Palladium-Item from Richmond, Indiana • Page 15

Item Weather: Wednesday night, Thursday: Partly cloudy, cold. HE ALLA Associated Press and United Press International Leased Wire Reports AND SUN-TELEGRAM Vol. 131, No. 309 Palladium Established 1831. Consolidated with Sun-Telegram 1909 and with Item 1939.

18 Pages Two Sections Richmond, Wednesday, December 27, 1961 City Edition Single Copy 7 Cents Lnrvr ID DIUM to km fcat Act To Prevent Cause Of Costly Connersville Fire Sought; 748-Seat Fayette Movie Theater Gutted Iraqi Invasion Other Fleet Moves Kept Secret; Troops In Kenya Are Put On Alert LONDON (AP) British officials Wednesday dis closed a little armada is hurrying toward the Persian Laotian Princes' Talks Break Down Diplomats Astounded By Failure Despite Pre-Meeting Pessimism VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) The heralded three-princes' meeting apparently collapsed Wednesday in less than an hour. After months of maneuvering by Laotian politicians and pressure by foreign diplomats, neutralist Prince Souvanna Phouma and his pro-Communist half-brother Souphanouvong arrived for talks with pro-Western Premier Boun Oum on formation of a coalition government. Boun Oum neither met them at the airport nor went to the appointed meeting place. Growing impatient, the two visiting princes finally paid a courtesy call on Prince Boun Oum at his residence. The meeting lasted Gulf Oil sheikhdom of Kuwait to meet a suspected Iraqi military threat.

The admiralty said that at least six warships, led by the aircraft carrier Centaur, have sailed from the East African base of Mombasa for an unannounced destination. Other officials reported that the ships, which include two frigates, a tank landing ship and two big fleet the Kuwait area. 1 i 'f- 1 '4 ants escaped from a Vientiane prison in the spring of 1960. "Coalition can only be formed if each party brings to the meeting good faith and good will," Souvanna Phouma said at the airport. "I appeal to all Lao and particularly to the population of Vientiane to support firmly a policy of peace and strict neutrality and to support the three princes meeting until a final result is Nolte Photo Two firemen, silhouetted against flames, battle the raging blaze late Tuesday afternoon at the Eagles lodge building in Connersville.

The fire was discovered about 4:45 p. m. At one point, part of the west wall of the brick building toppled onto the roof of an unoccupied one-story building on the west side of it. The smaller building The fire department was summoned, around 4:45 p. m.

There were some persons in the lodge's basement restaurant when the fire broke out, but they were evacuated from the building. The restaurant served meals daily to lodge members and guests. The theater reportedly was empty following a matinee earlier in the afternoon. Managed by Miss Katherine Fettig, the theater was leased from the lodge by Harold and Pell, of Rushville, Armstrong said. The 728-seat Fayette theater was Connersville's only theater, having a balcony, gallery and box seats.

assisted the local department In confining the fire to the 55-year-old structure. Clifford Armstrong, chairman of the board of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, No. 1065, said the fire was discovered in a dressing room beneath the theater stage by Pete Flannigan, a custodian, and Herman Thieman, local policeman. Find Fire The pair was investigating the presence of smoke in the building when they discovered the fire and attempted to put it out with hand fire extinguishers. The building was not protected by automatic fire prevention sprinklers but was covered by insurance.

Two-Inch Snowfall Makes Roads Slick auxiliaries, are heading for They added several other pre cautionary Bntish fleet moves are under way but are still secret. Over the Christmas weekend intelligence and diplomatic reports from the region indicated to the British government that Iraqi Premier Abdel Karim Kas-sim has been massing troops, possibly as the prelude to an invasion to achieve the annexation of Kuwait he threatened last summer. The defense ministry announced Tuesday that 300 troops, most of them transport aircraft crew men, had been put on the alert, and troops were reported standing by to be flown from Nairobi, Kenya, if needed. Britain forestalled an Iraqi invasion last July by landing troops in Kuwait at the request of Sheik Abdullah As-Salim As-Sabah after Kassim renewed his country's claim to the little neighboring territory. Arab league troops, which replaced British commandos, jet planes and warships in Kuwait last September, amount to only a token force.

In London's view the Arabs would not be able to stop any full-scale assault by the Iraqis. The British show of strength clearly was calculated to deter any Iraqi thrust against Kuwait where British, American, French and Dutch oil interests have a huge investment Britain's Defense Minister Harold Watkinson interrupted bis Christmas vacation and neid a conference with senior armed services chiefs. Later, a spokes man said "tension in Kuwait" had been under discussion. Besides sending the small ar mada toward Kuwait, the defense ministry alerted elements of the Police To Wear New Name Badge Richmond police, starting Wednesday, no longer will be known just by numbers. Each member is being issued a silver identification bar to be placed just above his badge bear ing his last name and the initial of his first name.

Police Chief Orville Conyers said that the use of identification bars is becoming standard prac tice throughout the country. Badges will continue to carry the number assigned to the officer, however. Puppy Born Green BATHGATE, Scotland (UPI)- David Moran said Wednesday his 3-year-old Labrador dog, Judy, gave birth Christmas Eve to litter of six gold-colored puppies and one green one. A veterinari an said the green puppy will turn gold-colored within a few weeks Thomas Hart, a light plant trouble man, and in charge of emergency electrical equipment for civil defense, fired up the civil defense auxiliary generator, stored in the Fire department garage, and supplied 2,500 watts of current to operate emergency lighting at 110 volts for the Fire department and Police department and to operate radio transmitters for the two departments. In Tuesday's outage the cruiser units were used to transmit calls.

The burglar alarms, fire alarms and other emergency equipment for both departments all have supplemental current supplies, either by small generators or by heavy duty batteries. Fire Chief Fred Hotz said that there was no danger of fire because the cables feeding the building are encased in conduit and that the short in the circuit blew fuses, shutting off the current strategic reserve in this country, the Middle East and East Africa for possible movement on 12-hour notice. Ships sailing from Mombasa in cluded the frigates Plymouth and Loch Alvie, the tank landing ship Striker and the supply ships Tidesurge and Retainer. Some of the officers and men of the carrier Centaur were sum moned from a Christmas party when she sailed. About 300 men, 170 Royal Air force and 30 army personnel, who had been on standby in Britain over the weekend, have been flown to the Middle East, apparently to Bahrein, only about an hour's flight from Kuwait.

Bound By Treaty Britain is bound by treaty to protect the sheikdom on the northern end of the Persian gulf. Kuwait was a British protectorate until last June. British forces withdrew from Kuwait in September after Arab League countries, despite Iraq's objections, sent 2,000 troops to Kuwait to protect it. Informants said Sheik Abdullah had not requested the British precautionary measures. The British announcement as serted that "during the past 24 hours our forecast that the Christ mas period might be used to in crease tension has been partially confirmed as far as the Middle East is concerned.

"Although operations are not thought to be imminent, certain small-scale precautionary measures have again had to be taken." Foreign Minister Hash em Ja- wad of Iraq declared in a statement broadcast by Baghdad radio Tuesday that Iraq considers the establishment of diplomatic rela tions with Kuwait by countries which have representatives in Baghdad an "unfriendly act designed to deny Iraq's rights and harm its vital interests." He said Kassem's government would reconsider its relations with such countries. Kuwait protested to the Arab league last week that Iraq bad seized 10 of its ships off the Iraqi port of Basra. It also claimed that Kassem's regime had frozen all Kuwaiti deposits in Iraqi banks. Baghdad newspapers condemned the British military moves, calling them "provocative procedures against the Iraqi Republic and in favor of Kuwaiti sheiks" and "aggressive meddling under cover of protecting the alleged Kuwaiti independence." Weather (By Associated Press From U.S. Weather Bureau) Richmond District-Partly cloudy and cold Wednesday night and Thursday.

Low Wednesday night 7-13. High Thursday 22-28. Richmond Temperatures Tuesday, 43; 25; Wednesday, 6 a. 31; noon, 26. Snowfall Wednesday, 2 inches.

Hagersrown Man Sells Hammer Mill On First Call This is what Mr. P. Locker, Hagerstown, reported from his classified ad shown below. Farm Equipment 77 13" HAMMER MILL with feed table. Corn shelter with cob elevator.

Phone 4181, Hagerstown, Ind. If you have farm equipment or any other tools and machinery to sell use a classified ad to reach buyers. Phone 2-4221 to place your ad, or mail or bring your ad to the Classified department. Read for Profit Use for Results Palladium-Item Classified Want Ads is owned by Paul Deaton, who also leases the phonograph sup ply firm office in the lodge building. The Connersville fire chief said, "It was two hours before we knew which way the fire was going to go." Wnen the fire was at its height, one observer said flames shot about 50 feet into the air.

"Two or three back-draft explosions" inside the building could have been dangerous if firemen had been near them, Sasser said. Crowds Line Streets Crowds of onlookers lined Central and Grand avenues at a safe distance from the blaze Tuesday night. Local police and members of Fayette County Civil Defense assisted at the scene. The first aid emergency unit was standing by to treat minor injuries. Red Cross workers served cof fee, doughnuts and sandwiches to firemen and others working at the scene.

The blaze was Connersville's second major fire this month and second costly downtown fire for the year. A fire at Leiter's de partment store caused an estimated $75,000 in damage early this year. Loss was-set at $20,000 in a blaze Dec. 20 at the Benson Aluminum company plant north of here on The Eagles lodge building was built about 1905, according to Armstrong and Sasser, on the site where the Central Manufacturing company had been destroyed by fire. The lodge purchased the building in 1924, Armstrong said.

less than an hour. Boun Oum told newsmen that as far as he was concerned there was no further need of a princely meeting, adding: "The two princes came to see me and we talked, there you had your princely meeting." The outcome astounded and depressed diplomats in this little kingdom, who had watched the weeks of haggling over trivial ar rangements for the meeting. But their hopes never had been high. Some had agreed it would take a miracle for an agreement to be reached. On arriving in this capital Souphanouvong did nothing to help the atmosphere.

He denounced "American warmongers" and Boun Oum's pro-Western government. Souvanna's tone, however, was conciliatory. The quick breakup of the meeting apparently angered both and they refused Boun Oum's invitation to dinner. Outcome Tragic Although the quick fizzling of the conference verged on the comic, it could have tragic consequences for this small Southeast Asian nation which was threatened with becoming a Koreanlike battleground all through this year. Boun Oum said he did not plan to meet the two visitors again.

He told newsmen: "I told Souvanna Phouma 'You have not yet given any proof of neutrality. Every time you speak about neutrality your troops and the Viet Minn (North Viet Nam Communists) attack our posts. The people and elite of Vientiane have no confidence in you. They judge you not by your speeches but by your The three princes previously had agreed on the principles of a formula which would make Souvanna premier and divide a 16-man cabinet, with four from Boun Oum's faction, eight neutralists and four from Souphanouvong's pro-Communist Pathet Lao. But Boun Oum said he told Souvanna the eight neutralists should be divided equally between Souvanna neutralists and Vientiane neutralists.

Further, the important posts of defense and interior must be given to the right-wingers "because Souvanna is not yet a neutral," Boun Oum said. Different Formula This was an entirely different formula from what the two opposition princes had expected. Boun Oum said a conference to thrash out the distribution of jobs was "a carnival and I don't want to take part in it, the two princes wanted to visit me so they came and I said thank you for your visit. I have nothing more to tell Prince Souvanna phouma." There was no foreseeable action which diplomats could take im mediately to salvage the meeting It was Souvanna Phouma's first visit to Vientiane since Dec. 9, 1960, when his government aban doned the capital to the advanc ing forces of Gen.

Phoumi Nosa-van, now the deputy premier in Boun Oum's government. Souphanouvong and his top lieuten Ironic Situation In Action Against Reds In U.S. Columnist Riesel says FBI probably would have to expose its underground system in order to get convictions. He Writes About It On The Editorial Page achieved. Christmas Traffic Toll Totals 524 CHICAGO (AP) The nation's traffic deaths during the Christ mas holiday totaled 524, the highest toll for a three-day Christ mas peirod sonce 1955.

The Associated Press survey also showed 83 deaths in fires and 86 in miscellaneous accidents. The National Safety council, which had estimated 500 traffic fatali ties, said its count showed 523 killed. The traffic toll in last year's Christmas holiday period was 488, the lowest in 10 years for a three-day observance. The council estimates 330 per sons will be killed in auto accidents during the three-day New Year's holiday period starting at 6 p. m.

Friday. The toll in last New Year's period, also a Satur day-Sunday-Monday weekend, was 338. Jury Is Called For Fifth Case Of Drunk Driving The Wayne Superior court petit jury has been called for 1:15 p. m. Tuesday, Jan.

2, to hear the drunken driving trial of George ronseca. Judge John H. Bru-baker issued the order to the sheriff's department Wednesday to summon the 35 prospective jurors drawn for the January term of court. Fonseca was arrested on the charge Apr. 1 on U.S.-40, east of Centerville.

Police records show it was his fifth drunken driving arrest. The 35-year-old Richmond man was convicted in Richmond City court once in 1951, twice in 1952 and once in 1957. At the time of his arrest Fon seca gave ii Nortn lwentieth street as his address. Celebration Of Arrival Means The New Year's holiday on Monday will bring a second long weekend to area residents. Most of those employed in Rich mond factories will not work Sat urday, Sunday or on the Monday holiday.

However, annual inven tories, plant maintenance and a few special assignments will keep some factory employees at their jobs Saturday. Two Richmond banks and three savings and loan associations will be closed as usual on Saturday to give employees of these institutions another three-day weekend. Downtown stores will observe their usual Saturday hours with employees off Saturday evening to report back for work Tuesday morning. Most office workers will be off either for three-and-a-half-or two-day vacations. Offices in the courthouse and at the city building will be closed all day Monday but will be open for business until noon on Saturday, The West Side auto license bureau planned to remain open all day to (Other Photos On Page 3) CONNERSVILLE.

An investigation was underway Wednesday determine the cause of a fire that destroyed the three-story Eagles lodge building Tuesday evening. Fire Chief Lowell Sasser said the exact cause remained a mys tery. He indicated that if Conners ville firemen could not reach a decision, the state fire marshal's aid would be sought. Estimates of the loss ranged from $100,000 to $300,000. Insurance adjusters were expected to make a separate investigation as soon as the fire had been extin-quished.

Chief Sasser said another small fire broke out during the night, but caused no further damage. Firemen kept the blaze from an open gas line, the chief stated. Two local firemen, Capt. Eugene Perkins and Edward Grant, were released Wednesday afternoon from Fayette Memorial hospital. Both were overcome by smoke and exhaustion while fighting the blaze.

It took firemen two hours to bring the blaze under control. The blaze, which apparently started in the southwest corner of the basement, spread rapidly through the brick building which also houses the Fayette theater. Everything in the building was lost, including merchandise and equipment in the office of the Western Sales corporation, 123 West Seventh street, a supplier of coin-operated phonographs. Burned power Tines darkened several sections of the city. Firemen from Everton, Glen-wood, Liberty, Richmond, Cambridge City, Rushville and Milton New Year's Long Holiday Saturday while the East Side one had tentatively scheduled a noon closing.

There will be no regular mail delivery Monday but special deliv ery mail will go out as usual. Win dows at the main post office will be open all day Saturday until 5 p. m. while windows at the Friends station on the west side will close at noon on Saturday and the annex on North street' just east of the Pennsylvania railroad station will be closed all day Saturday. Richmond school people will re turn to classes at the regular time Tuesday morning.

The city li brary will be closed all day Monday but the customary hours until 5:30 p. m. Saturday will be observed. Utility offices will close as usual on Saturday and remain closed until Tuesday morning. Celebrations welcoming the New Year 1962 are being scheduled both for Saturday and Sunday nights.

Some Richmond churches are planning watch night services Sunday night. City Hall's Faulty Power Cable In Tunnel Replaced Stearns, 27-year-old Cincinnati man, hit a tree headon after miss ing a curve and going off the highway. Stearns was reported in fairly good condition early Wednesday afternoon in Reid Memorial hospi tal where he was taken in a Richmond police ambulance. Deputy McCann said Stearns evidently was driving fast and lost control of his vehicle. He was thrown against the windshield and received a severe right arm injury and possible back injury.

Eugene W. Ross, 23-year-old Muncie resident, escaped injury, but his auto was damaged in the front and on both sides when he skidded on U.S.-35 just west of the intersection of and hit the guard rail. The rail is credited with preventing Ross' auto from going down a steep embankment Ross is employed at the Employment Security office in Richmond and was enroute to work about 8 a. m. when the accident happened.

Professor Says Title Of "Underground Railroad" Unmerited Refers to project as a "legend" but additional facts are cited by Luther M. Feeger in support of the authenticity of the stories about the movement. His Article Appears On Page 13 An early-morning snowfall made driving conditions hazardous Tuesday, but traffic officers reported less than a half dozen accidents. The snow started falling about 2 a. m.

and lasted about six hours. By mid-afternoon most of it had turned to slush on local streets. Ray Mendenhall, 62 years old, 8I714 North street, became ill after shoveling snow. He was taken to Reid Memorial hospital from North Tenth and A streets by police. The Wednesday noon tempera ture was 26 degrees.

Coasting hills attracted children with new Christmas sleds. Added snow flurries can be expected the rest of the week, the Indiana Weather bureau stated. Richmond street department workers were called out at 4 a. and threw four plows, four sand and salt spreaders and a grader into battle to clear the streets of the 2-inch snow. Street Commissioner Manley Lawrence said that before mid-morning equipment had taken care of most of the city's 80 miles of streets.

The State Highway department sent 28 trucks and 50 men to scattered parts of the area. They scattered a mixture of two parts of salt to three parts of sand. The snow was reported heavier in Henry county and lighter in southern Fayette county. An auto driven by Robert Lind' sey, 218 Cartwright drive, was hit by one driven by Dorothy Morris of 914 South Ninth street at West Fifteenth and Main streets. The accident occurred Wednesday noon.

Police said Lindsey was northbound when he drove into the intersection. The other car was eastbound. The only personal injury accident happened about 4 a. m. on the Smithfield road one and one-half miles southeast of Abington.

Deputy Sheriff H. D. McCann said the auto of Delbert Lee Light plant workmen Wednesday replaced a grounded cable in a tunnel between the main part of the City building and the fire station after he grounding put City hall in darkness for a time Tuesday. Light plant crewmen Tuesday installed a temporary line into the building to permit business to continue. In the replacement Wednesday, all lights were cut off promptly at 9:30 a.

bringing city business, including City court to a sudden halt. Department heads for the most part had told personnel not to report for work until afternoon, due to the announcement that it would take two hours and a half to make the repairs. As it was, the light plant crew speeded up the job and lights were back on within less than an hour..