The Fayette County Record (La Grange, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 9, Ed. 1 Tuesday, December 1, 1953 Page: 1 of 6
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Subscription Pries
One Year__$3.M
Six Months______$1.75
Three Months___$1.00
THE FAYETTE COUNTY RECORD
Over 3800 Paid Up
Subscribers. Rated AAA
Newspaper by
Community Research
Bureau
Published Twice Weekly By The Farmers Publishing: Company, La Grange, Texas
B fi
Jk... . _
Devoted to the Interests of the People of Fayette County and of Texas
VOLUME XXXII LA GRANGE, TEXAS,
TUESDAY, DEC. 1, 1953
; NUMBER 9
KILLER OF TWO
ARRESTED IN
COLONY AREA
Slaying Of Ex-Wife
And Husband Ends
One-Day Marriage
William Polk, 27-year-old
Negro of Austin, who is charg-
ed with the murder of his ex-
wife, Doris McKinley, and her
husband, John McKinley Tues-
day afternoon in Austin, was
apprehended in “Negro Co-
lony,” 7 miles from Flatonia,
by Deputy Sheriff August
Brunner, Wednesday.
Polk was brought to the
Fayette county bastile here by
Sheriff T. J. Flournoy and a
short time later Travis County
Sheriff T. O. Lang transferred
Polk to Austin.
Polk’s ex-wife divorced him
one morning recently, then that
afternoon married McKinley.
The honeymoon didn’t last
long. Polk shot both of them
on their wedding day with a
12 gauge shotgun, according to
investigating officers.
His ex-wife evidently put up
a fight before she was killed.
Polk had a bullet wound in his
leg which he said came from
a small calibre pistol from the
Short-lived bride.
Tn Polk’s car was an 8x10
photograph of his former wife
and written on the back was a
confession that he had killed
both her and her near-one-day
husband.
Information regarding the
WIN GRID LETTERS AT TLC
’
■
W. H. GARZA DELVIN JASTER
Two Fayette county students have been named football
lettermen at Texas Lutheran College by Col John Kramer,
head football coach. They are Delvin Jaster of Round Top and
W. H. (Buster) Garza of La Grange.
Garza, a 180-pound guard, has earned three football nu-
merals at Texas Lutheran since his graduation from La Grange
high school. During his high school days, Garza lettered three
years in football, was twice named to the all-district squad,
and lettered three years in tennis.
Jaster, a six-foot, three-inch end, has lettered twice in
football, twice in baseball, and three times in basketball since
coming to Texas Lutheran. _
‘Christ In Christmas’
Nativity Scene Planned
A nativity scene will grace
the courthouse square as part
of the city’s Christmas decora-
tive scheme this year.
Chromcik council, Knights
of Columbus, has obtained per-
mission to erect such a holiday
display on the southeast comer
courthouse lawn and it
__________ „ _ of the
possibility that Polk might be | will be mounted, with suitable
in Fayette county came from background, about two weeks
Austin officers, who telephoned before Christmas,
Sheriff Flournoy that it was ' ———————
believed that the Negro had
The figurines to be us.ed are
being prepared by Edgar Von
Minden. Grand Knight Leo V.
Tiemann and Adolph Matocha
are making the necessary ar-
rangements.
This will be the first time,
so far as is known, that a strict-
ly religious theme will be fol-
lowed locally in a public
Christmas decoration.
MAN SHOT AFTER
COLLISION AND
DISPLAY OF GUN
Fayetteville Bus,
With Kiddies, Has
Rugged Adventure
A charge of driving while
intoxicated and of rudely dis-
playing firearms was filed
against Shelly Miller, 50, of
Frelsburg, following a colli-
sion about 5:30 Monday even-
ing between an old car he was
driving and a bus loaded with
Fayetteville public school chil-
dren. ,
Miller was shot in the leg by
Charles Rau after he had fired
a single-barreled shotgun into
the air and allegedly threaten-
ed Chief of Police Edward Ginn
of Columbus and others. Offi-
cer Ginn had been called to
investigate the wreck while
Highway Patrolman D. L. Wil-
son was out of town.
The collision occurred near
the intersection of Highway 71
and the road to Frelsburg,
north of Columbus. The school
bus, driven by Elo Rohde,
superintendent of Fayetteville
schools, was en route to Sheri-
dan for a basketball game.
Officer Ginn said he went
to investigate the wreck with-
out his gun and that later he
had told Miller he would be
charged with driving while in-
toxicated, the man had taken
a shotgun from his car and
threatened to shoot the officer
and others present.
Meanwhile,, Rau arrived on
relatives
tonia.
residing near Fla-
Annual Dairymen’s
Short Course Set
The annual dairyman’s short
course will be held at College
Station Thursday and Friday,
December 3 and 4. Consider-
able emphasis this year will be
placed on marketing dairy pro-
ducts, a subject that most
dairymen are interested in at
the present time.
The program will begin at
8 a. m. in the Memorial Student
Center at A. & M.
Dean C. N. Shepardson will
give the welcome. Talks on
what A. D. A. is doing in the
field of marketing will be
given by Sam Rosenberg,
quality processing to increase
consumption of dairy products
will be discussed by J. L.
Reeves, and using substitutes
for dairy products is scheduled
by B. E. Stallones. The session
will be concluded with an in-
speection tour of the new A. &
M. dairy center.
The second day will begin at
8 a. m. with talks on the use
of sprays and insecticides on
the dairy farm, X disease and
Bangs disease. The remainder
of the program will be devoted
to discussion on legume and
grass silage, pastures and hay,
and will be concluded with
business meetings held by the
breed associations.
“I am sure,” says County
Agent Jim Reese, "that this
program will be of benefit to
all dairymen in the county. Tf
you plan on taking a car and
would like passengers contact
the county agent’s office so we
can arrange for full use of all
transportation. If you need a
ride, stop by and let me know.”
COMING HOME
Army Cpl. James R. Smith,
23, son of Mrs A B. Smith, La
Grange, is en route to the U.
S. after serving in Korea with
the 40th Infantry Division.
Corporal Smith, who was a
mmber of the 224th Regiment,
is a veteran of 11 months’ serv-
ice in Korea and wears the
Combat Infantryman Badge,
Commendation Ribbon and
UN and Korean Service Rib-
Woman Injured
As Stove Ignites
Mrs. Albert F. Blaha, La
Grange housewife who resides
with her family a short distance
northwest of town, suffered
severe bums to the arms, legs,
and other portions of the body,
in an unusual accident at about
9 a. m. Monday.
Mrs. Blaha, who resides in a
two-story home, came down
the stairs to discover her oil
stove in flames. In attempting
to pull the stove from the home,
her clothing caught fire. She
quickly grabbed her four-year-
old child, dashed outside, and
rolled on the ground to extin-
guish the blaze.
Meanwhile, Mr. Blaha dis-
covered what was happening,
extinguished the burning stove
with water, then rushed his
injured wife to Fayette Me-
morial hospital.
Foursome Entertains
At Janak Opening
Sons and nephews of Mr. and
Mrs. S. J. Janak combined
their talents on guitars and an
accordion to lend the musical
touch to the Janak’s Cash-Car-
ry formal opening here Satur-
day.
Sons Martin of La Grange
and Cpl. Ivan of Ft. Bliss joined
with the Janaks’ nephews, Eu-
gene Janak and Alois Mladen-
ka of Hallettsville, to supply
the varied melodies.
Many people called to take
advantage of the specials of-
fered and others sent flowers
to conveny their welcome to
the new enterprise.
Firemen, Guests
To Eat Turkey
La Grange firemen will stage
their annual "holiday feed” at
the fire station Thursday night
starting at 7:30.
Members, honorary mem-
bers, various officials and re-
presentatives of civic organiza-
tions, plus neighboring depart-
ment representatives, will gath-
er around the festive board to
enjoy a turkey dinner with all
the trimmings.
In charge of arrangements
are Ted Harbers, chairman,
and Alfred Hanisch, vice-chair-
man, of the entertainment com-
mittee. President Clarence
Schwake and Chief A. H.
Spacek will participate in the
program, with Don Williams
serving as toastmaster.
As always, an enjoyable af-
fair is anticipated.
Fayette Cotton Quota Slides Down
Texas Acreage
Slashed One-Third
Under New Rule
When the 1954 cotton crop
moves to market, growers will
compete with an 8.4 million
bait carry over, the largest of
any postwar year.
Furthermore, while an ap-
proval to marketing quotas will
assure growers a 90 percent
parity support price, John G.
McHaney, assistant extension
economist, says cotton acreage
allotments will reduce the
state’s crop next year by one-
third.
Tentative national marketing
quotas call for the production
of 10 million bales of upland
cotton and 30 thousand bales
of extra long staple. Acreage
allotments should tend to boost
the price, but will cut the total
cash receipts from cotton, Mc-
Haney explains. Allotment
quotas must be approved in a
national referendum vote by
two-thirds of the growers.
The current crop of upland
cotton is about 25 percent larg-
er than normal and approxi-
mately twice the extra long
staple is in supply. Including
the 1954 crop, the carry over
from last year and a few im-
ports, this country now has 21
million bales. Domestic con-
sumption and exports will low-
er the supply to 8.4 million
bales by August, 1954, Mc-
Haney says.
The economist forsees a
small drop in domestic milling
consumption during the coming
_____________________ ____year. Delivery to the military
the scene and Ginn asked him I f°rces probably will decline,
if he had a gun. Rau replied A"*1- while cotton exports are
that he had a .22 caliber rifle ^own 2.5 million bales from
in his tnick and went to get it. 1s 5-5 , °,n’ a further de-
Meanwhile, Miller fired his'^ * n°t likely-Exports may
gun into the air and crouched advance slight y, he says
down behind another vehicle concluding, McHaney
that had parked at the scene saYf- ‘he, immediate overall
of the accident, the officer said, outlook for cotton is one of
Miller was ordered to drop large supplies 80(1 moderate °r
SCHULENBURG CRASH IS FATAL
Rafael Pastas, 44, of Browns-
ville was killed Sunday after-
noon at 2 when the 1946 Dodge
panel truck in which he rode
overturned on him affer it was
in collision with a 1946 Buick
operated by Leona Gurka, 40,
of Houston, at the intersec-
tion of Highways 77 and 90 in
Schulenburg. The Houstonian
was unhurt.
Immediately following the
collision, the panel truck
turned over and Pastas’ head
was crushed by the impact of
the truck on top of him.
Driver of the truck was Jose
Casas of Matamoras, Mexico,
who was unhurt.
Both vehicles were damaged
considerably, according to State
Highway Patrolman James
Spencer, who investigated.
The death of Pastas elevated
traffic fatalities in Fayette to
five for 1953.
FINISHES COURSE
his gun and come out from be-
hind the vehicle but failed to
do so. Finally the shot was
fired from the rifle, striking
Miller in the leg. He then stood
up and surrendered his gun,
Ginn said.
Miller was taken to the Co-
lumbus hospital for treatment
and later was removed to jail.
His injuries were not 3erious.
The school bus was only
slightly damaged and continued
on to Sheridan. Miller’s car
was a total wreck.
f
lie
Sheriff Gets Hog
On McMullen Hunt
Sheriff T. J. Flournoy “u
held the dignity” of the mal
sex last week when he killed
a wild' boar in McMullen coun-
ty on a deer hunt with a num-
ber of friends. He was the only
male in the crowd to bag any-
thing.
Mrs. Joe Hart brought down
a 4 point buck and her mother,
Mrs. C. E. Curtis of Smithville
shot a huge bobcat.
That was the “crop” for the
crowd. ,
Pvt. Bennie A. Bertsch, son
of Jesse H. Bertsch, Fayette-
ville, has successfully com-
pleted the Leaders' Course in
the Antiaircraft Artillery Re-
placement Training Center at
Fort Bliss, Texas. His gradua-
tion ceremonies complete, Pvt.
Bertsch has been transferred
to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey
for further assignment. The
Leaders' Course is the most
advanced training program in
the Fort Bliss AAA RTC. Stu-
dents are selected on the basis
of high scholastic aptitudes,
leadership abilities and above
average physical stamina.
La Grange Lady’s
Father Expires
Alois Sykora, 79, retired
fanner, died at 9:30 a. m. Sat-
urday at his home in Bellmead.
Services were held at 9 a.
m. Monday in the Church of
the Assumption in West, Rev
E. J. Polcak officiating. Burial
was in St. Mary’s cemetery.
Suijviving are five sons,
Louis V.N Sykora and Henry
Sykora of West, and John
Sykora and Joseph Sykora,
of Dallas; seven daughters,
Sister Mary Samuella of Nat-
chitoches, La.; Mrs. John Gerik
and Mrs. Charles Gajdica, of
Dallas; Mrs. Joe Vanek of Ver-
non; Mrs. Willie Vitek of La
Grange; Mrs. Otto Matus of
Bellmead, and Mrs. Jerry Pet-
ter of West; and four sisters,
Mrs. Vince Urbanovsky, Mrs.
Frank Urbanovsky, Mrs. Char-
ley Bezdek and Mrs. Vince
Chedej, all of West.
Car, Pick-up Truck
Damaged In Crash
Both vehicles were damaged
but neither driver was injured
in a collision late Wednesday
between Emlaw M Wade of
Victoria, who was driving a
Chrysler sedan, and Walter F.
Kneip, local business man, who
was operating a 1953 Chevrolet
pickup, one and a half miles
north of town on Highway 77.
Die accident was investigat-
ed by Deputy Sheriff Arnold
Knippel and Constable A. V.
Smith.
less demand.
Car, Convoy Truck
Figure In Crash
A 1953 Mercury driven by
James F. Bryce of Texas City
was damaged extensively but
a big convoy truck, loaded
with four automobiles, operat-
ed by Martin M. Knipp of Dal-
las, lost only a bit of paint,
when the two vehicles were in
collision “on the bluff,” High-
way 77, at 10:30 a. m. Sunday.
The Mercury had its fenders
sheared off, its radiator dam-
aged, and other “injuries.”
Neither driver was injured.
The convoy was en route to
McAllen. Mr. Bryce was en
route to Austin.
Deputy Sheriff Arnold Knip-
pel investigated.
Brenham Noses Out
Wharton 14-12
In Ri-Loop Tangle
Extra points provided the
difference Friday night for the
Brenham Cubs and the “little
bears” won 14-12 over the
Wharton Tigers to annex the
bi-district championship of
25AA-26AA. A crowd of 3700
saw the fracas.
Brenham moved into a 7-0
lead in the first three minutes
of play when Wallace Dahl-
mann climaxed a 68 yard march
with a 7 yard smash over left
guard. Don Bargstedte kicked
the point.
Thirty seconds later, Whar-
ton’s Jackie Robertson raced
56 yards to make it 6-7.
Jimmy Hahn, 155 pound
back, raced 57 yards for the
Cubs’ second touchdown late
in the third period. Bordstedte
again converted and Brenham
led 14-6.
In the final 20 seconds of
play, Wharton scored after re-
covering a Cub fumble on the
Brenham 4, Quarterback Elmer
Rod tallying on the last of three
quarterback sneaks through
the middle of the line. The
game ended two plays later.
Dahlmann, with 69 net yards
in 15 carries, and Jimmy Nie-
buhr, with 51 yards in 10 tries,
were chief ground gainers for
the new bi-district champs.
Robertson led the Tiger toters
with 99 yards in 20 attempts.
Bunton, Dreyer and Lehmann
also played standout ball.
BACK FROM GERMANY
Mrs. Henry Giesber, son,
Buddy, and daughter, Sue Ann,
of Ft. Worth spent the Thanks-
giving holidays here.
Mrs. Giesber and children
returned to the States about a
month ago from Germany,
where they have resided for
the past two years with Cap-
tain Giesber who will remain
there for another four months.
Mrs. Giesber said the Ger-
man people are rebuilding and
recovering from the effects of
the war more rapidly than
some of the other countries.
Mrs. Giesber, , before her
marriage, was a case worker
with the Department of)Public
Welfare *hete and has many
friends here, especially {imong
the older people whom she
served as old age assistance in-
vestigator.
IN TEMPLE CLINIC
Mrs. Emilie Kaase last Sun-
day left for Temple, along with
her daughter, Mrs. Clara Lee,
where the former planned to
go through the clinic at Scott
and White hospital. According
to relative! here, she is getting
along all right and, to date, no
operation has been planned.
NELSON LEE SR. DIES
Nelson Lee Sr., father of Nel-
son Lee Jr., former resident of
La Grange, expired recently at
Waco. The deceased, who had
retired, was a former cotton
compress-man in Waco. His
son is the husband of the form-
er Miss Della Pieratt, of La
Grange, whose mother, the late
Mrs. H. C. Pieratt, passed away
here recently.
La Grange Drug
Makes Improvements,
Announces Big Sale
La Grange Drug company
has just completed an exten-
sive improvement program, and
to thank its patrons and to
show its appreciation of their
support, today announces a
special “thank you sale” for
Friday and Saturday.
Shopping space has been in-
creased by 300 square feet to
give patrons plenty of room in
which to look around. Added
are new wall fixtures and new
gondolas which offer easy self-
service. All merchandise is
displayed in an attractive man-
ner and customers will have
no trouble finding what they
want.
An additional improvement
is that the prescription depart-
ment has been re-arranged,
with the objective of speeding
up service—an objective ac-
complished.
Interior of the building has
also been attractively redecor-
ated.
Principal motive for the
many improvements was to,
not only make the building
more attractive, but also to
serve the company’s patrons
more easily, and more con-
veniently.
Completion of the improve-
ments at this time also enables
the store to show its wide
variety of holiday merchan-
dise. Gift items are available
for every member of the fam-
ily.
John F. Czichos and E. H.
Francke, joined by Theo. De-
cember and Louis Strbacka,
extend an invitation to patrons,
friends and the public gener-
ally to visit the store, see the
changes made and also take
advantage of the savings being
offered.
County Allotted
Only 28,817 Acres
For ’54 Planting
Fayette county will have an
official total allotment of 28,-
817 acres in cotton for 1954, a
decrease of 12,354 acres as com-
pared with this season, it is re-
ported by Kenny L. Stork, ad-
ministrative officer for the
newly - named Agricultural
Stabilization and Conservation.
The five year average for
the county, based on the years
1947-48-50-51-52, was 41,668
acres. The 1954 computed cot-
ton allotment was 27,491 acres
to which was added 1,326 acres
as an “apportionment from the
state reserve for adjustment
for small farms,” making a
total of 28,817 acres.
Fayette county, Mr. Stork
explained, “has three adminis-
trative areas for 1954, required
by law, as to the trend in cot-
ton produced, in accordance
with a higher per cent of up-
land planted in cotton.
“The county office is now
computing cotton acreage on
individual farms and this in-
formation will be mailed to all
cotton producers before De-
cember 15, the date set by the
Secretary of Agriculture for
the ‘referendum election.’ The
county allotments are comput-
ed on 1951-52-53 plantings and
cropland on the farm.
“The 1953 planted acreage
for Fayette county was a 41,171
average.”
How is the county figure ar-
rived at? Just by applying to
the county’s five-year average
the state factor of .659760760
per cent.
Mission Planned Here
HOUSTON RECTOR TO PREACH
The Rev. Haskin V. Little, I
rector of St. Andrew’s Episcc- '
pal church in Houston, will j
conduct a preaching mission
here at St. James’ Episcopal
church, Monday, Dec. 7
through Friday, Dec. 11.
The evening services will be-
gin at 7:30 and last one hour
and a quarter. The people of
La Grange and surrounding j
communities are invited.
Rev. Little comes to La j
Grange with a rich background
in mission preaching. The fol-
lowing tribute, showing the
love of his people for him, is
paid by a member of his pre-
sent congregation: “As a pastor,
he is never too busy to visit the
sick; administer Holy Com-
munion to those who are un-
able to attend church services
to receive; and to call on any-
one who feels the need of his
services or his presence in sor-
row, health or happiness, re-
gardless of the time of day or
night, or the distance he has
to travel to be present as friend
and Rector.”
Born in Minnesota in 1913,
Rev. Little, prior to coming to
Texas, lived most of his life in
Virginia, graduating) from the
University of Virginia and the
Thanksgiving: Rites
Attract Crowd
Annual union Thanksgiving
services, which attracted the
congregations of the Metho-
dists. Baptists, Episcopals and
Presbyterians, were held Wed-
nesday night at the Travis
Street Methodist church, with
the Rev. Joe Owen, son of Rev.
C. P. Owen, pastor of the First
Presbyterian church, delivering
the principal message in ap-
propriate fashion.
The First Baptist choir pro-
vided group singing and Mrs.
J. G. Mason offered special
music.
The financial offering at the
service was allocated for the
use of the needy of this area.
Niemeyers Return
From Austria
SFC and Mrs Melvin Nie-
meyer and daughter, Patricia,
arrived from Vienna, Austria
to spend his furlough with his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin
Niemeyer of La Grange.
SFC Niemeyer has spent the
past four years with the mili-
tary police force in Vienna.
After his termination of fur-
lough, he will be stationed in
Fort Bend Harrison, Ind.
Virginia Theological seminary
where he received his Bachelor
of Divinity degree in 1939. Af-
ter his graduation he served
rgtn
vh,
being Trinity ehun
mond.
(See MISSION, Page 2)
Rich-
TIIREE MORE BUCKS
Only three additional stags
are reported as having been
bagged over the week-end. Mrs.
L. F. Zatopek brought down a
4 pointer and Billy Darilek re-
ports nipping a 4 pointer and
a 12 pointer.
MARKET QUOTATIONS
Monday, November 30, 1953
The following prices were
paid in La Grange on the above
date and are subject to market
changes. Eggs and poultry
prices are those paid by pro-
duce dealers.
Cotton, middling ............ 32:25
Hens _____________________ 21c
Fryers-----------------24c to 25c
Eggs: *
Grade A, Large .... 50c to 52c
Grade B ...............42c to 44c
Grade A, Small.... 30c to 35c
Grade C ....... 20c
Roosters ........ 10c
Sweet Cream:
Direct Shippers_____50c
Sour Cream:
Direct Shippers —__45c
Station ----------.. „ 42c
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Sulak, L. J. The Fayette County Record (La Grange, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 9, Ed. 1 Tuesday, December 1, 1953, newspaper, December 1, 1953; La Grange, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth987712/m1/1/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fayette Public Library, Museum and Archives.