1KTI
PBUCE
CHEF SI
France
Sahara Desert
Explosion Scene;
Commies Object
: Third Test Fired
: In De Gaulle's Plqn
i
Paris IUPD France set off
its third atomic explosion in
the Sahara Desert today,
pushing relentlessly ahead
with President Charles de
Gaulle's drive to make this
country the world's fourth
nuclear power. . ' !
' A communique said only
that the latest blast was that
of a "nuclear device" of
"small force." The announce
ment did not say that it was
an atomic bomb, arid reliable
sources said the device was
not a weapon but was anoth
er stage in the testing process
leading up to development of
an actual A-bomb.
Double Aim
! Air Force Gen.. Jean Thiry.
commanding the operational
group in charge of the test ex
plosion, said at his advanced
headquarters ' at Hamoudia
that the latest test .had a
double aim: . "
"To advance the technology
of nuclear weapons and to
give the Army, Navy and Air
Forces practical data on con
ditions for using the nuclear
weapon and particularly on
protection methods in nuclear
warfare." ' -
Reds Condemn Tast
'The Communist Chinese
and the Soviet Union were
quick to condemn France for
continuing tests ' in, ' De
Gaulle's effort to give his na
tion an independent nuclear
striking force as soon as pos
sible at a cost of more than a
billion dollars.
Peyton Murder
Investigator III
'Portland (UPn ''Sheriff
Capt. Gordon Auborn, "chief
investigator in the ' Peyton
Murder case, was hospitalized
Monday with pneumonia,
Auborn has headed the in
vestigation into last month's
slaying in a lover's lane of
Larry Ralph Peyton, 19, Port
land, and the abduction of
coed Beverly Ann Allan, also
19, Port Townsend, Wash.-
His condition was not re
ported as critical. The Peyton
investigation will probably
continue under Chief Deputy
Ard Pratt and Lt. Ed Fuller
until Auborn's return.
Christmas .day w.a s Au-"
bom's first day off duty since
the investigation began Nov.
27.
Pro-Western Forces
Capture Drop Zone
Vientiane,' Laos HIPD Pro
Western forces advancing
from Vientiane have captured
the Soviet arms-drop zone at
Phone Hong, nearly 50 miles
north of here, it was reported
today. .
: The anti-Communist forces,
advancing in two columns,
were reported close on the
heels of "neutralist" Capt.
Kong Le's paratroops, driven
out of Vientiane in a savage
76-hour battle 10 days ago. .
'At the same time, it was
reported that two companies
of- Brig. Gen. Phoumi Nosa
van's pro-Western infantry
had driven Communist guer
rillas out of a village 15 miles
south of Luang Prabang.
Texas Lawyer Seen
Navy Secretary
Washington HOT) T e x a s
lawyer John B. Connally was
reported today by a well-informed
congressional source
to be President-elect John F.
Kennedy's choice as secretary
of the Navy.
. Connally formerly was sec
retary to Vice President-elect
Lyndon B. Johnson and mana
ger of Johnson's unsuccessful
campaign for the Democratic
presidential nomination. At
present, he is trustee of the
estate of the late Texas oil
millionaire Sid Richardson.
. Connally's name had not
figured in most published
speculation on the Navy post.
Some reports said Franklin D.
Roosevelt Jr. had been under
serious consideration.
BREACH REPORTED
Leopoldville, The Congo -(IP
- A serious breach was re
Wleyl today between backers
of the Congolese Parliament
and supporters of the College
of Commissioners over plans
to keep the commissioners in
office-. - "
Tests
Regional Edition
18 .Pages
Jacksonville Residents
Killed in Auto Crash
"There's Some Dangerous Radical Talk About
,. ..... Democracy Going Around Again" .'
Rex P utna
Superintendent
Of Instruction
Salem HOT Dr., Rex Put
nam, superintendent of public
instruction 'since : 1937, an
nounced today he is. resigning
effective Jan. 31. ''
In a letter to Gov. Mark
Hatfield, Putnam said that he
would like to be relieved of
the ever-increasing responsi
bilities, stresses, and strains
. in order to conserve my
health."- ' r' ' - ' '
Putnam said' he wanted to
extend his "deepest apprecia
tion for the loyalty and faith
fulness of my clerical ' and
professional: staff, and mem
bers of the state board of edu
cation with whom I have
Worked so closely and amica
bly for such a long time. They
are all dedicated people."
Selfless Service
In accepting the resignation
Hatfield said P u t n a m has
given selfless service to the
Kingsley Field
Terminal Damaged
Klamath Falls - IIMJ - An
explosion and fire in a supply
closet caused considerable
damage to the new Municipal
Air Terminal at Kingsley field
here early today. , '
Service' was disrupted at a
time when: flights were pack
ed with holiday travelers and
telephone, teletype and elec
tric service in the control tow
er and terminal was halted.
The lobby portion of the
building suffered the most
damage but the .restaurant and
bar above the lobby will be
closed for several days with
smoke damage, firemen said.
The blast blew out the sup
ply room door and a portion
of the ceiling in the hallway
and cracked large windows.
Flames melted plastic light
fixtures. : '-:
The terminal was complet
ed last spring at a cost to the
city of $125,000.
Firemen, were investigating
the cause. .An exact damage
estimate was not available.
Rev. Dagwell Leaves
For Visit to Italy
Portland-WPn-The Rev. Ben
jamin Dagwell, retired Epis
copal Bishop of western Ore
gon, left today for a visit to
Italy. . :-..' 5
The Rev. Mr.-' Dagwell will
conduct a brief tour of service
at St. Paul's Episcopal Church
in Rome. He expects to serve
as acting rector until Easter
after which he will visit other
churches in Europe.
Nuclear Device
MEDFORD, OREGON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1960
t-4etsuri p-r
m Quits
slate of Oregon for nearly a
quarter of a century during
which time he has earned a
warm spot in the hearts of us
all with whom he has been as
sociated." "He. has given dedicated
leadership to new programs,"
the governor said, "and re
turned with renewed vigor
from illness. He carries with
him the best wishes of the
people he has served." .'.
Hatfield indicated he will
confer with the board of edu
cation before appointing a
successor. .
This means that Hatfield
will have appointed three of
the state's six major officers
during his term as governor.
Hatfield appointed Secretary
of State.Howell Appling Jr.,
and State Treasurer Howard
C. Belton. ;They both won
election in ; November. The
other major posts are gover
nor, attorney general, labor
commissioner and public in
struction superintendent.
Appointed in 1937
The superintendent of pub
lic instruction is responsible
for all public,, primary and
secondary education in the
state. It was made a non-partisan
office In 1939.
Hatfield has recommended
that the post.be appointive un
der his government reorgani
zation plan, along with labor
commissioner. .
Putnam, 70,-was appointed
to the job Sept. 1, 1937., He
won election in 1938 and since
then was reelected five times.
His current four year term
does not end until 1962.
Putnam, who suffered a
heart attack several years
ago, was born at Buffalo Gap,
S.D., June 7, 1890.
Fog Not Unusual
This Time of Year
Heavy fog which has
blanketed the Medford area
is nothing unusual for this
time of year.
Average number of days of
heavy fog in December is 13.
Today's fog pushed this
month's total to 14; Fog which
limits visibility to one-fourth
mile or less is considered
heavy.
December, 1959. had 16
days of heavy fog.
State police this morning
reported roads and highways
in the area free of ice or
snow, but most of them cov
ered by ground fog early this
morning. Police said the fog
was lifting in most areas by
mid-morning.
Tribune
Father, Daughter
Die in 99 Mishap;
Mother, Son Hurt
A Jacksonville man and his
daughter were killed in a two
car accident about 33 miles
north of Roseburg late yester
day afternoon.
The man's wife and his son
are listed as being in "poor"
condition today in a Cottage
Grove hospital.
Dead , are Robert Elmo
Welch, 57, and Edna Marie
Welch, 21, both of 107 Black-
stone st., Jacksonville.
Mr. Welch has been an em
ployee of the city of Medford
since 1948 and at the time of
his death was chief of the
city's surveying crew. City
Manager Robert A. Duff said
this morning, "We've lost a
good man."
State police said the Welch
car apparently skidded and
was involved in a collision
with a tow truck driven by
J. W. McDonald, 56, Rice Hill.
McDonald suffered only minor
injuries.
Police said Mr. Welch was
killed outright in the accident
which occurred about 4:30
pm. His daughter died about
two hours later in a Cottage
Grove hospital, they said.
His wife, Irene, 51, and son,
Charles, 20, were hospitalized.
Hospital, attendants said to
day that Mrs. Welch "rallied
some" during the night.
By United Press International
Eight persons met death on
Oregon highways during the
Christmas week end. A ninth
person, Mrs. Leonard C. Park
er of Portland, was killed at
12:45 a.m. today in a two-car
collision near. Albany. Since
the accident occurred after
midnight Monday, it will not-
count in the holiday total.
Other week end deaths in
cluded Yvonne Arlene Butler,
33, Milwaukie, killpd in a bus
wreck north of Klamath Falls;
William Holcomb, 65, Foster;
William Robitsch, 74, Tilla
mook; Bert Chaffin Jr., 8, and
his sister, Edith, 6 months, of
St. Helens; Tony Jensen, 29,
Clackamas, and Robert E.
Welch, 57, and his daughter,
Edna, 21, both of Jackson
ville.- . , . .
Holiday Traffic
Leaves 485 Dead
By United Press International
Tile nation today counted its
highway dead from the long
Christmas week end and came
up with a figure below a
pre-holiday estimate by safety
experts.
The National Safety Council
had estimated 510 persons
would die on the nation's
highways during the 78-hour
period which ended at mid
night Monday night. ' '
With the addition of late
fatalities, a United Press In
ternational count at 9 a.m.
(PST) showed the following
fatalities from the start of
the holiday week end at
6 p.m. Friday until last.mid
night: ,
Traffic ............485
Fires 80
Miscellaneous 109
Total 674
California led in traffic fa
talities with 40 deaths. Texas
had 35, Georgia 28, Michigan
and New York 27 each, North
Carolina 20, Florida' and Mis
souri 19, Illinois 18, South
Carolina 17, Kansas 16, and
Louisiana 15.. . ..
Sammy Davis Jr.
Says Stork Expected
Hollywood -(UPD- Sammy
Davis Jr. announced today he
and his bride of six weeks,
blonde May Brltt, expect a
baby next July or August.
The Negro entertainer and
the Swedish actress were mar
ried Nov. 13 in a Jewish cere
mony at which Frank Sinatra
was best man.
I
55th Year Price 10 Cents
No. 241
EMMETT WHITHAM
- Branch Manager
HOWARD PIERCE .
' ! Replaces Whitham .' ' "
Manager Named,
Phoenix Opening
Listed by Bank :
.The grand opening of the
new Phoenix branch of First
National Bank of Oregon will
be held Friday, Feb. 10, ac
cording to Ralph J. Voss, pres
ident of the statewide bank
ing system; ' - J-
Emmett Whitham, Ashland
civic leader and banker, has
been named manager of the
new banking office. ' He has
a 31-year background in all
phases of banking, and has
been with First National since
1936. ri
' Named to replace Whitham
as. assistant manager at Ash
land is Howard Pierce,; who
grew up in Grants Pass and
joined First National there 13
years ago. He has bcen serv
ing with the bank in Portland
for the past six years. .
An all-day open house will
be held to mark the opening
of the branch. It will be First
National's 86th banking office
in Oregon and the fourth in
Jackson county. Plans will be
announced later, Whitham
said. ;' . 1 i
The new bank features the
latest .innovations in modern
bank design-including drive
in banking, after-hours depos
itory, off-strect parking, spaci
ous .safe -deposit vault, and
four tellers' windows. It is
frame and stone construction
with abundant use of glass
and interior hardwood pan
elling. Whitham began his banking
career at the Portland branch
of- the Federal Reserve Bank
of San Francisco in 1929. He
became associated with First
National's main office in 1936
and a year later moved to
Ashland. He progressed
through all departments of the
branch, and was elected as
sistant cashier in 1948, gen
eral loan officer in 1950 and
assistant manager a year ago.
Whitham .served as presi
dent of the Ashland Chamber
of Commerce and Kiwanis
last year, and is a member
of the city council and the
city long-range planning com
mission. He is a director of
the, -Ashland -Talent United
Fund, chairman of the school
disirict 5 budget committee,
and has served as treasurer
of the Ashland Red Cross
and March of Dimes cam
paigns. He is past master of
the Masonic Lodge and past
patron of the Order of East
f , - - y
( J jV If
ern Star. 1
Pierce joined Grants Pass
branch upon his graduation
from high school,
A
Taylor Arraigned;
Awaits Session
Of Grand Jury
Waives Hearing,
Right to Attorney
John R. Taylor, Salem, was
arraigned in district court this
morning on charges of assault
with intent to kill and- two
charges of grand larceny in
volving auto theft,
He waived preliminary
hearing and. the right to an
attorney and was bound over
to the grand jury. . . '
' He is being held in the
Jackson county jail in lieu of
$25,000 bail on the assault
charge and $2,500 bail for
each of the grand larceny
charges. , t - - ...
A grand jury will be call
ed sometime this week," Dis
trict Attorney Thomas J.
Reeder said. "I think it is a
clear case of assault with in
tent to kill," he added..
Taylor is charged with fir
ing- three .22 caliber bullets
into the leg of State Police
man ponaid Cain Tuesday
night, Dec 20, when Cain
stopped him as he was hitch
hiking near the intersection
of Highway 99 and 66, Ash
land.- -'
Taylor also is charged with
stealing two cars, to escape
to The Dalles area where he
was captured the following
day.
Didn't Understand Charge
Taylor told District Court
Judge ,L.. L. Sawyer he didn't
understand the assault charge
when' it was first read to him.
I never intended - to kill
him," be remarked.-Asked if
he wanted an attorney or pre
licinary. hearing, Taylor re
liminary hearing, Taylor . re
over with and serve; my
time." ......
State police and sheriff's
deputies said today they plan
to question the youth in con
nection .with the murder of
Mrs. Marian Hamilton in Ash
land . last spring. Bullets
which Taylor fired into the
state policeman have been left
at the state crime laboratory
to check against bullets re
moved from the body of the
Ashland rancher's wife.
Deputies said ' Taylor has
admitted: to the burglary of
a Grants Pass hardware store
about a ; week before- the
shooting near .-Ashland. i A
number of guns were taken,
possibly the two Taylor had
with him when he shot Cain,
police said., Officers said Tay
lor is wanted for questioning
in ; connection , with ... other
crimes in the state.. , ., . . ,.,
Two Dog Biting ;
Incidents Reported
The curse of all mailmen
and paperboys the common
dog struck twice . yesterday,
once at each of these occupa
tions. , . ,)-':.-
The first victim was Mail
man Joseph Edward Barrett,
who told city police that he
was bitten' by a dog about
10:30 a.m., while delivering
mail' on Alta St. .
Barrett said the bite bruised
his ankle but did not break
the skin. Police contacted the
owner of the dog; Jean An
drew Mills, 924 Alta st., and
she intormed them that her
dog "has a dislike for mail
men." The second victim was a
paperboy. Bruce Michael
Kaye, 13, of 1011 Mt. Pitt
ave., told police he was bit
ten by a dog' about 3 p.m.
while delivering papers on
Murray st. ' ; " . ' ' '
Police said the bite damag
ed the skin on the boy's leg,
and they advised his mother
to have the wound examined
by a doctor.
The owner of the dog, Rose
Mary Breeze, 921 Murray St.,
told police that the boy kick
ed at the dog first. ' '
Khrushchev Assures
Oppressed Peoples
Moscow -(UPI)- Soviet Pre
mier Nikita Khrushchev said
today the Soviet Union would
join the "oppressed peoples"
of the world in any "decisive
struggle" against colonialism.
Khrushchev, in a statement
reported by Tags, -said Com
munist principles formed the
basis of the recent U.N. anti
colonialist declaration.
But he accused the "colon
ial powers" of trying to block
the decision and declared: S
"If the colonial powers, re
jecting the U.N. call, continue
to block the liberation of the
oppressed peoples and oppose
their Independence, then there
will be nothing left for such
peoples but to sweep away
these obstacles erected in their
path in a decisive itruggjf . .
"And they will not remain
alone In this struggle." '
ltt' tit w ir. ;iw44i
SUSPECT ARRESTED Accused murderer Robert Evans,
left, is taken from Junction City jail by Oregon Police
Officer C. Veteto. Evans is accused of killing Woodrow
Whetstone, Junction City police chief, and Everett Fletcher,
54, in a "love triangle" argument. Verna Mae Mulligan, op
erator of a cafe, was wounded
Whetstone was killed when
between Fletcher a.nd Evans.
Retail Activity in
Medford At Healthy
Level in Fiscal '60
i.New York - How-was busi-
ness in Medford in the last
fiscal 'year? " ' '
According to. a nationwide.
survey jus.i maae puoiic, rs
tail; activity, in Medford. was
at h"a ' healthy ' -level ; right
through the first half of 1960.1
With . a majority of . the
workers getting - bigger in
comes,, personal expenditures
were, high. ... , , , ' .
The survey, covering every
part -of the United States, is
for -the. 12 months ending June
30,. I960.; It was .compiled by
the Standard Rate and. Data
Service on the basis- of data
gathered from ..national, state
and local, sources. - i i , ,
Gross .Figure '' -J '
It shows that retail' busi
ness, in ' Medford reached a;
gross figure of $65,556,000 In
the year, climbing past tne
$59,456,000 recorded In fiscal
1959.' . , :
This. was in direct contrast
to the experience, in some
other areas of the . country
where-there was considerable
unemployment j and, oon-
WEATHER
FORECAST:- Valley fo tonlnht
and Wednesday mornine. Clear
inn partially WedneBday after
noon,' Low' tonight, ZS. High
Wednesday 40.
Temp.
Highest Yesterday 45
Lowest This Morning: -v29
Prer. to 5 p.m. Yesterday 04
Prec. to 10 a.m. Today, trace.
Our Skies Tonight
Sunset today v... 4:45 p.m.
Sunrise tomorrow .... 7:40 .a.m.
Mnonset tomorrow .... 3:33 a.m.
Full Moon Jan. 1
PBOMINKNT STAR
Veca, low In northwest S:09 p.m.
The solar system (of which the
P.arlh Is ' a part) Is moving
through space In. the general
direction of Vega.
Newbry Has
To Salem When Legislature Convenes
Lyndel Newbry, Talent, re
cently appointed state senator,
said this morning he has "no
real burning issue" to take, to
the state 'legislature when it
convenes Monday, Jan. 9.-
He' did' toy,' however,- that
he is strongly interested in
keeping O and C timber re
ceipts in the O and C counties
and is opposed to any part of
them being used for ' all
schools in the state. ' ' t
Asked about the possibility
of labor legislation affecting
fruit growers In this area, he
answered, that, he plans "to
keep an eye on' It." "Oregon
has no labor legislation now
and should have some," he re
marked. 'J :
He repeated that he will
have a belter Idea of what his
aims and goals should be after
he has been In the state legis
lature for three months.
Asked about taxes, he an
swered, "You can say that I'm
interested in this state and
the county paying the bill,"
by a shot said fired by Evans.
he tried to . settle an argument
' (UPI Telcphoto)
sequently, :a large drop In
business '
With their $65,556,000 vol -
ume, iretailcrs in Medtord ac
counted for ,0300 per cent of
the .' nation's business, , the
SRDS report notes' It " was
more than their quota since
the , city 's population ' is on ly
.0136 per cent of the national
I- Sales strength i was - noted
'In1 most groups pf stores4 but
especially in- .those selling
children s clothing and shoes,
drugs, household equipment.
food and other supplies that
reflect the fact Hi at the birth
rate has been high 'and that
there are more youngsters.
Incomes Hold ,Up ,. ' . f
Most of the confident spend
ing by Medford residents
stemmed from the fact that
personal " incomes, , by r arid
large, held- up . well. i
. The report shows that local
earnings, . after i allowing - for
tax deductions, amounted to
$50,674,000 -in the -year;, com
pared to $46,329,000 in fiscal
1959.. ; , ',' , ;, -;. .., , -:,
' It was at the' -average rate
of $5,927' per- household,
which. is more than was avail
able in the rest of the state,
$5,596 per - household: .
(The -fact, that sales -were
greater: than income shows
that the city: Is the marketing
center for the . region. '
Denying that- the' lack of
buoyancy in business in more
recent months ' U due to the
fact that people are over-extended,
the University of
Michigan's Survey Research
Center claims .that it ;is true
only for a small part of the
population. Most people can
borrow much more if they
want to. Self-discipline and
sound budgeting stop them
from doing so.
'No Burning'
Newbry was in the county
court this morning to consult
with County Judge Earl Mil
ler and County Commissioner
Chester Wcndt on their1 ideas
for county legislation. Miller
handed Newbry a list of pro
posed legislation fostered by
the Association of Oregon
Counties.
Wendt urged' Newbry. to
plug for an amendment to the
state c o n s t i t ution which
would allow , a county like
Jackson county, which has
dropped, its tax -base, to re
establish it by taking the
highest levy the county had
during the last three years the
base was in effect. Jackson
county has been without a tax
base for four years, Wcndt
noted.
Miller recommended legis
lation which would permit
voters to establish a county
commission form of county
government abolishing the
county-judge position when
Former Suitor
Of Woman Held
On Murder Count
Another Man Dead;
Divorcee Wounded
Junction City, Ore. - UOT -
Two men, including the police-
chief of this town of 1,614
persons, were dead from shot
gun blasts today and the for
mer suitor ot a woman caie
operator was held on murder
charges.
The woman was seriously
wounded.
Police said Woodrow Whet
stone, 43, police chief here
since last January, died late
Monday while trying to break:
up a quarrel between Robert
Evans, 45, Crawfordsville, and
Everett Fletcher, 54, Junction
City.
Daughters Unharmed
Fletcher was fatally wound
ed and Verna Mae Milligan,
42, the cafe operator, was shot
in the shoulder and cnest.
Two daughters of Mis. Milli
gan, a divorcee, were un
harmed.
Evans, arrested without re
sistance at his home east of
here two hours after the shoot
ings, was booked into tha
Lane county jail at Eugene. .
State police said Evans ad
mitted the shootings. He was '
to be arraigned in District
Court today on first degrea
murder charges.
Had Argued
Police said Mrs. Milligan,
Fletcher and the two girls,
Faye, 14, and Kathryn, 11,
were driving in Fletcher's car
after they closed the cafo
about 5 p.m. Fletcher worked
in the cafe. Folice sam c;vans
had been in the cafe during
the day arguing with Fletcher.
The older daughter told au
thorities Evans began follow
ing in his car and they drova
to Chief Whetstone's home,
fearing possible trouble.
Evans and Fletcher began ar
guing again, police said and
-wm"v lne 11 r u I, ,
the house to get the chleC
l vaflS produced a .12 guaga
shotgun.
Whetstone, armed with
pistol, came out to try to break;
up the quarrel. He was shot
in the stomach and died al
most instantly. Fletcher was
shot In the chest and died
later in a Eugene hospital.
Mother Is Shot
.The. girl told police her
mother ran toward, the house
screaming and was shot arid
wounded. She ran into the
Whetstone housa and col
lapsed on the floor. She under
went surgery Monday night. '
Evans then drove off. Pollca
said he first went to the home
of a brother, John, and then
to his own home. The brother
later drove to Evans' home
and persuaded him to.., turn
himself in, police said.
Both of Mrs. Milhgan'S
daughters were distraught and
suffering from shock. Deputy
Sheriff James Douglas said -one
6f the girls told him trou
ble had been brewing for .".two
or three years."
Whetstone is survived by
his -widow and two children.
Hammarsfc'od Plans
Plane Trip to Congo
New York - IUPD - Airlines
sources said today U.N. Sec
retary General Dag Hammar
skjold plans to fly to tha
Congo Monday. -
There was no immediate
comment from U.N. headquar
ters. FLEMMING PONDERS
Washington - (UPII - Welfara
Secretary Arthur S. Flemming
is considering possible ap
pointment as president of tha
University of Oregon at Eu
gene, his office said today., .'
Issue To Take
such an official performs no
judicial luncllon.
Referring back to taxes,
Newbry said, "It would be a
severe blow to the taxpayers
if county taxes had to be
levied now without any
changes." No taxes have to ba
levied now to support county
government. He noted that
some tax resistance was
shown when Medford taxpay
ers ' with " "pride in their
schools" voted down the
school budget the first time
last spring.
. Newbry said he would move
with his famllv tn Salem nrnh.
ably next week. He plans to .
live in Salem with his family -,
as do new State Representa
tive John Dellenbach, Med
ford. and Hnitsia Snpalrnr Rnh. .
ert Duncan, also of Medford.
Asked If his father, Earl T.
Newhrv. a formpp statu stmw
ator and secretary of state had
given mm any aavice, new
bry replied, "Dad told me not
to sign all the bills."
1