Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, November 24, 1960, Image 1

Historic Oregon Newspapers

Medford mail tribune., November 24, 1960, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextRockaway Estimates Damage by Freak Wave at Close to $100,000 Noon Edition Medford 55th Year Price 10 Cents RIBUNE 48 PAGES MEDFORD, OREGON, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1960 No. 213 ' j ii in m i mmm iiii t ih&iiiiui m i ,: Mm " ' J IS Sfi ; - y WITNESSES SET FREE Norman James : 102 days in jail as material witnesses to a (Mac) Mclnnis (left) and Virgil Payne Ben- crime. The men, both transients, said they nett smiled as they left the Medford city would spend Thanksgiving "just wherever police department last night after spending we happen to be at the time." Witnesses Held For Trial Are Releasee Nelson Sentenced To Life in Prison After Guilty Plea By R. GREG NOKES Mail Tribune Staff. Writer Thanksgiving is a day for many persons to be thankful for many things. But few per sons could be more thankful today than two men, who gained their release from the Medford city jail last night. The men, Norman James (Mac) Mclnnis, 47, and' Virgil Payne Bennett, 47, were given their freedom after spending more than three months in the city jail on charges of being material witnesses to a crime. Mclnnis and Bennett were released after Larry Gene Nnnh 20. pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in cir cuit court yesterday and was sentenced to life imprison ment. Noah admitted that on the night of Aug. 13 in down Medford. he beat to death William Carley Camp bell, 55, a transient. umnoKftftn To Slavina . Mclnnis and Bennett had been witnesses to the slaying. Thev reDortcd the crime to police and aided in the cap ture of Noah. It was acknowledged that the two men performed valuable service to the com munity. But, because the two men were transients, the stale ordered the men confined until the trial - originally rheduled for Dec. 5 - was Nnlsnn was first charged with first-degree murder, but yesterday District Attorney Thomas Reeder allowed him tn enter a plea of guilty to the lesser charge. There was no longer any reason to keep the two material witnesses around, and Reeder ordered 4hom released. Before the two men left the city jail last night, they told a Moil Trihune reporter they bartaor no grudges against -.,r,o in fact, thev had noth ing but praise for the city of niorffnrH nnri the people in it. Most of all they praised the police department and Police Chief cnaries r. Lnmni..,, (Continued on Page 11) Larry ,Gene Noah, alias Leonard Eugene Nelson, 20, transient, was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Ore gon state penitentiary by Cir cuit Judge Edward is.euy yesterday. . ,: ; He pleaded guilty to a charge of second degree mur der. Noah'. was . originally charged with first degree mur der in connection with , the death of William Carley Campbell, 55, in Medford last Aug. 13. Noah's attorney, Paul Havi- land, Medford, who told Judge Kelly Nelson's real name was Noah, requested the reduced charge, the penally for which is life imprisonment. Haviland told the court ne consulted with Dr. James Luce, neuro surgeon, and Dr. Harry Danielson, psychiatrist, and learned that the youth had o.r g a n l c brain damage. Noah, he said, could not le- gaily be considered insane. The lawyer noted that Noah knows the difference between right and wrong, but brain damage received in infancy could affect his actions. Dis trict Attorney Thomas J. Ree der said he would make Noah's medical reports avail able to the court, Judge Kelly said that with proper medical treatment, an attempt can be made to re- habilitate Noah. He said he Two Are Killed In One-Car Crash In Jacksonville Third Person Hurt Early This Morning Two Dersons were killed and a third was injured early this morning in a one-car acci dent, according to Oregon state police. Dead are William Marvin Nickell, 33. of 921 North Cen tral ave.. Medford, who is be lieved to have been driving the car, and Mildred vera Jones. 41. of route 1, box 22B, Applegate a passenger. Reported in good condition nt Sacred Heart hospital is Gladys Fern Nickell, also of 921 North Central ave. According to state police, the vehicle failed tomake a left curve on Fifth st. in Jack sonville, sheared off a Cali fornia Oregon Power company pole and traveled some dis tance before stopping. Thrown From Car The Nickells were thrown from Hie car in the impact, police said. The accident occurred about 2:45 o'clock this morning. The entire Jacksonville area was without power until 4:36 a.m.. according to Copco ouiciais, and a few homes were with out electricity until mid- morning. The two deaths this morn bring to 19 the number ot persons killed in traffic acci dents in Jackson county this year. This time last year 20 traffic fatalities nad oeen re ported in the county. 1 ' l? :ll 4 7.'i 1?f? ,W P V - die. VAi iw4d 4 hi ROCKAWAY BATTERED Residents of Rockaway, on the Oreogn coast, estimate damage from a freak wave which struck in the early hours Wednesday to be close to $100, 000. It was the second such wave within a month. The house shown In the picture was moved across the railroad tracks by the first wave. The owners had the home moved back to Its original position only to have Wednesday's wave send it across the tracks. (UPI Telephoto) Slain Attorney m tmfamm Police Break Up Burglary Ring Yreka - Siskiyou c o u n t y sheriff's deputies said today that a four-state burglary ring that was broken up by police wnnlri notifv the state mirole in Fresno and Modesto, Calif. board and -the warden about Tuesday, had been operating the matter, and asked Reeder in Siskiyou county in recent to make medical reports avail- months. able to state officials. , Sheriff Al Cottar said the The judge mentioned cases arrest of five persons in involving such afflictions Fresno and Modesto solved a which have been successfully number of local burglaries, Ceremonies Set for Naval Reserve Unit Public ceremonies will be held Monday, Nov. 28, at Hed- rick Junior High school for presentation of national and district awards to Navy Re serve Electronics Division 13-5, Medford. The division won first place among 27 competing divisions in the 13th Naval district, which includes Oregon, Wash ington, Idaho and Montana. In national Navy reserve unit competition, the local unit placed third. Some 201 divisions competed nationally. The Medford Navy reserve unit is composed of members from throughout JacKson county. FIRE DAMAGES SIGN A fire starting Jn the tower on the roof which houses elec trical equipment for the neon siens at the Groceteria, Sixth and Grape sis., did extensive damage to signs on the out side of the building about 6 p.m. yesterday, firemen said The fire department dispatch ed two pumper trucks and the aerial ladder truck. treated, and the patients be coming useful citizens. Combination Noted Haviland said he was un able to find anything in Noah's past records which would in- combination of liquor and circumstance, and the rela- dicate vicious actions. "It was Modesto county sheriff's office arrested James finison ano his wife. Ruby, and Fresno tionship of Noah to the vie- police arrested Kenneth Dale Alien ana nis wnu, ,uud, mm Howard Allen. Two members of the ring were caught in the act of burglarizing a coun try club near Fresno. Siskiyou county autnoriues said the five persons are sus- nected of being involved in more than 150 burglaries hav ing a total take in excess of tim," he said. Reeder briefly reviewed the charges against Noah, whose trial in circuit court on the first degree murder charge was scheduled to start Dec. 5. Two material witnesses, Norman James (Mac) Mcln nis, 47, and Virgil Payne Ben- Ex-Japanese Prisoners Plan Convention Here The Workers of Wake. Guam and Cavitc will hold their 16lh annual convention this week end at the Medford hotel. . The convention starts rn day at 7 p.m. in the hotel, and will continue through Sunday. More than 200 members from all parts of the country are expected to attend, ine meet ing will include a dinner Saturday night. The convention comes to Medford largely due to the urging of Mrs. Mary n. organization president who lives in Talent. Mrs. Ward has been instrumental in form ing the group, and seeing that favorable government legisla- 1 includine two at nearby ranches and several others of new homes in the area. The activities of the bur glary ring were brought to a halt Tuesday night when the Shots Follow Judge's Decision In Divorce Case Reno - HOT - An Ohio con tractor involved in a lawsuit drew a pistol from his shirt Wednesday and fired five shots in a courtroom, killing a Drominent Reno attorney and wounding two otner per sons. ' . Police said the assailant, Bob Williams, 52, Cincinnati, went berserk after hearing that most of his . property would go to his estranged wife and her mother in a di vorce action. Fired Shot at Judge . Eli Livieralo, attorney for Mrs. Joyce Williams, died . in the courtroom. Her brother, Guy Waldron Snyder, 50, and her mother's attorney, Edwin M u 1 c a' h y, were seriously wounded. Witnesses said Williams fired one shot at Judge Jon Collins, but missed. They add ed that there was no way to tell if he also fired at his wife. Williams' 1 attorney, Sam Francovich, grabbed his client and- witnesses helped him wrestle the .38 caliber pistol from .the Ohio man's hand. Given Examination "What happened?" Williams asked as he was led away. He was taken to Washoe Medical Center for psychiatric exami nation. Livierato, a former football star at the University of Ne vada, had practiced law here for seven years. nett, 47, both transients, were $250,000. released from the Medford city iail, where they have been held since Aug. 14. Ex-Convict Faces Kidnaping Charge Dog Control Will Become Effective In Areas Dec 21 The ring reportedly operat ed in Oregon, Washington Idaho and California. Authori ties said goods were stolen in California and then sold at auctions in the other states. Dick Newton, a criminal in vestigator in Siskiyou county. went to Idaho recently where he observed some of the stolen Portland-IUPH-A state felony goods being sold at an auction warrant charging kidnaping . All five persons are charged has been issued for ex-convict with grand theft Claude Kenneth Castle, 52, who is believed to have left parole in the company of a missing 11-year-old girl. Castle was also wanted for violation of parole. He was released from Oregon State Prison Sept. 1. Missine was Rcnne Hanna. The complaint was signed by Mrs. Rae Mane Hanna, mother of the missing gin. The child was known to have been with Castle here Nov. 13, but has not been seen since that time. Holiday Accident Toll Climbs to 82 By United Press International The Thanksgiving holiday death toll had reached 82 by 9:30 a.m. (PST) today, accord ing to a check by United Press International. Traffic crashes had; taken the lives of 68 persons, seven had died in fires and miscel lancous accidents were fatal to seven others. Law enforcement officers and County Dog Control Of ficer Chris Haglcr have been directed to discontinue pick ing up dogs running at large in Medford, Rogue River and Precinct 68-A, until Dec. 21, District Attorney Thomas J. Reeder said yesterday. "The county clerk has been directed previously to publish notification required by law pertaining only to the city of Medford, the city- of Rogue River and Precinct 68-A," Reeder explained. ' "The law further requires that the dog control law will not go into effect until 60 days after the final publica tion of the notification which will be Dec. 21," he added. "Thereafter, the law should be strictly enforced and this office will prosecute the vio lators as required. A mora torium is in effect from Nov. 8 to Dec. 21," he added. Violations To Be Prosecuted "All violations in the coun ty, including Medford Pre cinct 68-A and Rogue River prior to Nov. 8, 1060, will be prosecuted," Rccrler said. The district attorney said his office is now sending out notices as required by law to all people alleged to have vio lated the law prior to Nov. 8. The law requires at least a five-day notice to such vio lators. After this period the district attorney's office will begin processing and filing the required civil complaint against each violator. "On Nov. 8, 1060, the voters repealed the dog control law in Jackson county (excluding certain cities and precincts) and as a consequence in this area it is now legal to permit dogs to run at large,". Reeder said. "The Way I Get It, The New President Plans To Unleash The U. S." lion for the group be passed. The Workers of Wake Guam and Cavite is composed of former prisoners of wa captured by the Japanese on the islands of Wake, -Guam and Cavite In the Pacific Each member was a civilian at the time of capture. They were working on buildin Naval air bases on the islands when the war broke out. An estimated 1,576 were captured and sent to Japanese prisonor camps. A total of 800 return ed after the war. Most of tne men were captured in Decem ber, 1941. They were released about Sept. 1, 1945. The Workers were organized by wives during the war. 1 WEATHER rnniTAST; nrraslonal rain heavy at times, with periods or fusty winds toaay. lomini ana Friday. Snow on hUher moun. tains today and lowering to near 3.&00 feet tonight. High to. day near 63. Low tonight 40, Uich Frtriiv SO. irnin. Highest Yesterday 44 Lowest This Morning 46 rrrrin. To 10 a.m. Moday One Inch Our Skies Tonight . 4:43 p m .... 1:14 a m ...11:14 p.m. rtov. zj Hunset today Sunrise tomorrow . Moomet tonight ... nrsi uuiner PROMINENT STARS llMelzeuse. low In r.t :21 P.m Procyon, low In east .. 9:56 p.m. Slrlns. rises I0-.0J p.m. PHOM1NKNT CONSTELLATION Catopeta, high In northwest at moonset. Other areas in which dog control was approved in the general election are Precinct 27 (Eagle Point), Precinct 57, Precinct 58-B, precinct bB and the city of Ashland. In the next few days tnc county clerk will publish the required notification pertain ing to these areas, the district attorney said. Sixty days after the final publication of this notice enforcement of dog con trol will be effective. Each area will be notified of the effective date, Reeder said. Drug Counterfeiting May Be on Increase Washington - (UPI) - A top official of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said to day that counterfeiting of drugs may be on the rise. John : L. Harvey, deputy commissioner of FDA, termed the development a "serious threat to the public health" which "could undermine the fundamental control over the safety and efficacy of drugs." - The federal agency launched an investigation some months ago to determine the extent to which bogus drugs are be ing put on the market.- Har vey said results of the survey "indicate that drug counter feiting may be on the in crease." , 6,150 Turkey Meals Served in Schools Medford school district lunch rooms served 6,150 tur key dinners to students Wed nesday noon, school officials reported. The menu included turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, dress ing, cranberry sauce, celery, salad, rolls, milk, and pump kin pic or ice cream. Officials reported that the number of students who were served yesterday Is higher than the average daily partici pation of 4,075. Prices for the meal remained the same, it was pointed out, 25 cents for elementary students, and 30 cents for secondary pupils A total of 2,200 pounds of turkey was consumed at the meal. State Commission Said Holding Checks Salem - (UPD - The Oregon Industrial Accident commis sion said today it is holding 24 checks amounting to $525 because of incorrect addresses of the workers to whom they belong. ' Commission Chairman Sid ney B. Lewis said eight other checks totaling $455 and Is sued more than two years ago have never been presented for payment. Lewis warned that unless the checks are claimed or cashed soon, they may be in validated. Those workers af fected should contact the com mission's Salem office. Arson Suspected in Portland House Fire Salem - nipn - The state ar son squad today was Invest! gating a Wednesday night house fire that left a family of seven homeless. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Wlllard Mabe and their five children was destroyed. The family was away at the lime 4 No Poison Bait Stations Will Be Placed in County The Jackson county cou yesterday afternoon approved the recommendation of the U.S. fish and wildlife service that 1080 poison bait stations I not be set out in Jackson county this season to kill coyotes. . Following receipt of a letter from Mclvin D. Smith, district agent i for the U.S. fish and wildlife service, County Judge Earl Miller said "the file is closed this season" on the proposal to set out .poison bait stations. The season runs from December to March. "In view of the controver sial meeting' recently held in Jackson county, I would rec onimend that no stations be placed this year in Jackson county," the . district .agent Wrote. n "I would further .recom mend that the county court lake one of two stands: (1) take no decision pending fur ther Information, (2) refer the problem to the state Inter agency committee,".; Smith said. ' Judge Miller said Riley Pat terson, assistant district agent, nd Smith both said they would request funds be in cluded - In the next county budget for- a second govern ment hunter. ' Kirby Tant, Brownsville, now is the only government hunter in Jack son county. Smith s letter explained that the Inter-agency commit tee is composed of the Ore gon state game commission, department of agriculture, ex tension service, Association of Oregon Counties, bureau of sport fisheries and wildlife. Smith also suggested that the county court review the Oregon Revised Statutes which permit the county courts, the state department of agriculture and the state game commission to appropri ate funds which are sub mitted to the secretary of state's office for the predatory animal control program. At , a public Information meeting recently called by the county court, the proposed program of establishing poi son bait stations was discuss ed. Several residents objected to the stations, pointing out that the poison is toxic and there is no known antidote. Several Homes Beyond Repair; Tracks Cleared Worst in Memory, Oldtimers Declare Rockaway - (UPD - Residents of this coastal community Wednesday nigth ruefully sur veyed a section of their town knocked topsy-turvey by a freak wave, and estimated damage at close to $100,000. The town's oldtimers said the smashing wave, which struck Rockaway in the pre- a w n darkness Wednesday, as the worst in memory. Debris on Highway It swept several homes from their foundations, deposited three houses on the railroad tracks 50 feet away, and piled logs and debris on highway 101. Although several residences were smashed, no one was injured. By Wednesday night, houses had been dragged from the railroad tracks so that train service would resume. The worst debris had been clear ed from the highway. Several of the homes, how ever, were listed as beyond repair. Mayor George Hodges said damages were still being assessed, but estimated the total at $100,000. Sicond in Month The wave was the second in a month to pile over the bank at the edge of the sea and slam Into the town. Residents continued to cast a wary eye to the surf, which remained heavy. Police chief William Bulletset scheduled a midnight high -tide watch to warn residents : if the sea seemed to be approaching the danger level again. Storm Brings One Inch of Rainfall A- gusty and squally storm, whlcli- waj less severe here than In other areas of the state, brought almost an Inch of rain to the Medford area yesterday, bringing the pre cipitation totals to above nor mal for the first time this month. The weather bureau station at the airport recorded .98 of .an inch of rain yesterday. , Another .10 fell this morning. Precipitation total through midnight last night was 2.22 inches for November, .23 of an inch above normal. Rainfall is still below nor mal for the season, the 27.8 inches since Sept. 1 being 1.77 under the norm. More rain and gusty winds are anticipated through to night and into Friday with snow level in the mountains of the area lowering to 3,500. Wind gusts up to 27 miles per nour were measured at the airport weather station. Heavy snows have been forecast in the Siskiyou moun tains today and tonight. Northern California weather reports said there may be heavy snows at highway level tonight. Gale force winds are expected along the northern California coast and in the north-south valley of the area. Deadline Set on Families Overseas Washington- (UPI) -No more wives and children of soldiers will be sent to Europe or Asia after Jan. 31 and the number of Navy men's dependents ov erseas will be cut 59 per cent by July 31, 1962. These steps, part of Presi dent Eisenhower's program to stem the flow of American dollars and gold abroad, were announced Wednesday. The Air Force already has banned the shipment of families over after Feb. 1. The President ordered the number of de-1 pendents abroad cut from ' 484,000 to 200,000. New Bear Creek Bridge Opens Friday; Traffic Signs, Patterns Are Explained New traffic signs will ap pear on some of Medford streets Frldny with the open ing of the 10th st.-Bear creek bridge, City Engineer Vern Thorpe has reminded resi dents. Some of the signs will be "stop'' signs which will be necessary on 10th St. until the signal lights at Riverside ave. and Central aves. are in stalled. Thorpe said the signals will be constructed by the stale under an agreement between the city and stale. The state has advertised for bids to be opened Dec. 0 for the project. Thorpe said the department has not received information regarding the completion date the state has provided for the project in the specifications. He added the city applied for the agreement with the state last May. Thorpe suggested that west bound 10th st. traffic turn left on Central ave. and right on 11th st. to cross the rail road tracks.- This route was suggested to avoid a bottle neck when 10th st, stops for through truck travel on Front st. " Residents who use the Cot tage st. bridge are alerted to the fact that 10th st. Is the through street. Northbound A traffic on Cottage st. will have to stop at the north end of the bridge. At Cottage and Spencer sts. the city has in stalled a "stop ahead" sign with flasher. Traffic flow at the Inter section of 10th and Willam ette ave. will also be changed, Thorpe pointed out. Signs will stop 10th st. traf ficc and southbound Willam ette st. traffic, he said. East bound 10th st. traffic will be permitted to turn right onto Willamette without stopping. Also permitted will be left turns for northbound traffic on Willamette st. to 10th it. without stopping, -.