davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
Safe Crackers Are
Foiled At Milford
Southern States Strong Box Is
Too Tough; $6OO.OO Safe

Safecrackers were Aat work in
Sussex County again last Friday
night, this time in a vain attempt
to open a modern safe in the
Southern States Cooperative ware
house at Milford.
On Saturday night of last week,
two safes were removed from ad-
jacent stores in Georgetown.
Delaware State Police, still work
ing on that case, have joined Mil
ford town police in an investiga-
tion of this latest attempt.
Holes had been drilled through
the door of the steel box, and q
crowbar which police said had been
used in an effort to pTy open the
door, was found nearby.
Inside and still intact, police
said, was $500 in cash.
Robert Jaquette, manager of the
warehouse, said he left the build.
ing at closing time, but returned
at about 1880 o'clock to do some
work. He found the back door oi
the warehouse open and investi.
gated.
He found the holes in the door
of the safe. In addition to tht
crowbar he discovered a hacksaw.
Utley Roberts, a Southern States
emplayee, said that he and Othe
employees working in the from
part of the building, heard some
one enter the rear at about 4:3
O'Clock last Friday afternoon. A
soon as he had an opportunity
Roberts said, he went back to in
vestigate but saw no one.
Police believe that the person o
persons Roberts heard, hid in tn
Continued on page g.
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
u. S. Taxes
Set All Time
High Record
$54,5OO, 100000 Collected,
Individual Averag ges
1912 Paid For Govern
ment Use.
By Associated Press

The American tax bill scared to
a new record-$54, 500, 900, ,0O0-for
the fiscal year ended June 80, 194S.
For each person this averaged
$372-also the highest ever.
This means all taxes, federal,
state and local.
The Census Bureau, reporting
this week, said the previous tax
high was $4,000, 100000 for the
year ending in mid-1945. Two years
later, tax collections dropped to
s49. .60O,000,O00 or 1914 per capita.
Nearly three-fourths ($40.100.-
O0O,000) of the 194S tax total, or
$274 per person, was collected by
the federal government. State gov
ernments took $50 per capital; To-
cal governments the remaining
$45.
The bureaus tax figures were on
a net basis-after deduction of tax
refunds. It said taxes accounted
for 95 per cent of the $57 300, 0,000,.
600 total of governmental revenue
in fiscal 194S.
(Fees and other charges for
services, surplus property
sales, ETC., provided $2,700, ,000,-
000.)
Comparing fiscal 194S (endeC
June 30) with the previous year, thu
bureau found: Federal revenue VI
SO, 900, 100000, though still below
its 1945 peak of $43.400,O00 900
( Continued on page l4)
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
Local Man Jailed
On Murder Charge
Stewart Hill Alleged To Have Slain
Robert Ross

Stewart Hill, 2S. is being held
by Milford town police. charged
with the murder of Robert Ross,
As.
According to police, an argument
at Hills home last Friday night
led to the shooting shortly after
ward on North East Front street,
part of Highway IA. Hill followed
Ross, police said, carrying a rife.
During a scuffle on the road, the
rife went off, wounding Ross in the
head. Police said Hill then beat
Ross's head with the rife butt. The
victim was pronounced dead upon
arrival at the Milford Memorial
Hospital.
Hill was held in Milford Jail
without bail and was arraigned be-
fore Justice Edward c. Warren on
a charge of murder and taken to
the county Jail at Dover.
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
Boy Seriously Hurt
By Shot Gun Blast
Nephew OF Amanda Stevenson OF
Milford Victim OF Accident

Palmer Prettyman of Morris
town, N. j., was accidentally in
jured by the discharge of a shot
gun last Friday and is now in the
Beebe Hospital. Lewes. Young
Palmer is the son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Harold Prettyman of Morristown.
N. j., but was spending the sum-
mer with his aunt and uncle, Mr..
and Mrs. Carter Markham on their
farm below HarbesOn at Fair
mount. The shot did much dam
age to the left hand and for a while
amputation was feared, also pen
etrated the lungs. All efforts are
being made to save the hand and
he is now fighting a brave fight for
recovery.
His parents and brothers were
planning to spend the month of
August at Oak Orchard and were
in the last stages of packing when
news of the accident reached them.
They are now at his bedside and
the youth seems to have somewhat
regained his former cheerful spir-
it.
He is a nephew of Mrs. Amanda
P. Stevenson of Milford. 1t was al
/ her home that the accident occur.
red.
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
DR.. Ostrom Elevated
By Education Board

The State Board of Education
at its last meeting in Dover elect
ed DR.. Stanley 0strom to the posi-
ton OF Director of Child Develop
ment and Guidance.
DR.. George R. Miller, Jr., State
Superintendent, stated that the
newly created post in the State
Department of Public Instruction
is designed presently to coordinate
the activities of the special edu-
cation and guidance fields. DR..
Miller stated that such coordina-
ton has been necessary for some
time. He added that it does not
CONTINUED On page %
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
Second Brother Is
Held In Burglary
Series In Sussex
LOCAL WOMEN TO
ATTEND PA. SESSION

Mrs. Clarence Jester, rep
resenting the Sussex Pomo-
ma Grange, and Mrs. Charles
Lacy, representing the Mil
ford Grange, will attend a
three-day Middle Atlantic
Grange Lecturers Confer
ence to be held at Indiana,
Pa.
They are a part of a dele
cation of II lecturers from
this state.
While at the conference
the Delaware group will
dramatize the poem written
by the late George B. Hyn-
son of Milford, entitled "The
Blue Hens Brood"
Mr.. Hynson, who compos-
ed the state song, "Our Del
aware" edited the Milford
News and Advertiser, and
later was an editor of the
Wilmington Every Evening.
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
D. E. c. |. VIII Hold
Meeting For Members
Session win Be Held August II
At Fair Grounds

The Delaware Electric Cooper
ative, Inc, will hold it's annual
members meeting on Wednesday,
August II, at the Harrington Fair
Grounds.
At 10:00 a. m. displays will be
opened under the grandstand.
These displays and demonstrations
will be by national manufacturers
and distributors of electrical farm
appliances and equipment.
Lunch will be served at the res
taurant in the rear of the grand
stand at 1900 noon. ,
The formal business meeting
will be held in the grandstand al
1870 p. m. after a concert by the
Harrington High School Band.
The business meeting will con
sist of two brief reports on finances
and operations and the election o
nine directors to the cooperative
board.
The highlight of the program
will be a talk on opportunity b!
Sol We'll of the George D.. Rope
Corp, Rockford, Illinois.
Door prizes will be presented b,
/ the dealers and distributors.
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
Cocktail Room Burned
At Hotel Windsor
"Blue Room" Gutted By Blaze Ear
ly Thursday Morning

Only the prompt response of the
Carlisle Fire Company, Milford,
prevented the ancient Hotel Wind
sor from becoming a holocaust,
when fire broke out in the cocktail
lounge, known as the BLUE Room"
in the rear of the rambling brick
and frame structure early Thurs
day morning.
According to the proprietor of
the hotel, Seymour Gellens, the
blaze was discovered by an en-
ployee of the hostlery, about 10
minutes of one, Thursday morning.
An alarm was Immediately sent to
the Carlisle Fire Company, and in
a matter of very few minutes, the
local firefighters were in action
with three bumpers, bringing the
fire under control at One-fifteen.
The sixty guests were notified
of the blaze by the switchboard
operator and other employees of the
feontinued on page 81
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
Warn Fruit Packers
On Employing Minors
ViOIatOrs OF Act VIII Be Punished
BY Law

Minors under 18 years of age are
banned by the child labor regula-
tiOns under the Fair Labor Stand
ards Act Federal Wage and Hour
Law from operating pOwer-driven
woodworking machines, including
lidding machines in fresh fruit and
vegetable packing sheds.
This warning was sounded this
week for the benefit of the fresh
fruit and vegetable packing indus
try in Delaware by William Har-
gadine, acting regional director of
the Wage and Hour and Public
Contracts Divisions, U. S. Depart
ment of Labor. Operation of all
power-driven woodworking ma
chimes. wherever used, is classed
as a hazardous occupation under
the act and the minimum age fol
work in such an occupation is Il
years, he explained.
Continued on page %
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
DESMOND HEADS
CENSUS IN STATE

A. Leroy Desmond Of Will
mington, who has been con-
nected with the Delaware
Office, Bureau of Census,
since the census of business
for 1949 was started in the
early spring, has assumed
the position of district su-
pervisor of census for Della
ware.
Arno G. Loessner, Newark,
who was district supervisor
for Delaware, became a mem
Der of the sales department
of the Bellanca Aircraft Cor
poration. Mr.. Loessner is a
former secretary of U. S.
Senator Claude Pepper, Flor
ida.
Mr.. Desmond said that ap-
proximately so per cent of
the 1000 business firms in
the state required to make
out forms for the census of
business for 1949 have COM
pleted them. AS soon as the
remaining forms have been
completed, preliminary work
for the seventeenth decen-
MEL census of population in
1850 will begin. Mr.. Des-
mond said that no additional
assistance would be required
until 1850.
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
Milford Day
At Carvel
W ell Attended
Over One Hundred Local
Residents Accept Invi-
tatiOn To Visit Fort
Miles Last Tuesday.

One hundred and thirty Milford
ians were present for the Milford
Day observance at Camp Carvel,
Fort Miles, on Tuesday of this
week. The enthusiastic local dele
cation was headed by Mayor c. V.
Wilkerson.
The group was welcomed to the
camp by the commanding officer,
Colonel John B. Moore. Colonel
Moore explained that it was the
largest encampment of citizen SOL
diers ever held in Delaware and he
extended the welcome on behalf Of
all the officers and men participat-
ing. Colonel Moore said that the
camp was unusual in many ways
first it is at regular army post
at Fort Miles; second it's the first
time that the National Guard and
officers Reserve Corps have held a
joint encampment.
After being tagged with Milford
Day tags and registering, The del
egation boarded six army trucks
for a tour of the camp. The first
stop was the mine building, where
the visitors we're shown the huge
mines stored there, also were shown
the makeup of each mine in de-
TAIL From there they went to the
cable building, where huge cables
are stored. The instructor stated
that in an emergency it would only
/ be a few hours until the mines
could be anchored.
Leaving the cable building the
visitors we're taken to the embank-
ment where the 12-inch guns were
set-up during the recent war. This
embankment is of concrete, is all
conditioned, and very cool. Many
of the delegation expressed their
desire to be there during this hot
spell. Leaving this embankment
the group was taken to the Pos
Officers Club, where they were
guests of Paul R. Rinard, the Ad
jutant General for the State Of
Delaware. Here they were served
with cooling drinks. At the close
of this get-to-gether, Mr.. RinarC
told the group that it was original
ly planned for all to eat at thu
officers mess building, but at thi'
. delegation exceeded all expecta
tions it would be necessary to di
vide the group. He asked the par
J ents, wives or sweetbearts of Bat
terry c. Milford's own, to board tn
, first three trucks to be takel
there. Arriving at Battery c. tn
J visitors were given a rOusing re
: CONTINUED on page 81
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12

number of rehabilitations since the'
initiation of the division in 1889,
with a. total of 40 persons aided.
This represents an increase of
more than Is per cent over last
years record figure of 347, and a
healthy growth of the division since
the first year of 1939-4O, when 16
were rehabilitated.
OF the 410 persons aided, the re-
port added, q per cent were vet
Grams of World War II, with 283
males and 127 females represented,
the average age of them being 81
years and one month.
Eighty5two per cent Of those
helped were unemployed at the
time Of their interview, and earn
ings averaged only $4.74 per week.
After rehabilitation, the report
said, the average income rose to
continued on page is)
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
$40, 600 Is Returned
To State BY Woman
Refuses To Retain 500 Which
Was Given By State

Mrs. Fannie M. Scott, 81, of Re-
hOboth Beach, on Tuesday of this
week signed a check for $4,000
payable to State Treasurer Will
lard D. Boyce in full payment for
the amount enormously received
from the state, her attorney an
nounced.
w. Howard Thompson, Rehoboth
lawyer representing the woman,
said the check will be turned over
to Deputy Attorney General Daniel
j. Layton, Jr., who has been in
charge of the overpayment case
for the state.
The attorney said Mrs. Scott had
decided to return the full amount
to the state, even refusing to re-
tain the $500 which had been
awarded her by the Legislature in
the case growing out of the acci-
dent in which her son, Norman d
Scott, 20, was killed November 27
1947, at the Mispillion River draw
bridge. near Milford.
Inc Dlll do AAiLAOOuSCQ SdAACN AOi
payment of $4,000 damages to Mrs
Scott but the Legislature amended
this amount to $500. Through G
clerical error a check for $4,000
was sent to Mrs. Scott. She de
posted the money in the account:
of her daughters, Miss Ann Scot
and Mrs. Gladys Hayden, in thu
Rehoboth Trust Company.
Mr.. Thompson said that Mis-
Scott and Mrs. Hayden turned owe
their accounts to their mother OIL
Tuesday and she Immediately tool
steps to return the full sum.
Returns Full Amount
Mrs. Scott decided to return tn
continued on page 81
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
Twin OF First Suspect
Taken Into Custody In
Houston Through The
Alertness OF Citizens
Who Summoned Police.

A team of alleged safe crackers,
said by police to have operated out
of house trailer at Lynch Heights
near Milford while covering prac-
tically all of Sussex County, was
in the custody of state police Tues
day night with the arrest of the
second of a set Of twin brothers.
The arrest of the second man in
Houston Tuesday afternoon came
almost simultaneously with the re-
covery Of the trailer by Maryland
state police, after a 13-state alarm
had been broadcast.
The arrest at Houston was made
possible by the cooperation of sew
eral of residents of that commun-
ity, who kept the alleged suspect
under surveillance until the arriv-
al of the authorities.
Herbert Napier, 80, who, accord
ing to the Maryland police, is want
ed in Kentucky, was captured by
Delaware state troopers from
Bridgeville shortly after noon on
Tuesday, his clothing covered with
mud from the swamp where he had
hidden during the night and his
face and arms marked by insect
bites. His twin brother, william.
had been taken into custody by
state police at Dover Monday.
Trailer Searched
Maryland state police said the
trailer out of which the brothers
operated was found on Route so,
two miles west. of Ocean City by
Maryland Trooper w. K. Tyler.
Colonel Herbert Barnes, superin-
tendent of Delaware state police,
Continued on page -
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
COP. In Kent
Names YerkeS
C Chairma m a n
Senator Vera G. Davis
Loses Chairmanship In
Session Last Friday
Despite Protests.

State Senator Vera G.. Davis was
shorn of all official leadership of
the Kent County Republican Com
mittee in Dover last Friday night.
Mrs. Davis last Saturday said the
meeting was called ''for the pur-
pose of throwing me out"
With 38 of AZ members of the
committee present, former State
Senator Robert H. Yerkes of Hous-
ton was elected the new chairman
of the committee, despite protests
from Mrs. Davis and another COM
mittee member, Cornelia Campbell
of the Seventh Kent County Dis
trict that the meeting was illegally
called and that the proceedings
were not in accordance with COM
mittee rules.
However, Mr.. Yerkes, on the
other hand, said the meeting was
completely in line with party
rules" and quoted the following
rule on how meetings can be call
ed:
"Ten members may call a meet
ing on their own initiative provided
proper notices, signed by all mem
bers requesting the meeting, are
sent to all members of the COM
mittee advertising the meeting five
days before the date scheduled. y
This, he said. had been done.
Offices Declared Vacant
After Mr.. Yerkes opened the
meeting, W. Hayes Wilson of Do.
yer, introduced a motion which
was carried. declaring all Offices
of the committee vacant.
Ralph w. Wine of Woodside was
named to serve as temporary chair
man. Then, by a vote of 800, Mr.
Yerkes, whose name was PLACED
in nomination by Charles Hanratt!
of Smyrna, register in chancer!
and clerk of the Kent County Or
phans' Court, was elected chair
man.
Continued on page 81
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
State Gas Tax TLCice
Cigarette Toll
Position OF Motorists In
Regard To Taxes Is
Explained

Anyone who is angry about the
new tax imposed on cigarettes
should be twice as angry about the
increase in the state gasoline tax, +"
Charles w. Lawson, chairman of
the Delaware Highway Users Con-
ference and executive secretary of
the Delaware Automobile and
Aeronautic Association declared
today He explained that the gas
oiine tax increase adopted at the
recent session of the State Legis-
lature will cost the average Della
ware car-owning cigarette-smoker
two-and-a-half times as much as
the new tax imposed on cigarettes,
continued on page 81
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
u. S. D. A. Announces
Turkey Support Prices

The U. S. Department of Agri-
culture has announced a program
for the support of turkey prices to
growers, according to information
received by Ernest M. Mattiford,
acting chairman of the Delaware
Production and Marketing Admin
istration. The national average for
live turkeys works out to about 81
cents a pound, which is expected to
come close to 80 per cent of par
ity for the marketing season.
For producers, the turkey sup
port program will operate from Au-
continued on page %
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
Bob Baynurn Is
Honored BY Lions
Local Service Club Head Appoint
ed Deputy District Governor

Francis B. Gebhart of Smyrna.
district governor of District No.
22-D of Lions International. has
announced the appointment of Rob-
ert (Bob) Baynum, president of the
Milford Lions Club, as deputy dis
trict governor of District No. 22-D.
AS deputy district governor, Bay
mum will be in charge of Region
No. 8, which comprises Lions Clubs
at Milford, Milton. Georgetown.
Lewes, Rehoboth, Millsboro, Days
boro, Lord Baltimore and Selby-
vile. Baynum succeeds Howard
(Doc) Furniss, past president of
the Milford Lions Club as deputy
district governor.
Frank ]. Horty, Wilmington, has
been appointed deputy district gov
ernor of Region No. 1 of 22-D, and
John Stallings, Laurel, has been
appointed deputy district governor
of Region No. of 22-D.
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
Kay Robinson
OF SeafOrd Is
Junior Miss
DelaW are
Blende Seventeen. Year
Old Sussex B eauty
Leads Seven Others To
Take Crown AT RehO-
both Finals.

The right to represent Delaware
in the Junior Miss America" con-
test at Pittsburgh this week was
won by Kay Robinson, 17-year-old
high school girl who led seven
other contestants in the finals Of
the state contest at Rehoboth Beach
last Saturday night.
Miss Robinson, a blonde, foot
2 inches tall and weighing 109
pounds, amassed the most points
in the appraising by a panel of
six judges who we're instructed to
judge the girls on beauty, form,
and talent, each carrying a maxi
mum of five points.
Wore Coral Bathing Suit
Miss Robinson wore a coral bath
ing suit and gave recitation for
her demonstration of talent.
AS the state winner Miss Robin
son received a silver trophy from
Alexander and Doughty antique
shop of Baltimore and Rehoboth;
$3.50 in cash and a record-playel
radio from Rodgers Record ShoI
of Rehoboth. When she return:
from Pittsburgh she will also ge
a weeks vacation at Rehobotl
Beach from Plaza Hotel, Kaye
Restaurant and Tic-Toc Restaur
ant; and have two portraits paint
ed by Clifton Henrik and Johl
Jacobsen. two boardwalk artists
The Bird-Speakman Shop of Viii
mington will provide her with
complete wardrobe for her trip.
Runnerup TO Miss Robinson wa
a Rehoboth Beach girl. Alice Rich
ards, 10. She is also 5 feet inche
tall. and weighs 9S pounds. For he
talent, Miss Richards displayed t
the judges some of her art worl
She received $3.50.
Newark Girl Third
Third was a batOn-twirler frOT
Newark, Shirley Boulden who j
CONTINUED on page isl
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
Polio Cases In State
Still Remain Lou
Six Under Treatment, With
Two Others Undergoing
Observation

There are six patients under
treatment for polio and two under
observation as possible sufferers
from the disease in hospitals of
Wilmington, according to a re-
port by the Wilmington Health
Department.
Three of the patients-one for
treatment and two for observation
were admitted over the past
weekend.
The new treatment case and one
of the older ones are of the nom
paralytic type of the disease. The
other four treatment cases are of
the paralytic variety.
Continued on page 19)
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
Grier Family Reunion
To Be Held Sunday
Plans Are Complete For Annual
Celebration Here

The 1949 meeting of the Grier
family is scheduled to be held at
the residence of Clara and George
Macklin, Kings Highway, Sunday
afternoon, August IA, with Harry
Pierce, Jay Pierce and Haswell
Pierce as co-hosts, being the chill
dren of Georgia Grier Pierce.
All of the Grier clan are invited
The living descendants of George
S. and James Grier are urged to be
present.
The Macklin lawn is usually a
very pleasant spot, even on very
hot day, so bring your basket
lunch. Coffee and soft drinks will
be served by the hosts. Come early
and stay late.
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12

contests, only the TWO Top scores
from each county received the
awards.
Scholarship winners, who will
receive all-eXpense trips to the
three-day All event next June
are:
Vegetable Judging: Robert Good
rich, Bear; Vaughn Fox. Newark; t;
George Green, st. Georges; Donald
Davis, Milford; Lewis Wroten,
Harrington; Glenn Dill, Milford;
Joseph Workman, Delmar; Edward
Stehl, Delmar; Edward Workman,
Delmar.
Poultry: Lee Locates, Laurel; !;
Charles Stehl. Delmar: Richard
Brumbley, Delmar; Richard Carey,
Delmar; Kenneth Richter, Viola ;
Leonard Greenly, Milford; Mary
Continued On page o.
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12
Blue Comb Disease
Warning Is Given

Sussex County poultrymen have
been urged to be on the lookout for
symptoms of Blue Comb or Pull
let's disease in their fiocks by
County Agent William H. Hender-
son. In issuing this warning, it
was pointed out that while this dis
ease has been known to occur
throughout the year, it is most pre-
valent in late summer and early
fall. Flocks under crowded condi-
tions and housed in hot, poorly ven
tilated houses are thought to be
more susceptible than birds that
Continued on page ~
Milford chronicle., 1949-08-12

age IN Iarm-Stored grain is being
made during August. The state has
been divided into 120 acres, and
one farm in each area will be vis-
tied by E. ]. Davis, a university
student working for the Depart
m-nt of Entomology. Davis will
stop at these farms to examine
grain storage conditions. He will
leave with each farmer a sheet of
recommendations for reducing in
section damage in storage bins.
Any farmer who wishes to have
grain examined, whether or not his
farm is slated for the survey. may
have this service by contracting the
Department of Entomology. The
sheets Of recommendation for re-
ducing insect damage are also
available upon request.