davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1954-12-18
Pope Slightly Better,
Takes Ride in Auto
BY the Associoted Press

VATICAN CITY. Dec. 18.-
Pope Plus took an automobile
ride today in the sunshine of
his Vatican gardens.
In slightly improved condition
but still seriously i'll, the pontiff
was helped into his American
donated limousine by two of his
doctors.
A witness said he appeared
very weak" but smiled family
as his private physician. DR.
Riccardo Galeazzi-Lisi. and a
Swiss glandular specialist, DR..
Paul NiehanS, helped him to-
ward the car.
If the weather continues good,
he is scheduled to continue these
outings daily. He even may be-
gin to take a few steps in the
garden, L'Osservatore Romano
reported. A competent source
said he is able to take more
nourishment.
The ride in the sun, plus in
creased feeding. is part of a new
course of treatment decided
upon by the pontiff's medical
team.
Last night the Pope worked
for two hours at his desk. His
sleep following this effort was
described as none too tranquil. 3"
and disturbed by hiccups. But
this morning, the informant
said, the Pope's condition ap-
peared clearly-if only slightly
improved.
Evening star., 1954-12-18
Murder Charged
In Abortion Death
BY the Associated Press

LOS ANGELES, Dec. Is. -
Roger Fred Brenon, %, was held
to answer on a charge of murder
in the abortion death of Vir-
ginia Hopkins Watson, 80.
Mrs. Watson died of peritoni-
tbs II days after the surgery
November 18. Her husband, Ar
thur Watson, said the swimmer
insisted on the operation to
avoid motherhood so she could
play a movie role
At Brenon's preliminary hear
ing yesterday, Mr.. Watson at
first refused to testify on
grounds it might incriminate
him. A court order was OBJ
tanned, forcing him to testify
and guaranteeing him immunity
Mr.. Watson said Brenon Ster-
ilized instruments in the kitchen
and my wife asked. me to leave
them alone in the living room"
Later his wife told him Honey
write him a check for $3.50"
Mr.. Watson testified.
Brenon was released from
prison only seven weeks ago after
having served a 10-month term
for an abortion conspiracy.
Evening star., 1954-12-18
Captained Football Team.
Driver, Just Tired of 1t All,
Nips ondNops; Cargo Safe

Somebody goofed, and a 25-
year-old truck driver. weary and
disgusted with the Christmas
rush. admitted to police that he
was the one who did.
When a delivery truck valued
at $4,000 and carrying $1,a24
worth of furniture and $289t col
lected from a customer, failed to
return last night, officials of
Malcolm Scates, a furniture store
at 4121 Thirteenth street NV.
called police.
About 1880 pm, Detective
Sergt. Robert D. Weaver and De-
tective Paul F. Moran spotted
the truck parked at Twenty
sixth and G streets NE.
Inside, asleep, were Harold E.
Andrus, jr.. 25, of 713 Jackson
street NV, the driver, and AL
Evening star., 1954-12-18
u. 5. Says Brunette
Disclosed Battle Plan
BY the Associoted Press

BERLIN, Dec. 18.-An East
German beauty was accused to-
day of delivering the United
States Army's Order of Battle"
in Berlin to the Russians.
The charge was one of three
drawn up against 25-year-old
Irmgard Marguerite Schmidt,
who allegedly made love to two
high United States intelligence
officers in Berlin to get the in
formation.
The United States High COM
mission said she would be ar
raigned here on the three counts
Tuesday.
The top secret Order of Bat
tie" details the identity, strength
and deployment of United States
troops in Soyiet-surrounded Ber-
lin.
"She was paid by the Russians
for whatever information she
transmitted" an official said.
"She got 2,700 eastmarks and
300 west marks (about $375)."
Details of the case were out
lined by the high commission as
an aftermath of yesterdays dis
closure of the arrest of the vo-
luptuous brunette, who is charged
with working as a double agent
for East and West.
Evening star., 1954-12-18
Florida Contractor
Convicted Of Plot
To Kill Rich Widow
BY the Associoted Press

BARLOW, Fla, Dec. 18.-J.
Willard burden. 36-year-old. Or
lando contractor, was convicted
last night Of conspiring to kill
a wealthy widow in a murder
for-money scheme.
Criminal Court Judge Roy H.
Amidon sentenced him to a year
in prison and a $500 fine, plus
payment of trial costs-the max
imum penalty under Florida law.
A six-man jury found burden
guilty of conspiring with the late
Emmett Donnelly. a Lake Wales
lawyer, to kill Mrs. Byrd T. Roach
of Lake Wales.
y. The two men also were
charged with conspiracy to kill
two other persons-K. H. Ger
ZACH of Lake Wales and Mrs.
Louise Clark Hawley Sandberg
of Orlando. Donnelly committed
suicide shortly after he was
charged in the cases in June.
burden still faces trial in the
cases involving Mr.. Gerlach and
Mrs. Sandberg.
Donnelly was executor for the
$230,O00 estate of Mrs. Roach's
husband.
Mrs. Roach got one-third and
the remainder went into a
charity trust.fund to be handled
by Donnelly. Prosecution wit
nesses said Donnelly had di-
verted these funds to his own
use.
Mrs. Roach was whisked away
by authorities in a fake kidnap-
ping as a protective measure just
before they arrested Donnelly
and burden.
Evening star., 1954-12-18
Fairfax Man Injured
As Car Smashes Pole

A Fairfax County man was
injured seriously today when the
automobile in which he was rid
ing ran of Route 123 and
smashed into a pole near Vienna,
Va.
The victim, Alwyn Hawkins. IS,
of Vienna, was admitted to Ar
lington Hospital with broken
collarbone. Fairfax County po-
lice said he was riding in car
driven by Roy Willard Weathers,
%, of Route 8. Vienna.
Police SAID Mr.. Weathers told
them he vas sideswiped by a
car which dic not stop. Mr..
Weathers' car spun of the road
and broke of a utility pole.
police reported. The car was
demolished. Mr.. Weathers and
another passenger were not
hurt.
Evening star., 1954-12-18

gernen B. Groves, A, an Oak
Grove, Va, farmer, working dur
ing the holiday season to help
with the Christmas rush.
II got tired of everything, got
myself a pint of whisky, and
goofed," Detective Sergt. Joseph
D. Loughrin of the general as
signment squad quoted Andrus
as saying.
Sergt. Loughrin said Andrus
told him that his work was diff
cult and he didn't feel appreci-
ated. He said salesmen would
commit him to move old furni-
ture into a basement when he
delivered new furniture to a GUS
toner, and it was wearying
work.
The truck, the. furniture and
the company cash were intact,
but police charged Andrus and
Groves with larceny after trust.
Evening star., 1954-12-18
Japan Acts 10 End Ban
On Visits 10 China
BY the Assoeicied Press

TOKYO, Dec. 18.-The Foreign
Ministry has drafted a rcgula-
ton authorizing japanese to
freely visit Red China for nom
political purposes, Kyodo News
Agency said today. The draft
is on Foreign Minister Shige-
mitSu's desk.
Regulations now bar visits to
the Chinese mainland as det-
rimental to Japan's interests.
The government has made 1874
exceptions. to permit special
parliamentary and Red Gross
missions and a few traders. to
go to Peiping.
The new government of Prime
Minister Hatoyama, while en-
phasizing that it will not alter
close ties with the West. has
advocated reviving trade and
diplomacy with the Communist
areas.
Evening star., 1954-12-18
Ex-Wife Sues Turfman
For S1,5OO,981 AIimony
BY the Asso<isied Press

MIAMI. Fla, Dec. l8.-The
divorced wife of James r. Ragen,
jr., wealthy operator of a horse
racing news service, sued him
for $1,500.932.25 in Dade Circuit
Court yesterday. charging that
he undereStimatcd his wealth to
influence her into accepting a
compal atively small alimony set
tlerIent.
Mrs Aleen r. Ragcn's suit says
that when she divorced Mr..
Ragen in Chicago July 3. 1852.
he complained of sharp declines
in his income and she agreed to
accept 81 1888 a month alimony
and S476.66 a month for support
OF their two children.
Her husbands attorney told
her. she said. that Mr.. Ragen had
assets of only $1,000 when actu-
ally they totaled 100000.
Mrs. Ragen charged her for
mer husband has been engaged
III systematic campaign of hid
ing assets since April /. 1887"
and that he stays out of Chicago
to avoid court modification of the
allmony settlement there.
Evening star., 1954-12-18
Two Are Indicted;
Defied Mccarthy
BY the Associoted Press

BOSTON, Dec. ia Federal
grand jury yesterday indicted
Wendell H. Furry, an assistant
Harvard University professor,
and Leon Kamin, former re-
search assistant at Harvard, on
charges of contempt of the
United States Senate by refusing
to answer questions before Sem
ator Mccarthy January Is. 1854.
The two had refused to answer
questions as to the identities Of
persons working with them who
might have been members of the
Communist Party.
At the time. here in Boston,
both answered questions con-
corning themselves before Sem
ator Mccarthy, who was sitting
as Senate subcommittee.
The indictments, returned to
United States Judge William T.
Mccarthy, did not specifically
use the word contempt" but
charged Furry and Kamin, by
refusing to answer questions put
by the subcommittee of the Com
mittee on Government Opera
tions, violated Title 2, U. S. Code,
Section 1872.
No date was set for arraign-
ment.
Evening star., 1954-12-18
Church Segregation
Backed by Another
Methodist Group

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Dec. 18.
"A second group of Methodist
leaders has made known it's
views on segregation in the
church, declaring the North Ala
bama Conference was thorough
ly committed" to retention of
racially segregated churches.
A statement to this effect was
signed by DR.. B. Laurence Dill,
Birmingham Methodist District
superintendent, and lay leaders.
The statement. issued yester-
day, declared that an unofficial
meeting of Methodist ministers
and laymen last Tuesday left the
impression that Officials of the
church were reluctant to state
their position on the matter of
the central jurisdiction" or were
in sympathy with a plan to do
away with it.
About 200 Methodists last
Tuesday adopted a five-point
plan to block any attempt to do
away with racial segregation in
the church.
The statement signed by DR..
Dill and others said in part:
"The former Methodist Epis-
copal Church, South, agreed to
become a part of the United
Methodist Church on the basis
of placing all the Negroes in a
separate jurisdiction. This part
of the plan of union makes pos
sible the Methodist church.
There could be no Methodist
Church without it."
The declaration added that
eve prefer to act as members
of the North Alabama Confer
ence instead of acting as
members of an unofficial group"
Evening star., 1954-12-18
Troinee Killed by Tank
During Army Exercise
BY the Associated Press

FIT. JACKSON, S. c., Dec. 10.
"A trainee was crushed to death
by a tank here yesterday during
a platoon assault exercise when
his clothing and equipment
caught in the tank track and
he was drawI, under the We
hicle.
The post information Office at
this Army infantry training
center said the victim was Pvt.
Vernon F. Lockhart, 19, of Rock
Hill. He was the son Of Mr..
and Mrs. Troy. Lockhart. Rich
lands, Va
The Army quoted witnesses
as saying Pvt. Lockhart appar-
emily stopped to attend to his
jammed rifle and did not hear
the tank, IN the noise of firing.
Evening star., 1954-12-18
NATO
Continued From First Page.)

In cases Of grave emergency, nor
to change any standing instruc-
tions which 1t may have already
given to Gen. Alfred M. Gruen-
ther, supreme allied commander
in Europe.
The communique indorsed the
new defense pattern "as a basis
for defense planning and prepa-
rations by NATO military au-
thorities, noting that this ap-
y proval did not involve the dele
cation Of the responsibility of
the governments to make de-
cisions for putting the plans into
action in the event of hostili-
ties"
French Plan Not Mentioned.
There was no mention in the
announcement of a French
scheme for a small political
standing group" with power to
pull the trigger" if full NATO
consultation proved impossible.
The ministers noted that
NATO forces have now reached
the leveling-off stage, at least
! in terms of numbers and de-
fense spending. But they said
NATO desperately needs the
backing of the II West German
divisions envisaged under the
recent Paris agreements.
They urged all signatory
countries to ratify as quickly
. as possible the Paris accords
freeing and rearming West Ger
many.
Dulles Goes Directly to Talks.
French Premier Pierre Men,
des-France, United States Sec
retary of State Dulles and Brit
ish Foreign Secretary Sir An
thony Eden went directly from
the NATO session to the Pre-
: mier's office for their general re-
view Of Western positions
/. throughout the globe.
They were to stay in session
most of the afternoon.
Evening star., 1954-12-18
Man Gets 4 10 Il Years
In Drowning Death

Edward r. Hudson, 43, Of
Portsmouth, Va. yesterday was
found guilty of manslaughter in
the drowning of another man
during a drunken argument. He
was sentenced Immediately to
serve from 4 to IL years in prison.
The sentence was imposed by
Judge Edward A. Tamm in the
q. S. District Court for the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Hudson was found guilty of
pushing Frank Martin. "a, into
the Potomac River at the Tidal
Basin last October 8. Mr.. Martin
drowned. Hudson said he had
pushed another man who, he
said. attacked him, and that the
second man fell against Mr..
Martin knocking the latter into
the river.
Evening star., 1954-12-18
Officials Elected
For Central YMCA

George T. Heckert has been
elected chairman of the board
of management Of the Central
YMCA here.
Others elected are Dudley
r. Hoffman and Robert Rawl-
irls, vice chairman; John r.
Thomas. secretary-treasurer. and
George r. Titus. board repre-
sentative.
Evening star., 1954-12-18
Mendes. France Calls
For Confidence Vote
On Indo-China Issue
BY IN. As,eeisssd Pres,

PARIS. Dec. 1s.-Premier
Pierre Mendes-France demanded
a vote of confidence today after
the National Assembly rebuffed
his government on its Indo-
China budget. The vote. set for
next Monday. may delay sched-
uled debate on German resrma-
ment.
Mr.. Mendes-France staSed his
government on the budget issue
at the end of an all-night AS
sembly session during which the
deputies defeated the Premier,
30l-29l, In one voting and gave
him only slim majorities on two
others. The balloting was on
technical points concerning the
ndo-China budget.
Opponents Not Eager.
The adverse vete-Mr. Men
des-France's first setback in six
months in office-left his posi-
ton considerably weakened. but
his opponents did not appear
eager to throw him out of Office
on the Indo-C China issue. They
want him to be saddled with re-
sponsibility for pushing through
ratification of the Paris treaties
to restore German sovereignty
and give her the right to rearm.
Assembly debate on the pacts
had been slated to begin Mon
day and was expected to wind
up late Thursday. Now much
of Monday likely will be taken
up by the confidence vote.
Parliamentary opposition to
Mr. Mendes-France formed while
he was tied up in meetings yes
terday with ministers of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organiza-
tion.
Criticism Grows.
The Assembly debate reflected
mounting criticism Of the gov
ernment's handling of the Indo-
China situation.
Jean Letourneau, former min
lister for Indo-Chinese affairs,
demanded that Mr.. Mendes-
France state clearly what he is
trying to do in Wet Nam. He
charged that the government is
too willing to follow United
States advice in an area where.
he said, the Americans have
made many mistakes.
Evening star., 1954-12-18

made by a Notre Dame letter.
man. His son. Fred. jr.. was a
Notre Dame student.
Mr.. Miller was not related to
two other famous Millers in
Notre Dame foothall-Don Mil
Ter of the -Four Horsemen back
field in the early 1920s and
Creighton Miller, halfback on
the Associated Press All-Ameri-
can team in 1943.
Supported Big League Ball.
In recent years Mr.. Miller sup
ported professional basketball
and hockey, but he was probably
best known for his support of big
league baseball orzMilwaukee.
Mr.. Miller spanked the drive
to bring the Braves here from
Boston and had since been a di-
rector of the baseball club and
one of its most ardent hackers.
He also was a stockholder in the
Green Bay Packers and a direc-
tor of that National Football
League club.
Mr.. Miller. who was born in
Milwaukee, Joined the brewery
in 1886. serving as vice president
until he was named president in
1947. He is survived by his
widow, the former Adele Kanalcy
of Winnetka. H.; six daughters
and one son, his mother and four
Two double funeral services
will be. held Monday for victims
of the crash. Services for the
Millers will be held at st.
Jerome's Roman Catholic Church
at Oconomowoc, with burial in
Calvary Cemetery, Milwaukee.
Rites for the Lairds will be held
at Christ King Roman Catholic
Church in suburban Wauwatosa,
with burial in Holy Cross Gene
Evening star., 1954-12-18
Soviet Hits Nations
Declining Farley Bid,
Raps u. 5. General
BY the Assoeioted Press


MOSCOW, Dec. lS.-The So.
Wet government has fired a bar.
rage of angry diplomatic notes
to the West European nations
that rejected invitations to Mos
cows November 90 conference
on European security.
The Belgian. Danish. Dutch,
Italian. Yugoslav. Swiss and Fin
nish embassies or legations here
all said last night they had re-
ceived the Kremlin notes. COM
munications also were believed
to have gone to the Turkish and
Greek ENJOYS in Moscow.
The rebukes appeared to be
part of a Soviet campaign
against the Paris accords for re-
arming West Germany within the
North Atlantic Treaty Organiza-
ton.
Paris Warned.
Moscow warned Paris Thurs
day that ratification of the
treaties would threaten the 1914
French-Soviet mutual assistance
treaty. Earlier. Britain was
warned against action 'incom-
patible" with her 1912 treaty Of
alliance with Russia.
Moscow also disclosed yester-
day the text Of a note to the
United States protesting that re-
ported remarks of Brig. Gen.
John D. Stevenson. United States
49th Air Division commander in
Britain, on the use of atomic
weapons were Incompatible"
] with normal relations between
the Soviet Union on the one
hand and Britain and the United
States on the other.
The remarks of Gen. Steven
son, who was reported TO have
/ told newsmen his aircraft could
make an atomic counterattack
on the Russians at a moments
notice. also was the basis of the
protest to Britain.
Sees Alliance Violated.
The Soviet Union took the po-
Sition that Britain, by allowing
an American general to make
such remarks on British soil, was
creating a condition which con-
tradicted the British-Soviet al
lance.
The note to the United States.
delivered Thursday. quoted Brit
iSh press reports of Gen. Steven.
sons remarks at a news confer
ence at Bentwaters Air Base in
Eastern England on December
10. The note said he was quoted
as declaring that lin the arma-
ment of his division were bomb
erS which were intended for
dealing an atomic blow to the
U. S. S. r., and that this task
was given to the division as long
as two and one-half years ago."
( Moscow demanded that the
United States Government get
Qualification as to whether these
press reports correspond with the
nature of the statement by Gen.
Stevenson" and that the United
States Government also "eyalu-
ate" the generals statement.
Evening star., 1954-12-18
Us. Studies Request
To Prosecute NRp,
Labeled as Fascist

The Justice Department to-
day said it is studying a request
by the House Committee on
Un-American Activities that it
prosecute the "avowedly Fas-
cist" National Renaissance Party
Of New York.
A spokesman said that there
would be no further comment
until the congressional request
contained in report on hate
groups in America--had been
thoroughly analyzed.
The House groups cali for
action under the Smith Act
was based on its finding that
the NRP is clearly subversive
and un-American."
Report Is Hailed.
Meanwhile, the committee re-
port was hailed by Irving M.
Engel, president Of the Amer
ican Jewish Congress, as "elo-
quent, timely and instructive
warning to the American peo-
pie of the dangers presented
by groups on the extreme right" ?"
He further declared:
"The American Jewish Com
mittee fully approves the Con-
gressional committees findings
that such individuals and organ
,izations are 'unscrupulously ex-
plotting the menace Of commun-
ism to promote other activities
equally subversive and equally
n-American.
The second target Of the COM
mittee's report, Conde j. McGin-
ley. publisher of the semi-month-
ly paper Common Sense" asked
the committee to hold q hearing
and "if we cannot prove our
statements we'll be very willing
to cease publication"
According to the committee,
Common Sense" Is an anti
Jewish, anti-Negro publication
which is a virtual clearing house
for hate propagandists through
out the country"
o.. Mckinley Replies.
Mr.. Mckinley, from his office
In Union, N. j., told the Asso-
ciated Press:
"We are a hate publication
we hate communism. We GER
tainly don't hate any person
because Of their belief or their
race. That's ridiculous.
Reporters have been unable
to locate a spokesman for the
National Renaissance Party.
Meanwhile, the American Civil
Liberties Union criticized the
House committee for not hold
ing hearings on the matter and
said 1t deplored investigations
Of "any area of public opinion,
no matter how repugnant are
the views expressed by these
groups"
Evening star., 1954-12-18
Sheppard
--AP Wirephoto.
Continued From First Page.)

And there are 214 Exhibits"
including photographs, letters,
personal possessions of the ac-
cused man, the blood-splotched
coverings of the bed where
Marilyn Sheppard died.
Lawyers said it might take
many hours just to examine all
this before the discussions get
started in earnest.
The jurors looked tired, and
some Of them seemed a little grim
last night, when Common Pleas
Court Judge Edward Blythin
excused them and sent them to
downtown Cleveland hotel for
the night.
Jurors Look Rested.
The jurors breakfasted this
morning in a private dining room
at the hotel as an effort was
made to shield them from Curl
GUS spectators. They looked
rested and appeared in better
spirits than after yesterdays
long session.
There was an unofficial report
that James c. Bird, a railroad
ticket office cashier and former
high school English teacher, was
the jury foreman. An earlier
report had William c. Lamb,
construction company foreman,
as foreman of the jury.
There is no time limit to the
jury's deliberations, the judge
said yeterday. He declared:
II don't think there is any
limit, and even Sunday is a fine
day. AS long as the defendant
is in court, I don't think there is
any law against celebrating or
returning verdict on Sunday"
COnfronts Jurors Three Times.
DR.. Sheppard confronted the
jurors three times yesterday dur
ing recesses in the deliberations.
Each time they left the Grim
inal Courts Building, for lunch
con. dinner and retirement, they
were brought back to the court
room where the trial was held.
Each time Judge Blythin cau-
toned them not to talk with any
one while they were outside the
jury room.
DR.. Sheppard was in the room
each time. He looked at the
jurors closely.
One of the women gave him
a quick glance, and then turned
her head away. None of the
men seemed to notice him at
all. They all looked like IL weary
people who had been working
very hard.
DR.. Sheppard's face was a
blank, too. each time he was
brought down from his cell.
Evening star., 1954-12-18
Coaches for DOG Shows

A British motor coach firm
now carries dogs and their own
ers to and from dog shows IN
specially adapted coaches with
pens for big dogs and baskets for
little ones.
Evening star., 1954-12-18

DENVER, Dec. 18 (R.-Wind
caused more than 81 million
damage" Thursday and yester-
day to winter wheat crops in
Colorado, Lawrence Phelps of
the State Agriculture Depart
ment said today.