Lansas State Historical Society
Topeka, Ks.
Monday, January 10, 1955
Suicide Ruled Cause In Death of Student
The death of Norman Seibel, 24-year-old student at the KU Medical center, has been officially set down as a suicide. Sheriff Norman Williams ruled after receiving an expert's opinion that the farewell note found under Seibel's body was written by the student.
Seibel's body was found at the bottom of an abandoned well in Johnson county. The note, written in pencil on both sides of an unlined 3x5-inch white file card, was in a zipper bag beneath the body. Seibel had been missing since Dec. 19.
The body was found by Robert Earnshaw, 19. Johnson county.
Earnshaw returned to the well after notifying authorities with his brother and found the body just as Johnson county deputies arrived at the scene.
An autopsy Friday revealed a bullet wound just above the right ear. Ballistic tests were run on the .22-caliber bullet that inflicted the fatal wound to determine definitely whether it was fired from Seibel's gun.
The note found under the _body said:
"Iff, against my wishes, this should be found. If I have caused my loved ones pain by this act, I have no excuses or apologies, and can only say that this was beyond my control. I loved everyone but could give them money, had the sensibilities of Tolstoy's Pierre but not the strength to obliterate anyone from them. I died with real faith in existense of good but could discover none in me. May God be gracious to me & help those I leave behind. It would have been worse had I stayed, Norman Seibel."
Ed Seibel of Hillsboro, his father, said, "Those are deep thoughts like Norman was always writing. I am satisfied that Norman wrote the note."
The Seibels' maintained a two-week vigil at the Medical center during the search for their only son. Seibel, who was described as a serious, conscientious student, was to have been graduated this month.
(Pierre, as referred to in the note, is a character in the book, "War and Peace," by Tolstoy. He has extreme sensibilities, but a rather emotional blindness. A naive person, he is supposed to represent one of the characteristics of Tolstoy himself. Pierre is feeling his way in the world, but is rather handicapped by his upbringing as a favorite of the family).
Daily hansan
Weather
Most of a storm that struck Oklahoma, Arkansas, and southeast Missouri will miss Kansas, the state weatherman said today. U.S. Meteorologist Tom Arnold said Kansas remained dry in the last 24 hours and except for possibly a little cold rain or snow in the southeast late today should continue without precipitation into tomorrow.
Lower Tariffs Tax Grants Asked by Ike
Washington — (U,P)— President Eisenhower asked Congress today to throw more of America's economic weight into the cold war against Communism by reducing tariffs, granting tax concessions to business investment abroad, and continuing technical aid to underdeveloped countries.
The President also made recommendations for encouraging greater tourist travel abroad and increasing U.S. participation in international trade fairs.
In a 2.400-word special message to the House and Senate, he laid down a 7-point program of foreign economic policy which he said would help to open new markets for U.S. exports as well as strengthen free nations against "Communist penetration and subversion."
Mr. Eisenhower described his program as "moderate, gradual, and reciprocal."
Its main feature was a renewal of last year's request for a three-year extension of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements act, with authority to reduce tariffs by 5 percent each year.
Other features of the new presidential program included recommendations for:
Some Republicans served advance notice they would oppose any program "which does not protect the interest of our American workers and producers."
1. Reducing the corporation tax rate from 52 to 38 per cent on income which U.S. business earns from foreign subsidiaries and branches.
2. Streamlining U.S. customs rules and procedures to remove unnecessary red tape from importing foreign goods.
3. U.S. membership in the proposed new International Finance corporation, a branch of the World Bank which will provide private venture capital for underdeveloped countries.
4. Increasing from $500 to $1,000 the amount of foreign goods which American tourists may bring into the country duty free on their return from foreign travels.
5. More widespread U.S. participation in foreign trade fairs, which he said, the Communists have been using as propaganda showcases to convey the impression that Russia "is producing on a large scale for peace and is creating a paradise for workers."
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
52nd Year, No. 71
The cast has been chosen for the University Players' third annual melodrama, "No Mother to Guide Her," or "The Wages of Sin." by Lillian Mortimer. The melodrama will be given Feb. 2-5 in Green theater.
Explosion Rocks Kansas City Business Section
Kenneth Baker, college sophomore, as Jake Jordan, an escaped convict; Thomas Bryan, college sophomore, as Farmer Day, Rose's father; Vera Stough, college freshman, as Rose Day, secretly married to Ralph; Carol Sue Mattison, college freshman, as Lindy Jane Smithers, in love with Silas.
Patricia Johnson, college sophomore, as Bess Sinclair, a shop girl; Janis Johanson, college junior, as Mother Tagger, a tool of Livingstone; Dee Ann McCann as Bunco, comedy subttey; Marvin Carlson, college sophomore, as Parson Thomas, a parson; and Kenneth Plumb, college sophomore or law Officer Keough, upholder of the law
Kansas City — (U.P.)—A tremendous explosion rocked a business and apartment section at a busy intersection (Independence Blvd. and Prospect) early today, touching off fires in four buildings and sending second floor tenants down fire ladders to safety.
Firemen set the property loss to three business establishments at $35,000, and said there was no early estimate of damage to the Vista theater or to neighboring buildings, where windows were blown out. Cause of the blast was not determined.
Members of the cast are William Teichgraber, college freshman, as John Livingstone, a bank robber; Bruce Dillman, journalism junior; as Ralph Carlton, in love with Rose; Abraham Gorelick, college freshman, as Silas Waterbury, the town constable.
Residents fled from apartments above the theater. One fireman aiding the rescue, Edward Neville, was injured when he fell from the theater marquee. St. Joseph's hospital reported he was not critically injured. No other injuries were reported.
Cast Selected For Melodrama
'by William West, graduate student.
Hall Becomes 33rd Governor of Kansas
Topeka—(U.P.)—Fred Hall, a tradition-breaking young attorney who bounced the old Republican regime from power, became Kansas' 33rd chief executive today with a pledge to be a "do-something" governor.
UN Official Chou Finish Peiping Talks
United Nations —(U.P.)— UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjoeld held his final talks with Red China Premier Chou En-Lai today on the fate of 11 imprisoned American filers, but a final joint communique to disclose their outcome.
Secretary General Hammarskjold and Chou talked for one hour and 20 minutes. It was their fourth meeting.
Their communeque said that "these talks have been useful and we hope to be able to continue the contact established in these meetings."
It said their discussions had referred to "questions pertinent to the relaxation of world tension."
VIVID PRESENTATION—Members of the University chorus and an instrumental ensemble retold the symphonic psalm of King David yesterday in a presentation in Hoch auditorium. The voices of the chorus and the unusual sound of ancient Biblical horns which were
But it made no mention of the "free-the-pironers" mission which took Mr. Hammarskjold to Peiping on a mandate from the UN General Assembly. And it did not refer to anything said by either side on the fate of the 11 American fliers jailed as "spies" and some 2,850 other UN command personnel still held as Korean war prisoners by Red China.
Mr. Hammarksjold planned to start his journey home tomorrow, leaving Peiping for Canton by air 5 n.m. (CST) today.
"In these talks (between Mr. Hammarskjold and Chou), reference was made at the same time to questions pertinent to the relaxation of world tension. We feel that these talks have been useful and we hope to be able to continue the contact established in these meetings."
The communique said:
Meanwhile, from reliable sources in New Delhi, India, word came that India had "suggested" to Red China that it would be a good idea to release the American airmen.
Mr. Hammarskjold was not expected to disclose the success or failure of his mission until after he has left Red China and probably not until his return to United Nations headquarters.
-Kansan photo by Pete Ford
once heard through the hills of Israel combined to give the audience a clear picture of the period in which the action of the psalm takes place. The production was directed by Clayton Krehbiel, assistant professor of music education
In the first outdoor inauguration in Kansas in 76 years the Dodge City lieutenant governor became the youngest Republican state executive in the nation. He is 38.
Gov. Hall was sworn in by Kansas Chief Justice W. W. Harvey who administered the oath to 10 other state officials on the south steps of the capitol building.
They were Lieut. Gov. John McCruish of Newton, Supreme Court Justices Jay S. Parker of Hill City and Clair Robb of Wichita, Attorney General, Harold R. Fatzer of Kinsley, secretary of state Paul R. Shanahan of Salina, State Auditor George Robb of Salina, State Treasurer Richard T. Fadley of Topeka, State Superintendent Adel F. Throckmorton of Wichita, Insurance Commissioner Frank Sullivan, of Lawrence, and State Printer Ferd Voilrand of Topeka.
It was a colorful ceremony with jet planes streaking overhead, a concert by the 125-piece high school band from the governor's home town, and with the traditional 19-gun salute fired from the statehouse grounds by National Guard field artillery.
Gov. Hall succeeded his political enemy, Edward F. Arn, who ended four years as governor by pledging his help in working with the new administration.
In a three-minute talk at the inauguration the outgoing chief executive wished the new administration "every possible success as we all work together for an ever greater Kansas."
Calling Kansas a state of progress because of its enduring pioneer spirit. Mr. Arn asserted:
"My visits with our people of the Sunflower state have strengthened my conviction that they are closer to the pioneer spirit and virtues than the people of any other state."
There have been pay raises for each of the Sunflower state's last three full-term chief executives.
Gov. Hall will get a salary of $15,000 a year—the highest ever paid a Kansas chief executive.
Gov. Andrew F. Schoeppel, who served in the World War II years, drew $5,000 annually.
Gov. Frank Carlson was advanced to $8,000, the rise by the Legislature taking effect Jan. 10, 1947.
Gov. Edward F. Arn's salary from January, 1941, until today was $10,000.
No Increase In Army Enlistments
A cut in veteran's benefits, effective Jan. 31, has not increased enlistments here, Capt. Paul Hyatt, officer in charge of the local Army recruiting station, said today.
"Although actual enlistments have not increased, the office has been swamped with telephone inquiries and students who are interested in the presidential proclamation," he said, pointing out that recruiting, nation wide and in Kansas City, has increased sharply.
Benefits were cut when President Eisenhower proclaimed Jan. 31 the cut-off date for acquiring eligibility for the benefits accorded CI's since the beginning of the Korean war.
Eligibility will cease for those who enter the service after then for the benefits of the Korean GI bill which included up to $160 a month for education and training allowances, and loan assistance for homes, farms, and businesses, direct loans, unemployment compensation, and mustering - out payments from $100 to $300.