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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 17, 1961)
r J ,"' ""L1W 'r,n,,L-.-.& SJtf '- - a MURDER SUSPECTS Mrs. Gertrude Mae Jackson, 33, left, was arrested at Oakland, Calif., Tuesday along with Jeannace Free man, 19, right, after an Oregon murder war rant had been issued for them. Miss Free man was wearing men's clothing when ar Mother Confesses To Part In Slaying of Children Oakland, Calif. - (UPI) - Mrs. Gertrude May Jackson, 25, Oakland, confessed early to day, that she participated in the slayings of her two chil dren, according to Oakland police. , , Mrs. Jackson and Jeanace Joan Freeman, 19, both ad mitted being present when the youngsters were beaten and thrown into a 350-foot ravine near Madras, Ore., but they disagreed on details of the burtal slayings. Arrested on Warrant, , .. , ' . ' I Mrs. Jackson's ' oorffessfon came four hours after she and Miss Freeman were arrested here Tuesday night on an Ore gon murder warrant. Miss Freeman was in men's cloth ing when arrested. The two women and a com panion, Letha June Little, 21, were taken into custody when authorities spotted Mrs. Jack son's car. Mrs. Jackson had been sought for the murder of her daughter, Martha, 4, and of her son, Larry, 6. The battered bodies were found at the bottom of the gorge in Peter Skene Ogden State Park last Friday. County pathologist George D. Mc Geary said studies made at the state crime laboratory showed there had been no sex ual assault. It was earlier re ported that there had been such an assault. ' "I couldn't support them and I loved them so much," Mrs. Jackson was quoted as saying. She said she threw the body of her son over the edge of the cliff, while Miss Free man hurled the girl's body off the precipice. Miss Freeman told a differ ent story. She said Mrs. Jack son decided to discipline the children and told her to stop the car. The mother beat the Corvallis-flJPD-Oregon State University will graduate its second largest class in history June 8 and one out of every four of the approximately 1,835 degrees will be a mas ter's or doctor's, the school said today. "He Seems To Be Getting children with a belt and a tire iron, she said. Police said Miss Freeman quoted the mother as saying, "I'll teach those kids." Miss Freeman said Mrs. Jackson ordered "her out'' of the car and drove to a nearby cliff. "I tried to look, but couldn't see for the trees," Miss Free man told officers. She said the mother came back without the children and said to her: : - "I'll, kill you if you ever open your mouth about this." -The incident occurred last Wednesday, according to Miss Freerrian's storyi . " '" U.S., Russia Clash On Labs Veto Power ' Geneva - (UPII - The United States and Russia collided head-on today over the ques tion of veto powers for an international control commis sion to police a cease fire in Laos. The differences were aired when Secretary of State Dean Rusk and Soviet Foreign Min ister Andrei Gromyko pre sented plans for a permanent peace to the 14-nation confer ence on the future of Laos. Gromyko's Proposal At the morning session, Rusk called for a strengthen ed, veto-free control commis sion to enforce the cease fire In Laos, where the Commu nists and pro-Western govern ment are reported to have agreed on the principles of forming a broad coalition re gime. Gromyko came back at the afternoon session to demand that the SEATO alliance re nounce its pledge to protect Laos and call for withdrawal of all foreign forces from that country within 30 days after a peace settlement. But the Soviet plan he pre sented for policing the settle ment in Laos would give the It Bad Again, Doctor" Y -.1- i l. ...ft4,fJ rested. The warrant charged them with the murder of Mrs. Jackson's children, Larry, 6, and Martha, 4, whose bodies were found last Friday at the foot of a gorge near Madras. 1 . (UPI Telephoto) The bodies were not posi tively identified until Tues day. Mrs. Phyllis Maude Round, Eugene, a former neighbor of Mrs. Jackson and the children, made the identi fication at Madras. After the pathologist report that there had been no sex crime, warrants were issued for the arrests of Mrs. Jack son and MisS Freeman. Evidence pointed, Dr. Mc Geary said, to "a deliberate attempt to make it look' like a sexual assault." He said the girl probably was alive when thrown over the bluff. No warrant was issued in Oregon for Miss Little. Communists a veto power over operations of the control commission. Opposite To Rusk This was diametrically op posite to Rusk's position and was certain to be rejected by the United States. Gromyko and Quinin Phol sena, representing neutralist former Premier Souvanna Phouma, who is recognized by the Communists as the only "legitimate" head of the Laotian government, were the only speakers at the after noon session. P h o 1 s e n a spoke before Gromyko and expressed views similar to those of the Soviet foreign minister. Bid Opening for Wiring Deferred The Jackson county court received three bids for wiring the proposed addition to the Jackson county . curriculum materials center, but deferred the bid opening for a week due to an error in bid adver tising procedure. Bids may be received until 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 22. Bid opening will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 24. James McDonald, director of the. county center, explain ed that a five-day waiting period required by law had been omitted through error. - He explained the expansion is necessary to meet the ex panded use of the center. Plans include a larger record ing tape library, enlarged pro duction and storage facilities, a larger reception area and a classroom for in - service training of teachers using the audio-visual, aids and other materials. Basement w a 1 1 1 which now enclose the center will be removed, McDonald explained. Ashland, Medford Youths Win 4-H Trip Corvallis - (UPD - Expense paid trips to the National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago Nov. 26-30 have been won by 22 Oregon 4-H Club members, it was announced today. Those winning trips include Steve Stewart, Ashland, and Robert Kuest, Medford. Gariada Regional Edition Medford 20 Pages Local Merchants Will Change to 'Daylight Time' The Retail Merchants committee of the Medford Chamber of Commerce this morning overwhelmingly approved "South ern Oregon Daylight time" to start with the opening of busi ness June 1. . It is to continue for the duration of daylight saving time in Washington, California, and northern Oregon. It means setting clocks ahead one hour until late in September. The merchants also urged customers, other allied mer chants, and surrounding communities to support the time change. The motion was approved by a vote of 29 to 2. Principal discussion at the meeting, which was also at tended by merchants from Grants Pass and Ashland, who were there as observers, concerned the difference between daylight saving time and "fast or summer" time. Daylight time, it was explained, is when the clocks are set one hour ahead. The other time would be for merchants to start the working day one hour earlier, thus closing one hour earlier, without resetting the clocks. Fast Time Proposal Opposed The fast or "summer time" was opposed by many mer chants, who said tleir customers' buying habits would have to be changed. Some merchants expressed a feeling that their customers, who had voted against daylight saving time, might object to such a move. Don McNeil; local chamber manager, stressed the amount of pressure that has been brought on the southern Oregon area to' go on daylight saving time since part of the state is currently observing this time. He added that Medford is also a hub for the northern California area which has day light saving time now. The manager listed a number of stores who would be willing to consider the change in time, adding that some of the area's, industries are already observing daylight saving time. . One major opposition to the change was voiced In a letter from Continental Trailways Bus company. Medford is currently a meal stop, since the city is on standard time. With the change in the clocks this will be eliminated mean ing a loss of approximately $10,000 in business. ' Jack McMann, manager of the Josephine County Cham ber of Commerce, said that a ested citizens" had approved June 1. School Board io Decide Medford School Superintendent Dr. Leonard B. May- field said the school board will regarding a time change for recommendation would be for ine scnoois io remain on standasd time since only about one week would remain in the school vear after June 1. MedfoVd City Manager h nor the citv council had or daylight time apy consideration. Both Duff an County Judge Earl Miner, -said tnai the legality Of any V time cnange Deiore anyming aeumie could be stated. Lesally. all of Oregon outside of Multnomah and four other counties in northern uregon, is on sianaaru time, so the action taken by the merchants is voluntary and un official. ' .,' Salem Group Joins In Fast Time Push Bv United Press tnternatlonal The Salem Chamber of Commerce plans to ask Gov. Mark Hatfield Thursday to put state office there on un official daylight time. The chamber also.' said It would urge the Salem City Council and the Marion Coun ty Court to adopt daylight time hours. The action is in line with a growing move to conform to davliaht saving time in the Portland area and four near by counties authorized by tne legislature. The Albany Retail Merch ants association voted unani mously to open and close stores an hour earlier - and many said they would change their clocks back. City Man ager William Bowman said citv office might open and close an hour earlier - with out changing the clocks since this technically is against state law. Merchants in Lebanon vot ed 17-8 in favor of fast time. A group of businessmen in Eugene voted to "urge every one" to go on the daylight hours. The City Council there will vote next Monday night on a proposal to open and close city offices an hour ear lier. Many merchants In The Dalles went on unofficial fast time Monday and on Tues day grocery stores, service stations and gasoline distrib utors, due to delivery sched ules from Portland, decided to go along starting today. All but two of 80 persons appearing at a Tillamook meeting Monday night favor ed daylight time. Many towns WEATHER FORECAST: Continued flr nd warm throtlfh Thuridty. Low tonliht 41. illlh ThurdT SO. Temp. Illthrat Vtrdy 19 Loweit Thti Mornlns 44 Our Skies Tonight Suntel today Sunrtte tomorrow 7:21 pm, 4:47 a.m. Moomet tonlcht 10:lt p.r The Moon rlrtet hlfh tonithl near Alhena In the constella tion, ftrmlnl. Flrit Quarter May 22 VIMHI.lt PLANETS Mara, aeta .. I1:S7 p.m. Saturn, rlea 12:22 a.m. Jupiter, rites 12:4) a.m. Venua, low In eaat ... 4:01 a.m. MEDFORD, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1961 group of Grants Pass "inter changing their clocks starting have to make any decisions the schools. He said that his Robert Duff said that neither aiven the question of standard iney woum nave io ciibeh . raw - , . In Lincoln county have gone on the daylight schedule. Oregon voters next year will decide the issue again. In I960 they turned down a statewide daylight time meas ure. Bids Called for New High School Bids for construction of the first unit of St. Mary's High school at' its site on Black Oak dr. off Barnett rd. will be, opened at 5 p.m. Friday, May 26, in the office of Ed- son and Pappas, Medford ar chitects. Plans for the school have been issued to selected con tractors in this area. There will be two academic structures providing 11 class rooms, an administration unit including a library, a multi purpose building, which also will contain the boiler room, and a shower and locker room building. Classrooms and the admin istration building will have wood frame floors and the two other buildings will have concrete floors. Construction will be a combination of frame and concrete block. Plans for the new high school were announced in March, this year. A new high school plant is deemed neces sary to handle an expected enrollment increase and re lieve crowded conditions In the present school. Letters Mailed To Ordinance Violators Nine letters were mailed from the district attorney's office yesterday charging pen alities for violation of dog control ordinances, according to District Attorney Alan B. Holmes. The letters were mailed to residents of Medford, Ashland and Rogue River and assessed a penalty of $10. If the fine is not paid, the district attor ney can file -civil suit in dis trict court within five days, Holmes explained. To Joddh Food L: Flfm f , I K !, iT . FREEWAY CONSTRUCTION huge supporting pillars for the freeway overhead structure that will carry traffic over Jackson, Main, Eighth,, and 12th sts. through Medford is currently being Installed after footings were poured earlier this week. The steel form for the .pillar, ' above, re Indictments Against Bengtson ft fte Resubmitted Circuit Judge Edward C. Kelly yesterday sustained a motion to resubmit to the grand jury all eight pending indictments against Medford Lawyer O. H. Bengtson, who is charged with embezzle ment. The affadavit and motion to consolidate the eight in dictments into one had been filed by Paul Haviland, court appointed prosecuting attor-, ney. Judge Kelly said he would call a grand jury meet ing in June. Yesterday, Bengtson again insisted that Judge Kelly should disqualify., himself from presiding over the case as he had offered to do pre viously. The circuit judge re peated that he would not dis qualify himself from the pre liminary procedure. "The only reason I said I would disqualify myself is that he (Bengtson) thought I should," Judge Kelly said. "I said I would disqualify my self at the time of the trial." Bengtson is charged with embezzling funds from the Medford Escrow company. He has been found guilty on two similar charges by juries In Jackson and Josephine coun ties, and was scheduled to be tried on a third Indictment Monday in Jackson county circuit court. Including the Indictment on w'hlch Monday's scheduled trial is based, there are eight Indictments now pending against him. He is currently out 6n $24,500 ball. The brief appealing the ver dict In the first conviction has been submitted to the state supreme court. The acting prosecuting attorney Is now working on his answering brief. Motion by Hotter Denied in Court A motion was denied in Jackson county circuit court yesterday which would have granted David Albert Hoffer a change of venue or permit ted the case to have been heard in another court. Hoffer, a 26-year-old tran sient, is charged with bur glary not in a dwelling. Cir cuit Judge James M. Main set his trial on May 23. Hoffer is charged with en tering the Croskell Hardware store and the Corner Club tavern, both in Central Point, on March 28 and 29 and Cook's Reception in Ashland March 27. 56th Tribune One of the Tunnel Feasibility Being Studied Jby Stafe, Chamber Told Ashland The state high way department is investigat ing feasibility of constructing 4,200 foot tunnel through the Siskiyou mountains as part of the interstate High way S freeway, according to R. B. Miller, Medford man ager of Peter Kiewlt and Sons construction company. In speaking at the Ashland Chamber of Commerce Tues day luncheon, Miller said po tential slide conditions which exist on a road over the moun tains is causing coneern. A tunnel, similar to one being pushed through Oregon moun tain on Highway 199, is a possible solution, Miller claimed. Miller discussed various aspects of Highway S freeway construction in southern Ore gon. However, he emphasized that he was not speaking as a representative of the highway department. Purchasing Equipment He esimated more than $30 million will be spent for con struction work in the Rogue valley area in the next five year. Contractors buy as much equipment from local busi nessmen as possible, Miller remarked. He said this was particularly true of small hardware items and petrole um products. "Permanent ma terials such -as steel and con Residential, Zoning Ordinance Passes Ashland Council; Objection Noted Ashland A residential zoning ordinance proposed five months ago was unani mously approved by the Ash land city council last night. The ordinance calls for es tablishing two residential zones in the city. Zone 3 is a multiple -family dwelling unit area, with most property along Siskiyou blvd. and Main st, Zone 4 Is all areas not Included in Zone 3, commer cial or industrial zones. Mini mum lot area for construction in both zones Is 6,000 square feet. Only one objection was raised at a public hearing pre ceding the council action. R; E. Jeter claimed the ordinance would prevent construction of a duplex on his property on Mountain avc. He asked Mar vin Gioege, city planner, why the boundary for Zone 3 was cut at his property line. .Existing Land Us Gioege responded by saying existing land use in the area was used In establishing boun ds IPregrai Year Price 10 Cents No. 48 sembling somewhat a rocket on its pad, was set in place yesterday at the east end of the 8th st. bridge. With the pillar in place it is possible to visualize how the freeway will change the appearance of this section of town. , crete are purchased locally frequently," Miller said. . "The percentage : of work ers imported from other areas is small, according to Miller. "Contractors prefer hiring loc al people," he added. . He said the economy of the area will be greatly benefited. "About 30 per cent of total construction cost is for wages which are spent In the area," Miller observed. In discussing bad aspects of construction, Miller said it creates hazards for children, dust and noise. , Bids for freeway paving from 12th st. in Medford to the . North Ashland inter change south of Talent should be let in the summer of 1962, Miller said. He estimated con struction would be completed by 1963. Heintz and Rodgers Con struction company of Port land should have grading completed by July, 1982, ac cording to Miller. Baseball AMERICAN LEAGUE Cleveland 1 6 0 Boston 0 6 0 Lock and Romanoi Mon bouquet! and Pagllaronl. darles. Jeter then pointed out that his land would be worth more in taxes to the city If he were allowed to build a duplex. Councilman ' Duane Baker observed that It was Impossi ble to adopt any ordinance that would satisfy everyone. Several property owners com mended Gioege and planning commission members for de velopment of the ordinance. A tentative plat for the Quiet Village subdivision was accepted. Ken Jones and Phil Bryant are developing the 10 acre subdivision located on Nevada st. west of Ashland creek. A request for city wa ter was referred to the council water committee, June 8 was set as the date for a public hearing on annex ation of the five-acre Norwood subdivision on Park st. A request by M. E. Norton to develop a subdivision on prop erty bordering Ashland Mine rd.was referred to the plan Surpluses Would Be Used To Feed Hungry of World Inter-America Partnership Urged Ottawa - IUPD -' President Kennedy appealed to Canada today to join the United States in turning the farm surpluses of both countries into vast pools of food to feed the hungry people in im poverished areas of the world. "If we can now work close ly together to make our food surpluses a blessing instead of a curse, no man, woman or child need ever go hungry again," the visiting chief ex ecutive said in a speech pre pared for a joint session of the Canadian Parliament. Urges Increased Role Kennedy at the same time urged Canada to increase its hemispheric role by joining the United States and Latin American countries as "part ner in inter - American af fairs." , .... The president outlined for his Canadian hosts, fellow members of the North Atlan tic Treaty Organization, a two - point .program for strengthening the Western al liance "to meet the defense requirements of the 1960s." U.S. Promises Arms -Giving "highest priority" to building up the conven tional capability of the al liance, to which the United States will increase the strength- and mobility of its own forces and 'equipment, while looking to the other NATO allies to give equal at tention to this task. . -Making certain that "nu clear weapons will continue to be available for the defense of the entire treatv area . . . under close and flexible po litical control that meets the needs of all NATO coun-' tries." - To Return Thursday '.'We are prepared to join our allies In working out suit- . able , arrangements for this . purpose," Kennedy said with respect. to that latter point. The president's speech fol lowed more than two hours of talks with , Canadian Prime Minister John G. Dlefenba ker, the major business Item in Kennedy's 42 hour visit here which will end with his return to Washington Thurs days V :'! ' ;, v.,..,.'. Kennedy took up with Dief- enbaker his tentative plans for a forthcoming meeting with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, it was learned on official authority. City Committee Reviews Budget The Medford city budget committee reviewed the bud gets of the water, library, po lice, fire, and health depart ments last night. Referred to committee for study was a request from the Public Library of Medford and Jackson county for ad ditional funds for salary. lighting and equipment. Also assigned for further study was the contract between the city and Jackson county for gen eral health services. An Immediate need for new fire stations in the north part of Medford was stressed. It was announced that ap proximately $9,800 more than anticipated will be received by the city from an Increase in liquor revenue. It is ex pected that the majority of this money will be added to the police department's bud get. The next meeting of the committee will be Tuesday, May 23. , . ning commission. A spokes man for Norton said 10 homes may be constructed. The five-acre Duffy-Sessions subdivision bordered by Chest nut, Walnut and Wylle st. was tentatively approved pending receipt of a formal Plat.' , i. Explains Provisions1 Harry Skerry explained proposed provisions to be in cluded in an ordinance regu lating operation of taxi cab companies in Ashland. The ordinance has been requested by Shelby Wilcox, operator of Ashland Cab company. Skerry said the proposed ordinance would give protec tion agcinst cab operators only operating during advantage ous hours or seasons. The council directed Skerry to prepare the ordinance. In other action, the street committee recommended move . lng a bus stop presently in front of the Varsity theater on Main st. to the corner of South First and East Mala sts. ,
