkweather talked freely with officers en route here Thursday night from Douglas, t 1 A 1 iv.vu., wneie ue was capiuieu Wednesday. "Since I was a child wanted to be an outlaw, but I didn't want it to go this far, Starkweather told Sheriff Merle Karnopp of Lincoln. Bids Opened Today On Lateral Sewers E. C. Conrad, Medford con tractor, was apparent low bidder on a storm sewer lat eral system to connect with the recently completely 10th st. storm sewer. Bids were opened at the city hall this morning. Conrad's bid was $8,999 Other bids were M. C. Lin- inger and sons, Medford, $10, 635.50: Hatton and Bingham, North Bend, $10,640.72; Keith Brothers Construction corn pan y, ' Medford, $12,295.90; and DenHerder, Medford, $12,731.50. City estimate of construc tion was $9,500, according to Vernon Thorpe, public works director. Bids will be referred to the city council at its meet ing next week for considera tion. Salem (IP) Oregon Agri culture-Director Robert Stew art has urged voluntary pro duction control of hop grow ers. mond, Yonkers, N. Y., mother of Hugh F. Redmond, 39, and Mrs. Philip Fecteau, 31. Won't Be Content Downey, who acted as spokesman for the mothers during a news conference at San Francisco International Airport, said, "We're not go ing to be content until we get the boys home." The mothers made a per sonal appeal while ' in China for the freedom of their sons, but were turned down. Downey and Redmond are serving life terms; Fecteau 20 years. area and one near Douglas. Caril Fugate, Starkweather's 14 -year -old companion on his two-state spree, is also being held by authorities, but no charges have been filed against her pending questioning. KILLER'S 'HOSTAGE"- COMPANION Carrt Fugate, : 14- year-old companion of mad dog is shown in police headquarters at Douglas, - Wyo., after couple was captured following wanted for the murder of 10 ming, said he field the gin "nostage. Elections MHS to Nominate Student Candidates A primary election was . closely as possible the pro- held today at Medford High cedures used in actual elec school to nominate candidates 1 tions. Candidates prepare and for a general election as part of the 10th annual Student Government Day sponsored by the Medford Elks lodge. Primary elections also are scheduled in other high schools in the Medford Elks jurisdictional area, which in cludes St. Mary's High school, Crater High in Central Point, and Phoenix, Butte Falls, Prospect, Eagle Point and Jacksonville High schools. Campaigning for primary elections has been under way by upper division and senior students . in the schools for the past few weeks. After nominations are complete, general elections will be held to elect various city and coun ty officials. The general elec tion at Medford High school is scheduled Friday, Feb. 7. Elections, both primary and general, are held as near as possible to the time that stu dents are studying those sub jects in government courses, The two-day program is de signed to teach citizenship by providing stuaents with an opportunity to spend a day working with city and coun ty officials in the actual oper ation of local government. Students will work with their counterparts in the city and county offices Feb. 19 and 20. Campaigns and elections in high schools approximate as Failure To From China "We were disappointed but not crushed," Downed said. "We had not built up any false hopes." One Slim Hope Downey said the Chinese hold out one slim hope. Some officials told him that the three Americans could be re leased earlier than their vary ing ' sentences, depending on their behavior. "Otherwise, we received no specific encouragement and we obtained no prom ises," he said. The mothers crossed into China from Hong Kong on Jan. 6. President To Spend Week End Golfing On Augusta Course Washington m Presi dent Eisenhower flies to Augusta, Ga., today for a golfing week end, his first since his Nov. 25 stroke. The White House said the President and the First Lady will take a mid-February holiday at Thomasville. Ga. They will stay at the plantation of former Treas urer Secretary George M. Humphrey, where they have spent several previous brief vacations. Eisenhower will spend the week end at his vaca tion White House at the Augusta National Golf course. He was last there in November, shortly before his stroke on Nov. 25. killer Charles Starkweather, two-day chase. Starkweather, persons in Nebraska and Wyo Held at display signs and posters urg ing their classmates to vote for them. All students participate by registering as voters, assisting in campaigns, and finally vot ing on election day. Students also volunteer for election and counting boards. An av erage of four students seek positions in city and county government, school officials said. About 100 city and county officials are cooperating in the program, which has received national recognition from the Valley Forge Freedoms foun dation. The foundation has twice - given the project its highest award as a student program. Young Leaves Full Estate To Widow Newport, R. I. P Robert R. Young, railroad magnate who committed suicide, left his entire personal estate of more than $6 million and sub stantial real estate holdings to his widow, according to his will filed for probate here today. DOW-JONES AVERAGES New York ?l Dow Jones final stock averages: 30 industrials 450.02, up 0.30; 20 railroads 109.04, up 0.14; 15 utilities 72.27. off 0.26 and 65 stocks 153.54, off 0.01. Sales today were about 2,030.000 shares com pared with 2,150,000 shares Thursday. WEATHER FORECAST: Generally cloudy with occasional rain tonight and Saturday morning. Showers Satur day afternoon. Gusty south erly winds tonight. Low tonight 38. High Saturday 48. Temp. Highest Yesterday 47 . Lowest this Morning 34 Prec. to 10 a.m. Today ...11 Our Skies Toniqht Sunrise 7:27 a.m. Sunset S:23 p.m. Moonset Saturday 4:59 a.m. Full Moon ... . Feb. 4 Betelgeuse, in the constella tion. Orion, is the first mag nitude star nearest the Moon tonight. It varies irregular lv in brilliance. In 1852, in 1894 and again in 1908 it was brighter than Rigel. 52nd Year 16 P- h Control of Seas By United Stales Said Jeopardized Tight Budget, Russ Sub Threat Cited Washington (IP) The Navy said today that its tight budget plus the Soviet submarine threat jeopardizes U.S. con trol of the seas. Adm. Arleigh A. Burke, chief of naval operations, said Russia's growing sea power confronts the West with "one of its greatest challenges." Burke also told the House Armed Services Committee that budget restrictions have forced the Navy to make "drastic" cuts in some activi ties in order v to find money for modern ships and weapons required to keep control of the seas in U.S. hands. More Strength on Sea Burke appeared before the committee with Navy Secre tary Thomas S. Gates Jr., who said this country should "base a great deal more" of its military strength "on and under the sea." The threat isn't solely from long-range Soviet missiles and H-bombs, Gates argued. . The missiles race with Rus sia was, however, getting pri ority attention from Congress. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted $1,260,000, 000 in extra cash to speed missile development and de fenses. The Senate is expected to pass the emergency bill, al ready passed by the House, early next week. ( . County Court Plans Centennial Meeting The county court will meet soon with the Jackson coun ty fair board and chamber of commerce officials on possible participation of the county in the Oregon Centennial Expo sition and International Trade Fair in Portland in 1959, County Judge Rodney Keat ing said today. Keating said the court re ceived a letter from Jack R. lively, springtieid, commis sioner for the event, request ing the county court to con tact interested organizations in the county to discuss par ticipation in the centennial. Lively said representatives of the exposition would be glad to meet with the county court and various organiza tion representatives here to provide more details. Rudie Wilhelm Not To Seek Reelection Portland (IP) State Sen. Rudie Wilhelm Jr., announc ed here today he will not seek reelection to the Oregon Leg islature. He has been one of the leaders in tax legislation at Salem and was speaker of the House in 1953. He served four terms in the House of Repre sentatives ahd two terms in the Senate. Wilhelm did not explain his decision not to run but said he had been approached to run for other political of fice "and I have definitely made up my mind not to re turn to the Legislature." He said he would not oppose Rep. Edith Green (D-Ore.) for the third congressional district seat. Since entering politics, Wilhelm has been one of the GOP's best vote-getters Multnomah county. in Pacific Tests Set On Missile Defenses Washington OP) The Atomic Energy Commission said today new tests in the Pacific this year will advance nuclear defenses against enemy intercontinental bal listic missiles., The Air Force has said it will test nuclear .explosions in space above the atmos phere to determine their ef fectiveness against enemy space missiles. Presumably such tests would mean de tonation of missile-borne war heads high above the Eniwe-tok-Bikini proving grounds in the Pacific. "EGON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 1958 "Can You Hurry? We're I jonnson sentencing Continued Pending Probation " Mr. and T.Irs. Clarence Johnson, 781V2 Beatty si., Medford, appeared in Jackson county circuit court Thursday afternoon before Judge Ed ward C. Kelly on charges of unlawfully obtaining public assistance. . The Johnsons pleaded guilty in circuit court Aug. '23, 1957, and were freed on $1,500 bond each. Sentencing has been postponed several times for pre - sentencing investigation reports. Sentencing was again con tinued, pending pre-sentence reports by the Oregon parole and probation officer. Arrested in 1957 The Johnsons were arrested June 6, 1957, by sheriff's deputies after an investigation indicated they had been re ceiving full assistance from the Jackson county welfare department while both were working as janitors at the Medford Mail Tribune. The investigation reported ly began after the 13-year-old daughter of the Johnsons at tempted to secure a marriage license. County clerk's depu ties suspected her age was not accurately given. The John sons have three children. Mrs. Johnson is reported to have six grown children by an earlier marriage. Investigation indicated that the couple had several sources of income during the period of March, 1953, to June, 1957, when they were receiving full assistance from the welfare department. They are report ed to have received $4,776.90 from the Mail Tribune; $820 while Johnson was employed as a gardenerjat Sacred Heart hospital; plus an additional $850 income from property owned outside Jackson coun ty. They are charged with receiving $4,913.58 overpay ment from the, county wel fare department during that period. Different Names Johnson worked at the Mail Tribune under the first name of Charles, received assist ance under the name of Clar ence Johnson, and used the name of Clyde Johnson with his creditors, according to deputies. Names on a number of so cial security cards also are believed to have been chang ed and used by the couple, authorities reported. The family moved to Med ford from Lane county in about 1953 and have drawn welfare assistance since March, 1953. Prior to that time they had received small er sums of money from the welfare department. Purchasing House At the time of their arrest the Johnsons . were report ed purchasing a neighboring house, as well as their own Baker HP) Wayne Edward Collins, 19, Baker, has been acquitted of a charge of mali ciously setting off a bomb at Baker Junior High school last Oct. 25. In An Important Race' Reports home, and owned an automo bile as well as real estate in various parts, of the state, deputies reported. Maximum penalty for con viction on a charge of unlaw fully obtaining public assist ance is one year in the county jail or $1,000 fine, or both, or three years in the stat penitentiary. ' Driver Injured in Car-Truck Accident William Matthew Nickle, 21, of 1455 North Riverside ave., suffered possible chest injuries and lacerations on the nose and. right leg in a car-truck collision about 11:50 p.m. yesterday, according to Medford police. Police said the car Nickle was operating collided with a truck operated by Manuel N. Silveira, Richmond, Calif., at Central ave. and Maple st. Nickle was taken to Sacred Heart hospital by Medford Ambulance service where his condition is reported "good" this morning by hospital of ficials. Medford police said the truck was pulling out of a pri vate driveway and was across both, lanes of Central ave. when Nickle's car struck the left dual tires of the truck. The Medford fire department was called because a small fire resulted when the truck battery cable broke. The fire was extinguished by the truck driver with a hand extinguisher. 1 m A ft .mi 1 urn- 1 n miT mi )iir-iiiiMiT,"-"i"f irfi-"'-ftiiniirni - r m Infirm mm EMPLOYEES "'SHOT' A program which company officials hoped other companies would follow was carried out at offices of the California - Pacific Utilities company yesterday morning when 15 employees be tween 20 and 45 years of age were inocu lated with Salk anti-polio vaccine. Employ ees paid the cost of the vaccine, adminis- Price 10 Cents Tribune No. 242 Passenger Service Abandoned on Line in Aug., 1955 Time to Submit Briefs Sufficient Final hearings on Southern Pacific's abandonment of pas senger service between Eu gene and Ashland in August, 1955, will be held in Salem April 15, Public Utilities Commissioner Howard Mor gan said today. He said the hearing would be held "with or without" briefs because both parties had had e"nough time to pre pare briefs and submit the case for formal decision. The hearing will be held on a complaint filed by State Sea. Philip S. Lowry protest ing the abandonment of pas senger service. The complaint was drawn up by Lowry, and State Senators Gene L. Brown of Grants Pass and Paul E. Geddes, Roseburg. Previous Hearings Morgan noted that previous hearings were held in April, August and September, 1956, but that no briefs have been filed either ' by the railroad or by Lowry. Original deadline for brief filing was set for Aug. 19, 1957, but an extension was granted because of the illness last fall of Geddes. Further delay was caused by the spe cial session of the legislature. Morgan said "more than sufficient time has been grant ed to all parties within which to prepare briefs and submit the case for final decisions." The complaint was filed be fore service was discontinued asking the PUC to prevent discontinuance. It also asked the commissioner, to investi gate the discontinuance and order "reasonably adequate service." Lowry said the action taken by the senators in filing the complaint was not done so by the senators as such, but as representatives of the people. The hearing will be held at 10 a.m. April 15 in the public service building in Salem. King's Road Work Hears Completion Work on Kings highway is about completed at this time, Paul Rynning, county engi neer, said today. The road will be reballast ed and a mile will be paved when better weather arrives. Rynning said the engineer's office and county court will decide later on a county road program for the new fiscal year. The program will be submitted to the county budg et committee. tered on company time, and other expenses were handled by the company. Shown re ceiving his inoculation from Dr. W. G. Bishop is R. L. "Bud" Palmer, division chief clerk and Medford March of Dimes chairman. Awaiting their turns are Richard Burchell and Don Lacy, service men, and Murray Gardner, assistant division manager. Cabinet Members To Be Retained, President Says National Committee Given Shot in Arm Washington HPi President Eisenhower today spiked any move by Republican strate gists to dump Secretary of Agriculture Ezra T. Bensori as a "liability" in this elec tion year. The President told members of the Republican National Committee during a breakfast "pep talk" that ha has complete confidence In each of his Cabinet officers, thinks all are doing a "fine job," and has no intention of replacing any of them. Eisenhower . also made a strong defense of Benson's flexible price - support pro gram, saying it is an "honest, forthright and sensible" at tempt to solve the problem of surplus crops that have farmers caught in a "vicious circle." ' ' z "I think that most farmers he said, "deep in their hearts, recognize the administration proposals as a courageous move to break this vicious circle." The breakfast was held behind closed doors at a down town hotel, but portions of the President's prepared text were published by the White House. Eisenhower, in his formal remarks, called on Republi cans to join in a 1958 cam paign to win control of Con gress by enlisting good can didates, showing faith in their cause and working hard; r The President spoke short ly before leaving for Augusta, Ga., for a week end of golf. The President told his - Re publican , audience, eager for a shot in the arm, that the nation has had five years of prosperity under his adminis tration, a prosperity that has not been altered materially by the recent business decline Reiterating his belief that the tide will turn in midsum mer, the President denounced "political Cassandras" who warn of another depression critics who heretofore have been labelled by GOP leaders as the "prophets of gloom and doom." "We reject this pessimistic doctrine and the lack of con fidence it reflects. Republi cans have never sold Ameri can free enterprise short and never will," he said. JobjurveyMayBe Complete by April The job classification sur vey in Jackson county offices should be completed by April, County Judge Rodney Keat ing said today. This week, commission rep resentatives held five group meetings with employees, de partment heads and elected officials. Thursday1, the repre sentatives met with officials of the county farm home and discussed the survey with the 32 employees and supervisors there, Keating said. They also met with the foremen of the county road department and county shops and interviewed employees. Portland IP) Two more indictments returned in Port land's vice probe have been dismissed here. I
