1951-02-09; Clare Sentinel

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Established 1878        $2.00 Year In Michigan    CLAHE, MICHIGAN, FRIPAY MOBNING, FEBRUABY 9, 1951    Seven Cents Copy       Now Series Vol. 59. No. 20
MANSLAUGHTER
JURY'S VERDICT
FOR HENDERSHOT
Sent   To   Jackson   Prison  For
14 Years And 11 Months
To 15 Years
Kenneth Hendershot, on trial last
week for the murder of the late Atty.
Joseph K. Nannies December 13, was
sentenced to 14 years and 11 months
to 15 years- in Southern Michigan
State Prison at Jackson, in Circuit
Court at 8:55 o'clock Tuesday morning, by Judge Donald E. Holbrook.
The defense rested its case Thurs-
day afternoon of last week and court
opened Friday morning with rebuttals1.
The People presented three new witnesses in testimony concerning a
telephone call Hendershot made from
Naumes* office at the time of the
murder, witen he was alleged to have
called for an ambulance.
In his plea to the jury, Prosecuting
Attorney Harold B. Hughes reviewed
the testimony of the trial and stated
that Hendershot had bought a pint
of gin the morning of the murder for
one purpose^-to bolster up his courage to shoot Naumes. He concluded
his remarks with the statement made
by Hendershot in Naumes' office, "I
have taken all the ... . I'm going to",
and killed the best attorney in the
country.
In his plea to the jury, defense
attorney Jay Linsey said the important issue was Hendershot's intent for
what he did and said! that he was not
in hist right mind. He told the jury
that when Hendershot shot Naumes,
that he did it due to his condition
since coming from the service.
Assistant Attorney General Harry
Jackson, in his plea to the jury, said
he was assisting due to the grave case.
He referred to Hendershot's statement relative to buying the gun to
shoot a rat—maybe two rats. He said
if he went to the office to do business
(meaning Naumes' office) why did
he take a gun.
Judge Holbrook charged the jury in
a forty-six minute statement, going
into all details of the testimony and
the number of facts not disputed. He
pointed out the facts that must be
determined in bringing One of the four
possible verdicts, {.iiurder la. the ttizt
degree, murder in the -second degree,
manslaughter, or acquittal.
The jury went out at 12:50 p.m.
Friday for deliberation and returned
to the court room at 3:50 to have the
complete statements read to them.
The jury returned to their room and
at 9:39 p.m. brought in the verdict of
manslaughter.
The statutes provide that "Any person who shall commit the crime of
manslaughter shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in
the state prison not more than fifteen
years or by fine of not more than
$7,500, or both, at the discretion of
the court."
"ONE GREAT TIME
OF SHARING" TO BE
LENTEN OBSERVANCE
Congregational    Church    Joins
Other Denominations In
Sharing With Needy
City Calls Meeting
To Prorate Cost Ol
Trunk Line Widening
The City Commission in regular
session Monday evening, set February
26 at 8:00 p.m. in the Clare city hall,
as the time and place for a public
meeting to discuss prorating of costs
of the city's share of financing the
US-27 and TJS-10 widening program.
It was voted that permanent full
time employees of the City, after one
continuous year of service he entitled
to one week vacation with pay per
year; and after four years continuous
service full time employees be entitled to two weeks vacation with pay
per year,       '
Offending Sign ! No
•wIMM*W l^»rt**vt,rt»n*>«j«>s«.fl £vr*f*J*mf^ej w.w^wr«rnhpe ijhj w, ■ i im**>.ui
ention of US-27 Straight Ahead
■»w>v
J. ARCHAMBAET
NEW PRESIDENT
BUSINESS GROUP
Misleading  Trunk   Line   Signs
Draw Fire Of Chamber
Of Commerce
The Clare Chamber of Commerce
met at Hotel Doherty Monday evening for their annual meeting with
fifty members present. Following invocation by David Seiter and a fine
steak dinner President Bud Anderson
called on Ed. Johnston to present
new members and he introduced Dr.
A. D. Austin, Ervin Kurtz manager of
the local Kraft Foods Co, plant and
Floyd M. Bush of Bush Motor Court.
Ed. said he attended his first Chamber of Commerce meeting in Clare 25
years ago that night and mentioned
the few members present who were
at that meeting. Included was John
Doherty honorary director and oldest
member of the Chamber in years of
service.
Retiring President Anderson
thanked John LeTourneau for his cooperation at "Christmas time, and all
members for their support during his
term of office. He mentioned misleading1 highway signs, six miles south of
Grayling on US-27, directing traffic
through Bay City to Detroit:; and at
North Bradley on US-10, directing
traffic north and along the east side
of Houghton and Higgins Lakes, and
(Continued on Page Ten)
HARRISON MAN
SHOT THRU NECK
MONDAY NIGHT
Boy Shumway Allegedly Shot
By Wife After Quarrel
At Their Home
BY DEX ELDEN
AN   EDITORIAL
The trial by law of a man for taking another's life is not a pleasant
.spectacle.   Here in Clare County we have found; ourselves unwilling tar«
This year the Congregational
Church of Clare Is uniting with many
other denominations across the country in observing "One Great Time for
Sharing" during the Lenten period.
This is along the same lines as the
1949 "One Great Hour" and the 1950
"One Great Hour of Sharing" when
offerings are given for relief and reconstruction to be used in ministries
of healing in many of the troubled
places of the World. The Lenten season in a world like this is a great
time for sharing. During Lent, as we
share in the things of Christ, we are
bidden in his name to share our money
for the sake of those with whom his
Spirit has made us brothers, and who
so terribly need our caring.
A world report broadcast On relief
is scheduled for Friday night, February 9, 8:0Q to 8:30 p.m. (Eastern
Standard Time), on NBC network.
Dr. Franklin Clark Frye and Albert
Crews, recently returned from making
a Survey of world relief conditions,
will cover, with dramatic presentation,
needs in Korea, Japan, Burma, India,
Pakistan, the Middle East, and Europe. Watch for newspaper announcements of similar programs on Saturday, February 10th.
Special offering envelopes will be
used in the Clare Congregational
Church this Sunday, February 11, and
the money collected will count toward
the Christian World Mission of the
church.- The goal for the Congregational Christian churches of America
is $500,000 through allotments to meet
changing world situations such as in
Korea and our primary allocations,
Service Committee, Church World
Service, Service Centers, Belief and
Workers in China and Japan, food
parcels, CROP, World. Council ot
Churches, College Cevahol at fc*»
Chambori, France, Japan. University,
and the Bible Society.      " ; '• "
Roy Shumway, of Harrison, is recovering in the Gladwin hospital from
gunshot wounds allegedly inflicted
by his wife following "family difficulties" some time Monday night.
After being shot through the back
of the neck with a 410 gauge shotgun,
Shumway drove his car to the county
jail, where he told Sheriff ,Seaver
Amble that he and his wife returned
to their home and went tb bed in
different beds in the same room about
11:00 p.m. He said he went to sleep
and didn't bear the report of the gun,
but was awakened' later by pains in
his neck and when he felt around his
neck his hand was covered with blood.
He told Amble that he got up and
dressed and drove to the jail.
Amble took Shumway to his home
to get his* coat, and found holes
through a pillow and blood all over
the pillow and bed. He then took
Shumway to the hospital at Gladwin.
Amble returned to Harrison and
searched fro Mrs. Shumway, but could
not find her. According to the sheriff,
she had gone to the house nearest her
home, where County-Nurse Kathryn
Freeman lives, and told Mrs. Freeman
she had a little trouble with her husband and wanted to stay all night.
The only evidence of "battle" was a
- little skin graze on her forehead.
j Mrs. Freeman's son stopped at the
sheriff's office, On the way to school
j Tuesday morning, and' said- Mrs.
Shumway had stayed all night with
them, but had returned to her own
home. Deputy Bd. Bruce went tq the
I Shumway home and took Mrs. Shumway to the county jail, where she is
being held  without  charge  pending
, the  outcome  of  Shumway's wounds
jand further investigation.
1    Prosecuting   Attorney   Harold   B.
, Hughes, who questioned Mrs. Shum-
iway briefly at the jail, said she told
him that she and her husband were
quarreling up to the time she took
the gun down and said to Shumway,
i "I could blow your brains out." She
claimed she didn't know the gun was
loaded until she shot and didn't know
whether she hit him or not, but left
the house immediately after the shot
, was fired.
Despite the fact that the gunshot
left a hole in'the back of Shumway's
neck that one could see'through, his
condition wast reported "good" at the
hospital Thursday afternoon.
Connie Walker, secretary of Clare's Chamber of
Commerce, answers Inquiries by the hundreds each
season from people who,want to know more about
Clare and vacation possibilities here, He is quick to
point travel advantages on US-27, the shorter, faster,
federal highway thru Michigan.
—Photos by Maurice Studio
If.the southbound motorist, driving through the middle
of Michigan is a believer in signs, he may pass through Grayling oh. US-27 and then find himself directed east through
Roscommon, Prudenville, West Branch, Bay City, Podunk,
Beaverbrush Corners and Skunk Hollar on the "short route"
to a headache.
He would have been much better off on "27" all the way!
\ Drivers who are familiar with best roads and fast routes
of travel know this. But "flrst timers" and tourists from ont
of "the state often follow the misleading directions on signboards erected by the Roscommon businessmen and the one
above", which is a highway department sign.
These misdirected drivers are going home with a heck of
an idea of Michigan's roads. The state and" county roads are •
not so well cared for in winter weather, and not so beautiful
in summer as US-27. Not as easy to follow either, and they
have more twists' and turns, —narrow bridges, -^confusing
corners, —
For easy, fast, pleasant motoring, there's only one US-27!
Just to prove that there is a difference, we drove up
north on US-27 last Sunday and back around home on the
"wilderness trail" through brush, drifting snow, and over
cracked blacktop roads. Like many another driver who has
tried it, it was our flrst and last venture in "short cutting."
M-76 is not the short route home to Detroit from northern
ski areas unless one wants to drive through Bay City. And
who wants to dr. , . . we'd hotter let that be as it may. Besides, US-27 is faster because it is more direct, better marked,
and even in Sunday's snow storm "27" was smoothly scraped
and free of drifts.
And for scenic motoring! Ah! Good ol' US-27's got you
beat there toof *
You can drive along staring at billboards and road signs
by the mile measure on this "short cut" M-76. Yeh, and that
goes for M-65 and M-18 (or whatever they call 'em). Signs
say, "Gome to Thistown," "Spend in Nexttown," "Turn off
Here to Thattown." It's all very confusing, don't you know,
and makes one really appreciate the clear natural beauty of
the main north-south i\rteryr US-27.
"'' -^tichigan's highway department could change ihe big
sign near Grayling to let tourists know that US-27 is a wide,
straight thorofare from Key West, Florida, all the way to the
Straits of Mackinac with pleasant stops In such nice little
Michigan cities as Clare, Harrison, Mt. Pleasant, and Houghton Lake. Drivers should be informed also, that Lansing (on
US-27) is a perfectly natural turning-off point for all autoists
living in southern Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Jar away
places.
They're only camping out if they live far off a Federal
trunkline anyway.
Our vote Jtor the best tourist guide goes to the person
who sticks to the truth and points out the best roads for vacation travelers and a,ll others.
Drivers will be glad to know that they can get to northern
Michigan and back home again faster, safer, and happier if
they follow Old Reliable.
There's only one US-27.'
THERE IS STILL
TIME TO DONATE
BLOODS CLINIC
Persons Not Registered By This
Friday May Sign Up At
City Hall
A two day community blood procurement program designed to secure
sufficient blood for plasma and fractions to meet the needs of this county
will be held in Clax's next Monday and
Tuesday, February 12 and 13.
The plasma procurement center
will be set np at the city hall. It is
staffed by a doctor and nurses from
the Michigan Department of Health,
and local volunteers, with the cooperation of the American Red Cross. The
center will be open -from 1:00 p.m.
to 6:00 p.m. both days.
The blood collected here will be
returned to our community as plasma
and blood fractions, with a portion
used for the Armed Forces in Korea.
The amount we will receive depends
upon the number of donations. The
Michigan Department of Health has
had one of the few plasma fractionating laboratories in the country. The
residents of Clare county are fortunate to be able to obtain these products
without charge, since their cost would
make purchase by many individuals
almost prohibitive.
If. you were unable to register by
this Friday, you may still donate blood
by signing np at the center. This is
your community program. Its success
depends upon the cooperation of
every healthy citizen between the
ages of 18 and 60. Help safeguard the
lives of your family and friends' by going to the center Monday or Tuesday.
The life you save may be your own,
RESOLUTIONS l
"The Glare Kiwanis unanimously
expressed the sentiments of the
majority of the people of Clare
County in a resolution in which they
expressed their shock over the compassionate verdict of manslaughter in
the recent murder trial of Hendershot.
They reiterated the sentiments of the
legal profession of Clare County and
the Twenty-First Judicial Circuit in
declaring that the extremely popular
attorney, Joseph K. Naumes was representing Hendershot in a divorce
proceeding in which Naumes was receiving the customary remuneration
and serving his client in the highest
tradition of the legal profession
whereby the accused murderer underwent no provocation which could possibly justify him in committing such
an act. The Kiwanis praised the Honorable Donald E. Holbrook, Circuit
Judge, for the noble, efficient manner
in which he conducted the trial where
the sentiments and fervor of the community were at an all time high. They
likewise praised the County Prosecutor Harold B. Hughes for representing
the People with all the determination
and efficiency that is known to the
legal profession."
The above was read and approved
without dissent at the Wednesday
meetings of both the Clare Rotary
Club and the Clare Kiwanis Club.
FOUR NARROWLY
ESCAPE DEATH BY
CARBON MONOXIDE
Mother And Her Three Children
Found Unconscious In
Home Saturday
THETA BHO DANCE
Coleman.' Legion Hall, Saturday,
February ,10. Schlatley's Orchestra.
Admission SOc per person.
Overheated StoDe
The Clare Fire Department was
called to the Fred Akey home on W.
Dunlop Road, at 2:15 p.m. Tuesday,
where an overheated stove had
caused a cntemey to, burn out. Damage was confined to that caused by
smoke.,.
Edmund W* Burdo
Graduates From
Optometry College
Edmund Walter Burdo, 501% McEwan Street, Clare, was awarded the,
doctor of optometry degree at the
winter commencement exercises of
the Northern Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, February 2, according to an announcement made by the
college today. 4
He is a member of a class Of 140,
most of whom are veterans of .World
War II, and will now be eligible for
a state licensing examination to practice his profession.
Dr. Richard A. Needles, president
of the college, said that there -are
about 17,000 practicing optometrists
In the United States, about. 50 per
cent >of whom are graduates of tbisj
college.
A mother and three children narrowly escaped death, by asphyxiation
by carbon monoxide gas at their home
on the Schug place, one and a half
miles south of Clare,-Saturday morning.
The father, Wm. Baumaun, was at
work at Marble's Auto Collision Service when the daughter, Priscilla, 12,
phoned her grandmother, Mrs. Joseph
Swain, and told her they were all sick.
They had been having colds and the
grandmother thought they were getting
the flu, but phoned back in about an
hour to see how they were.
The mother,- Mrs. Evelyn Baumann,
answered the phone but could hardly
talk. Mrs. Swain phoned Baumann at
Marble's, and he and Dr. H. J, Ballard
went tq the home and found Mrs. Baumann, Priscilla, Charles 13, and Cathy
.4, all unconscious. They were taken
by Stephenson ambulance to Central,
Michigan Hospital at Mt. Pleasant.
Charles and Priscilla were given
blood transfusions and all were placed
in oxygen tents.
All were brought home Monday afternoon, following X-ray to determine
whether they might have pneumonia.
Investigation revealed that mortar
and steel of the crumbling chimney
had fallen down and filled the stovepipe hole used for ventilation.
Mrs. Baumann, who has only a faint
recollection of the telephone conversation with her mother, will be unable
to return to her work at the Clare
Manfacturing Co. before Monday, and
the children will be unable to return
to school before that time.
ROLLER SKATING
Lake Roller'Risk, on US-10, 6 miles
west of Farwell. Regular schednle this
wftrtOT; Saturday: and Sunday nifbt*,
14*r
gets for the bright spotligHt of public notice m the recent HenuefsKoF"
case.. The notoriety is dismaying, aud confusion has made duty more
difficult to see clearly and perform easily.
So in the stunning effect of the violence and the aftermath this close
to home, we believe that a chance has been missed to salvage one thing .
ot redeeming goodness from all the sadness and tragedy of the affair. , . . :
A murder verdict would have cried halt to these crimes of violence! i
*.     • ■ -
Our swift and clear declaration should have been sounded for
all the world to hear, "that here we believe in law and morality, and
stand ready to mete out punishment, measure for measure, to ruth-
lesB offenders," ~      .        '•
The public watches us and listens to us through newspapers and
radio. Was justice complete in this verdict, before the vast "jury" of
public opinion? The Spirit- of revenge doesn't even enter the question-
It was an opportunity—now lost,' to bring in a verdict that would discourage more of such crimes here!
We do not criticize the courts or the laws. They are the world's best
examples of stout protection for the innocent and impartial fairness
toward the accused, .
But those "eternal laws of justice which are our rule and our
. birthright," —-.they are not as vigorously defended by ALL the people
as they must need be for survival. Courage, and a sense, of simple
right and wrong should and must help guide the deliberations of
every jury. And along with instructions from the Court in each ease
given to the jury, comes too, the fundamental responsibility of twelve
people to uphold the law and guard the respect it claims.
On the basis of the Hendershot jury's finding, a light sentence ot
only a few months COULD have been passed. Would this be protection
enough for any of us, or our families or children who might be the next
victims of criminal passion?
"Manslaughter punishment" will never stop murders!
The "jury" of public opinion has watched us here in Clare County
pamper the criminal in the jury room and in the jail.   This conduct,
falsely true to extreme consideration for the accused, resulted in an
unworthy mis-fitting together of the crime and the punishment,
But the trial is over; the verdict given,
further discussion of the matter now?
Just this:
Why stir things Up with
We believe that the opinion of the overwhelming majority of our
neighbors agrees with the foregoing and someone must speak out
against the soft attitude which may allow our laws to become just
feeble gestures of protection for the outraged.
Our law and order is what we, the people make it.   Laws continually
change with the times and necessity.   We cannot afford to set had prec-
'edent! The tree Is yet inclined in which ever direction we bend it as it
grows.
The answer to criminal violence should be- firm punishment,
never wavering from the spirit and purpose of our rules for society.
We believe the people's will is not reflected in the mild verdict in
the Hendershot case!
The trial was conducted in perfect fairness and dignity in Judge
Holbrook's court. The People's case was painstakingly prepared by Mr-
Hughes and Mr- Jackson, and presented with conviction and force.
Only the jury's verdict limited the severity of tine sentence.        '    '
Clare County has .need of more firmness in the Bight, and the constant self reminder that more of these performances such as we have
seen here will weaken the laws.
And weak laws invite crime!
ALVY EBBEN POWERS
PASSES AWAY HERE
• MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5
Laid To Rest In Cherry Grove
Cemetery After Residing
In City Fifty Years
Alvy Ebben Powers, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Ebben Powers, was born in Lafayette, New York, on July 7, 1871,
and passed away in Clare on February
5th, 1951, at the age of 79 years, eight
months and 29 days.
He spent his early life around Far-
Well and Standish, moving to Clare
about 50 years ago, where he remained until his death.
On September 23, 1903, he was
united in marriage to Lilly Louiee
Herbert and to this union were born
three children, Beatrice, who passed
away in early childhood, Clifford, of
Clare, and Josephine, of Rosebush.
His wife preceded him in death in
1943.
Besides his son and daughter, he
leaves to mourn their loss, one brother, Fred, of Owosso, eight grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and a host
of relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held from the
Doherty Funeral Home at 2:00 o'clock
Thursday, afternoon, with Rev. Leslie
J. Nevins officiating and arrangements
in charge of Thurston's Funeral
Home. Interment was made in Cherry
Grove cemetery.
Day Oi Prayer
Service  To  Be
Observed Feb. 9
JUNIOR VARSITY
DEBATE TOURNEY
HEREFEB.14TH
Forensic Leaders To Be Guests
Of   Clare  High  School
Next Wednesday
The Clare debate teams will be hoste
to the schools of the Central C Debate
League, February 14th, at a' Junior
Varsity tournament. Among the
schools expected to attend are Elsie,
Marion, St. Louis, Remus, Beaverton,
and Reed City. However, only about .
four schools have Junior "Varsity
teams.
A Junior Varsity debater is ou
who has not taken part in any regular
varsity   debate.   Representing   Claw
: will be Rita Beck and Mary Randall,
affirmative; and Joyce Jones an*
Helen Cook, negative. These girls are
being coached by Betty Gallagher "ah*
Joan Raymond.
! Other members of the Speech Class
who are helping with plans for tlie
day's events are: John Bickneil, Janet
, Bradley,     Marjorie     Kleiner,     Dick
' Thayer, Dick Ulrich, Don Urquhart,
Bill Wentworth and Dicfe Beard,
At two o'clock simultaneous debate*
will begin. At the end of the.deba.tet
a general discussion will, be held.
Time keepers, chairmen and possibly
judges will be Varsity debaters.
I In addition to the speech coaches
accompanying the teams, Emil Pfister
head' of the speech department at
Central Michigan College; Haydea
Carruth, manager of the Michigan
(Continued on Page Ten)
The World Day of Prayer Service
will be observed this Friday evening,
February 9th, in the Clare Methodist
Church, and will open with an organ
recital at 7:45 p.m. Four denominations of the city are participating in
this world wide interdenominational
service, and the public is cordially invited to attend.
e The complete program, was listed in
last week's issue of the paper. With
our country in these troublesome
times," it behooves the citizens of the
community to pause for this special
hour of prayer and meditation together.
Herbert Byers Joins
Honorary Fraternity
Herbert Byers, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Wm. N. Byers, of Clare, has been
initiated into Phi Theta Pi Fraternity,
at Davenport Institute, Grand Rapids.
Eligibility requirements for this International honorary commerce fratef-
nity are few, but eliminating, and include superior scholarship and good
"character and personality,; Herbert is
a first year student of business and!
sales. "  ' '■;   '.'.•■-■
Boy Scouts To •
Pick Up Clothing
For Unfortunates
Clare County Boy ScOuta are participating in the "international God*
Turn" clothing collection campaign
for the benefit of the millions "ot.
abandoned children and poverty stricken families who are without the bare
necessities Of life, as an aftermath «£
World War II, The Clare Kiwanis a*a*
Rotary Clubs are cooperating witll
the Scouts in this humanitarian pra-
ject.
Usable men's' and women's an*
children's' clothing arid footwear, be*»
ding, robes, sheets, pillpw cases,
towels- and wash cloths are being so-
licitated, Articles should be in goo*,
clean condition.
County Soont Activities Chairman,
Harold Schaeffer announces that anyone with any of the above to contribute may phone Clare 9060 and it *M
be picked up by the Scouts. People **
Farwell, Harrison and Lake are s»-
Queeted to. phone their local ■Scmni-
\«hlt, leader. Tne clothing .will •*
ifi'cked up Saturday, February IT-