The El Reno Daily Tribune (El Reno, Okla.), Vol. 59, No. 265, Ed. 1 Friday, January 5, 1951 Page: 1 of 6
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01clf*houa Historic?!
atcLe O.pitol,
Oklaho:^. City,
The El Reno Daily Tribune
1 #• /
Single Copy Five Cents
<U.» MEANS UNITS) PRESS
Family Search
Leads Officers
Near El Reno
Wichita Falls, Luther Give Reports
On Illinois Car; Local Link Sought
TULSA, Jan. 6—(UP)—The hunt for a man believed to
have killed an IUinoia family of five moved away from Tulsa
today as officers explored hot leads at Wichita Falls, Tex.,
and Luther.
Osage county deputy sheriff Warren Smith and Tulsa
) county investigator Ray Graves left here for Wichita Falls
to investigate a report that a family resembling that of Carl
Mosser of Atwood, 111., was seen in a filling station there
Saturday night.
At the same time, Jake Sims, head of the Oklahoma
crime bureau, took two cars of state and Oklahoma county
mi officers to scour the country between Oklahoma City and
► Luther, 27 miles to the northeast. That is the area where
■ ■ I n . *L. B. Archer of Tahoka, Tex.,
Link Kptwrrn escaped from the trunk of his
Godwin, Mosser
Cases Probed
El Reno, Oklahoma, Friday, January 5, 1951
(*) means associated press
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Assistant Attorney
Here Is Contacting
FBI for Information
Bobby Lee Morrison, assistant
Canadian county attorney, said he
he Is contacting the FBI In Okla-
homa City today lor lnlormatlon on
the possibility that the hitch-hiker
who abandoned the bloodstained
Illinois car may be the same one
who stabbed and robbed Hugh
Godwin near El Reno two weeks
ago.
"We know nothing about this
theory." he said. "But we're not
overlooking anything that might
solve the case."
On Thursday, the second suspect
was practically cleared after God-
win, accompanied by Tiny Royse.
—t -v - ‘““‘V *** RlIU tUCUIL&CU
sheriff, saw 4he-man and-ld the that the hitch-hiker might have
suspect was not his assailant.
Baker Disappeared
Meantime. Paul Baker, the man
who brought Oodwln's stolen car to
an Oklahoma City parking lot the
morning after the hijacking, has
disappeared.
It Is Baker's description that In-
terests county officers here. Mor-
rison said. There are similarities
to the description of the hitch-hiker
who got in the Illinois car.
Royse said Baker had been work-
ing lor a railroad hi Oklahoma City.
car Saturday after a hitch-
hiker robbed him of $100,
A Wichita Palls service station
attendant told of two men who
scuffled in his station when one
shouted that the other was going to
kill him. The attendant said they
left In a 1949 Chevrolet with an
Illinois license and one ol them
dropped a hat bearing a Decatur,
111., store label.
May Be Linked
Claude 8eymour, crime bureau
agent, said at Oklahoma City he
believes "there's a good chance” the
Lujher and Wichita Palls Ups are
linked.
"The hitch-hiker who took Arch-
er’s car Saturday may have driven
down to Wichita Palls Saturday
night,” he said., “Then he could
have gone back to Tulsa—these guys
sometimes drive crazy like that."
Seymour identified the Mossers'
bullet - and - blood - spattered car,
found at the edge of Tulsa Tues-
day, as the same blue Chevrolet he
saw Saturday while working on the
hitch-hike robbery. He said he saw
"two bare-headed men in front and
a family in back" and theorized
m
mi
if!
mmmrnmm m m m mmam
SEOUL ABANDONED—Smoke rises from the nearly deserted city of Seoul as Chinese Communists
advance on the town. The U. 8. eighth army for;es gave up its defense perimeter north of the South
Korean capital. (NBA Telephoto.)
caught a ride with the Mossers after
abandoning Archer’s car.
"At the time, though, I was look-
ing for Archer's car," he said. “I
just happened to notice the Illinois
tag on the front and back.”
Seymour said he would show
some pictures of suspects to Kermlt
Mackey, Luther farmer who said
he saw a "slightly built, light-
haired man" hitch a ride Saturday
In a west-bound Illinois car "filled
with a family.”
The description Mackey gave tal-
Young Gunman Electrocuted
In McAlester Late Thursday
McALESTER, Jan. 5—(UP)— Max E. Klettke of Lans-
ing, Mich., died in Oklahoma’s electric chair last night, mur-
muring words of annoyance because an inexperienced exe-
cutioner fumbled his job.
Klettke, 25, paid with his life for the brutal hitchhike slay-
ing of Carl Beach, a resident of Corfu, N. Y„ who had pick-
ed up Klettke and a companion in Indiana. The companion
pleaded guilty and receiyed a life sentence.
The doomed man was nervous but in full control of
himself as he walked the few steps from his death row
cell to the chair in the death
~ -----------'•■v • “*•*- mobac/ save Ml*
Baker showed up for work the same lies with that of a man seen near
day he brought the car to the lot,
but has not appeared since, accord-
ing to the sheriff. He has not re-
turned to his room.
Describes Driver
C. L. Christian, owner and at-
tendant of the parking lot, again
gave a description of Paul Baker
today. It shed little light on any
connection.
Ch,lstian said he talked to Baker
"only a minute or so.” He could
not be sure of two things in the
the Mossers’ car
Charges Filed
Oklahoma county officers have
filed armed robbery charges against
a “W. E. Cook," the name they
found on a receipt for a new .32
caliber Colt automatic found In
Archer’s car. The gun was bought
at El Paso, Tex.'
Oklahoma City police picked up
a man last night whose description
tallied with that of the Mosser sus-
pect. but had nothing definite to Ue
- i pvvv, t/uv uau iiui.iiiiiu
description which might link both him to either crime.
li
cases. He docs not know whether
Baker's hair was curly—Baker was
wearing a hat—and he noticed
nothing peculiar about Baker's Ups.
The Du.n state officers and the
FBI are seeking Is thought to have
curly hair and thick Ups, with the
lower lip drooping. Otherwise, the
descriptions are stmUar.
Fit Many Persons
An FBI agent hi Oklahoma City
said today descriptions by witnesses
are evasive clues at best, and sub-
ject to emotions of the witness at
the time. Too often they apply to
too many persons, the agent said.
Morrison said that U there Is any
connection between the cases, cer-
tain parallels can be looked for.
The cars of the vlcUms won’t be
found where tire crime occurred,
but they won't be driven too far
from the spot. The vehicles win be
abandoned both times, with no at-
tempt to sell or strip them.
One other loose thread puzzles
county officers. Morrison said a
knife Is believed to have been found
In the Illinois car, although the
apparent crime was done by another
weapon. Qodwln was robbed of a
bone-handle knife in addition to
>90 In cash.
A search hi the Tulsa area petered
out yesterday shortly before the
Wichita Palls lead was received. No
trace has been found of Mosser, his
wife Thelma, 29, or their three
young children.
chamber. ,
About 12S persons wjtehed as he
sat down in the chair, then paled
when executioner M. E. EUiott, who
had sent only two other men down
the last mile, fumbled briefly wlUle
placing the electrode on his shaven
head.
Asks for Blindfold
Elliott first placed the electrode
on backwards.
Klettke had asked to be blind-
folded so he could not see the wit-
nesses. However, the bUndfold slip-
ped and he caught o flvoting gUmpng
of the crowd.
Why couldn’t they hit me with
It (the death-dealing charge) when
I first came in?” he asked Sergeant
Harlan Brown, who assisted with
preparations for the execution.
The condemned man took the
fatal jolt at 10:03 p. m.
Klettke was convicted of being
the trigger man in the fatal shoot-
ing of Beach.
Received Sacraments
He received the last sacraments
of the Catholic church from a
prison chaplain and upon entering
the death chamber at 10 p. m„ was
asked by Warden Clarence P. Bur-
ford whether he had any final re-
marks. He shook his head and said
nothing.
Klettke retained his composure on
his last day, although he liad wept
and cried upon learning that all
avenues of escape were blocked.
Indians Invade
Duncan Tonight
Frederick Tackled
Saturday on Trip
Improving their ball handling
and shooting during the past two
weeks' lull In games, the El Reno, No Woman DraTt
Indians Invade Duncari tonight arid *-About 1,300.000 bops will reach It
FVariPrirlf RnilirHov ninhl .i.llh dliritlCT tha UPVi finna 1 til... ko.iM
18-Year-Olds
Draft Asked
Defense Department
Will Make Request
i WASHINGTON. Jan. 6—(>P>—The
defense department plans to ask
congress to let It draft 18-year-olds
and tighten deferments and ex
emptions for currently draft eligible
men from 10 through 25.
Felix Larkin, the defense depart-
ment general counsel, told reporters
today of the plans. He said man-
power bill would be submitted to
congress within two weeks designed
to meet additional needs for men
for the firmed services.
Larkin said the plan is to extend
the present 21-month service period
for draftees to 27 or 30 months.
He added, however, that this term
was not firm and might be changed
before the manpower bill reaches
congress.
Volume 50, No.
Chinese Making Bold
Attempt To Trap UN
Troops Fleeing South
Army Asserts Retreat South
Is All ‘Planned Withdrawal'
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5—(UP)—A high army officer
asserted emphatically today that the withdrawal of united
nations forces in Korea is a well-planned and executed
W1™rawal and "is net any rout or any Dunkerque.”
The officer emphasized that point repeatedly in talk-
mg to reporters at a Pentagon briefing session.
At the same time, he presented a set of figures to show
the overwhelming strength now being thrown by the
natlcms forces K°rean Communi8t8 ftgainst the united
A total of 950,000 enemy troops, of which 450,000 are
iUft, p*Y.eSin Nor,h Kore*' in™h'ed ■"
Other figures supplied the reporters included-
Six Chinese armies of about 30,000 men each are at the
frcmt and five are in reserve to the north.
1 he enemy has reactivated and re-equipped 19 north
toof the“
4400 to 9,000. Their fire power is great because of the
large number of automatic guns, including “burp guru!"
divS gr6ater than the fire P°wer of an AiSn
No Traffic Deaths
In Last Six Days
OKLAHOMA CITY, Jan. 5—(AV-
Oklahoma today completed six days
without a traffic fatality and state
safety commissioner Coble Gam bill
asked motorists to cooperated In
extending the string.
The last fatality reported was
Dec. 30.
The last time Oklahoma went six
days without a fatality was At«.
4-10.
Oklahoma had four deaths for the
first four day> of I960.
30-Day Price
Freeze Talked
WASHINGTON. Jan. 5—</P)-The
government was reported about
ready today to slap a 30-day
"freeze" on prices, to combat the
soaring costs of food and other
essentials.
The report circulated in author-
itative quarters Just after release
of official government figures show-
ing that retail food prices three
weeks ago were almost at an all-
time high.
The bureau of labor statistics
said they had climbed 1.2 percent
between Nov. 28 and Dec. 15. to
within two-tenths of one percent of
the record high, set In July 1948.
Reports of the proposed freeze
said It would be in the form of an
order requiring all businesses to
give a month's advance notice be-
fore they raise their prices.
While this would Include grocers
and food wholesalers along with
other firms. It would not cover all
prices at the farm—because of spe-
cial legislative restrictions.
Officially, the economic stabiliza-
tion agency (ESA) said It had "no
comment" on the reported plans.
ESA already has asked 250 of
nations largest Industrial companies
to let the government know at least
a week in advance before they raise
prices on any manufactured com-
modities.
Stabilisation officials reported,
however, that fewer than half the
firms have replied to the request.
Braves Win
Two Games
Same Night
The Etta Dale Junior highschool
Braves, keeping pace with El Reno
highschool's Indian team, whipped
Hinton and Edmond Thursday
night In a doubleheader played first
at Deary and then here.
After defeating Hinton 19-16 at
Geary, the Braves rode back to El
Reno to snatch a hairbreadth 22-21
victory from Edmond. The "B" team
lost 34-44 to Edmond’s “B" squad.
The game with Edmond was nlp-
and-tuck all the way. it was tied
21-21 In the final minute when Jack
Slaughter saved the day by sink-
ing a free shot. After that, the
Braves froze the ball and salted
away their fifth straight victory
of the season.
In the earlier game with Hinton
at Geary, the score was 9-4 In favor
of Hinton at the end of the first
half. But once more the Braves
rallied and won with three points
to spare.
High point man In that game,
part of the district Invitational
tournament, was Earl Johnson, who
netted eight points. Jimmy Sim-
mons followed him with six. Others
scoring were Wendell Dozier. BUI
Boyle and William Bruce.
Those who also saw action at
Geary were Wayne Willis, Slaugh-
ter. Jesse Nordman, Bryson Cham-
bers and Richard Horton.
Next game Is with Clinton at
7:46 p. m. tonight at Oeary in the
Invitational tourney.
Frederick Saturday night with an
undefeated record.
Coach Jenks Simmons said it’s
too early in the season to tell how
good both week-end opponents are,
but Duncan appears to be the
tougher one.
Same Lineup
Starting lineup wUl be the same
as for the Central game, where
El Reno snatched Its third straight
win Dec. 21. except that guard Bob
Palmer, who has an injured back,
will be replaced by Charley Wynes.
Jim Sherman and Wray Little-
john will be forwards, Cahill will
take the other guard position, and
rangy Herman Meinberg will start
at center. The 6-5 center has been
a large factor in the victories so
far.
Team laioks Belter
Seven other squad members are
making the trips. They are Don
Jimerson, Bill Curtis, Arthur
Croak, Paul Hauser. Fred Lechten-
berger, Bobby Maine and Jack
Reuter.
Lechtenberger has just recovered
from a head concussion several
weeks ago when he collided with
Meinberg's elbow during a practice
session.
Simmons says his boys are hitting
better, both on floor shots and
charities. But that's during prac-
tice, the coach said, and the proof
is in the game.
Next home contest here is Tues-
day night with Lawton.
during the next fiscal year begin-
ning July 1 and about 800,000 of
these could be expected to meet
physical requirements for military
service, Larking estimated.
He said the defense department's
manpower proposals do not en-
visage the drafting of any women.
Larkin said the defense depart-
ment is working out Its own pro-
posed manpower law and that un-
doubtedly selective service and
other agencies will submit their own
ideas to congress.
Take Graduates
The defense department proposal,
he said, would permit 19-year olds
to enlist with their parents' per-
mission: 18-year olds would be
automatically eligible for the draff
as soon as they had completed
highschool. He added that those
who reached 19 and were still in
highschool would "probably have
to be yunked out.”
Larkin said 18-.vear old draftees
would not be sent overseas until
after they had completed their full
basic military training.
URGES LETTERS TO Gl’8
BALDWIN, Kan., Jan. S —<U.»—
The editor of a »»«■»» weekly
newspaper says every city, town and
hamlet in the nation should send
a cablegram cheering on the Amer-
ican man fighting la Korea.
Car Overturns,
Driver Fined
Hillery L. Adams, El Reno, for-
feited a 810 bond In police court
today on the charge of reckless
driving after his 1940 sedan turned
over while rounding a comer at
the intersection of Wade street and
Foster avenue.
The mishap occurred about 11:15
p. m. Thursday night, according to
records of Lee Harvey, police chief.
Records state that Adams was
driving the car at high speed on
the 700 block of East Wade when
he tried to make a right turn.
The car overturned once, then
spun around and stopped, facing
Wade street again. Damages were
estimated at $150. Adams got out
uninjured.
In an earlier minor mishap, a
1941 convertible coupe driven by
John O. Pope. 17, of 108 North L,
was making a turn at the Inter-
section of Sunset drive and Choc-
taw avenue when it collided with
a 1948 sedan which was stopping
at the traffic light.
Driver of the 1948 sedan was
Olann A. Franklin, 23, ol 720 Sun-
set drive. Damages to the vehicle
be was driving were about 110 to
the rear bumper. Damages to the
other car wen undetermined.
Korean Peace
Still Sought
LAKE SUCCESS, Jan. 5—(/Ph-
Twelve Aslan and Arab countries
conferred privately today on terms
on a new "package" peace plan for
Korea, but informed quarters said
they were not yet ready to lay
a resolution before the UN.
There had been some expectation
they might submit a proposal to
the general assembly’s political
committee at this afternoon's meet-
ing. Diplomatic sources said, how-
ever, that the prospect now Is for
more consultations over the week-
end.
The Asian-Arab meeting was a
continuation of the Intense behlnd-
the-soenes efforts to decide on the
next move in the critical Korean
conflict. It was held at the New
York apartment of India's Sir
Benegal N. Rau. who Is taking the
lead In the search peace plan.
Weather
Stoic Forecast
Increasing cloudiness tonight,
possibly snow flurries or light
freezing drizzle northeast tonight
and Saturday morning. Colder
north. Warmer extreme south to-
night. Considerably colder Saturday.
Ix>ws tonight 28-32 north, 45 ex-
treme south. Highs Saturday 30-36
north to 46 extreme south.
El Reno Weather
For the 24-hour period ending at
8 o. m. today High, 84; low, 38; at
8 a. in, .38.
State of weather: Fair and
warmer.
Precipitation None.
Six Prisoners,
Whiskey Goes
To New Sheriff
Five pints and four fifths of
confiscated liquor are now In the
custody of the sheriff's office,
Tiny Royse, sheriff, said today.
That is the amount of liquor
turned over to him by outgoing
sheriff Lloyd Palmer on Jan. 2,
Royse said. Some of the liquor
will be used as evidence In com-
ing Canadian county court trials
of two defendants In this area.
In addition - to the •Ttqnor. sis
prisoners at the county jail were
transferred to Royse's custody.
They include August Coyote
Frank Thomas. Buford Tresalder,
Kenneth Earl Ryel, Lester Brown
and Henry McOeeley.
Red Campaign
Hits General
PARIS. Jan. 5—(AV-The Commu-
nists have opened up a savage hate
campaign against General Elsen-
hower, who Is due here Sunday to
take command of Atlantic Pact de-
fense forces.
Communist papers in Paris, in
eastern Europe and in Moscow are
assailing him in the bitterest terms.
French Communists are circulating
petitions against him and trying to
work up protest strikes.
The first blasts at Eisenhower
were printed Just before Christmas
when the Soviet Youth newspaper
in Moscow and the Literary Gazette
there assailed him as "a true serf
of Wall Street” and "a sergeant
major of Wall Street." The Comln-
form Weekly, printed in Bucharest,
called him a “notorious warmonger.”
None of them mentioned that dur-
ing the war lie was decorated by
the Rusians and praised for his
brave leadership.
Now, papers in Prague and Paris
have taken up the cudgels. The
trade union paper Prace In Prague
called him a “mercenary of war-
mongers" today. The French Com-
munist organ L’Humanlte early this
week began its campaign by saying
workers at the Hotchkiss factory In
suburban 8t. Denis have decided on
a “patriotic strike against the in-
stalling of Elsenhower in Purls.”
Tax Collections
Show Business Drop
Canadian county lost 812.33 in
sales tax collections during Novem-
ber, compared with November. 1949.
Collections for last November
amounted to $25,00180 for the coun-
ty. The same period In 1949 showed
a total of $26,014.13.
Did YouHear
I^ENNETH KAMM, El Reno's
1V junior high basketball coach,
discovered Thursday night that
his Braves were scheduled to
play Hinton in a Geary tourna-
ment and Edmond on the home
court—both hi the same night.
Kamm rushed his 10-man
squad to Oeary where they drub-
bed the Hinton juniors, 19-16,
then sent five at his men back
to El Reno where they edged
the waiting Edmond team. 22-21.
Strange Car Seen
Near Halbert Home
Reports of two strange cars in
the Okarche area are being studied
as possible leads to the burglary
early this week of Roy Halbert's
farm home near Richland, Tiny
Royce, sheriff, said today.
There Is no indication that the
occupants of the cars had any con-
nection with the burglary, Roy so
said, and the reports have not been
verified.
Valued at 11,089
Halbert, from whose home 91,000
worth of furniture and clothes were
stolen last Sunday afternoon, said
Mrs. Leon Dow. residing six miles
east of Okarche, told him of seeing
three strangers that afternoon.
Mrs. Dow said a two-tone car
with a Texas license plate drove up
to her home. Three men got out
and asked her for information
about someone whose name she had
never heard. Then they left, accord-
ing to Mrs. Dow.
Report From Okarche
There were also reports of an
unidentified ear driving through
Okarche Sunday without any
license plates.
Items taken from the Halbert
home included a $400 television set,
a portable sewing machine, weapons
and ammunition.
The sheriff's office is continuing
the investigation.
SOVIETS LIKE MOVIES
MOSCOW, Jan. 5—(U.R)—The sec-
ond American movie to be shown in
Moscow theaters within a month
opened today. It was Gary Cooper's
“Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," but the
Soviets renamed it. They are calling
It "In the Grips of the Dollar."
Everything's
Going Fine,
General Says
TOKYO, Jan. 5—(UJD—Chinese
and Korean Reds spearheading a
flunking column of 180,000 men
smashed south through central
Korea today In a bold attempt to
trap U. 8. eighth army forces in
full retreat from fallen Seoul.
Element! of a full enemy division
—10,000 men—already had driven
45 miles south of the 38th parallel
toward the eighth army’s —c*pt
highways to Taegu and Pusan.
The eighth army broke contact
with the Communists In the waet
at Seoul and rolled on south with-
out even attempting a stand on
the south bank of the Han river,
which runs around the southern
and western edges of the former
capital.
Rede Crsas iUa
The Communists shoved 1,000
troops across the frozen Han onto
abandoned Klmpo airfield west of
Seoul this morning, but only minor
patrol crossings were reported else-
where.
The Rads seemed In no hurry to
occupy abandoned Inchon, the port
for Seoul 18 miles west of the
former capital, or to pursue In force
the eighth army retreating due
touth.
Lieutenant Oeneral Matthew B.
Ridgway, commander of the «%hth
army, returned to his headquarters
after a visit to the front below
Seoul and reported that "everything
Is going fine up there."
Front dispatches the
eighth army la pulling back thmah
a aeries of leap-frog operations.
Censorship forbtde speculation
where the army will make Its non
stand.
Evaeaation Completed
UN forces completed their evacu-
ation of Inchon shortly after last
midnight (8 A. M Thursday C8T)
while a naval bombardment kept
the enemy at bay.
A naval task force commanded by
Rear Admiral L. A. Thackery took
off all remaining military and
naval personnel In the port and
thousands of civilians, then de-
molished all port facilities.
But spokesmen emphasised that
this was not another mass military
evacuation in the sense of last
month's removal of the U. 8. 10th
corps from the Korean northeast
coast. The defenders of Seoul re-
treated south by land rather than
by sea through Inchon.
The evacuation marked a tragic
end to the triumphant UN am-
phibious landing Sept. 15 at Inchon
which broke North Korean reslst-
tance and almost led to the com-
plete liberation of Korea.
With the fall of Seoul, Inchon
and Kimpo, the Communists shifted
their mein attack east to central
Korea and an attempt to envelope
the eighth army before it can re-
join other UN units in southeast,
Korea.
CtUWON JT _
\CHOWAN
<3 .
CMNJU
COMMUNIST FORCES TAKE
poured Into abandoned Seoul *“ *
Inchon (1) ready to
necessary. Big two-beat.
UN eighth army troops
const, enemy foroeo
another evacMttoa. ]
Seoul to Thtyu -“*
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Dyer, Ray J. The El Reno Daily Tribune (El Reno, Okla.), Vol. 59, No. 265, Ed. 1 Friday, January 5, 1951, newspaper, January 5, 1951; El Reno, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc924350/m1/1/: accessed April 19, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.