FIRE DESTROYS HISTORIC INN
SUDBURY, Mass., W—This his-q
toric, centuries-old Wayside Inn,
immortalized by Poet Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow and re
stored to its natural beauty by the
late Henry Ford, was destroyed
by flames early Thursday.
Two hours after the blaze broke
out in zero temperature, a fire
official said “the building is a total
loss.”
The blaze devoured the ram
U.S. Skiers Try Out For
Olympic Team Positions
SPOUNT SPRINGS, Ore., UP—
With no help and much hindrance
from weather, Olympic training
camp members completed their
first cross country ski trials yes
terday after three days of clock
watching.
Two additional cross country
trials are scheduled for Dec. 28
and 30. The best two of the three
races for each skier will be
counted in the final selection of
six men to represent the United
States in the Winter Olympics
next month at Cortina D’Ampezzo,
Italy.
Yesterday’s run was threatened
when a half hour rain followed
two days of thawing temperatures.
A jump tryout will be held
either Friday or Saturday, de
pending on how soon the melted
jump can be repaired.
CON'S CHRISTMAS CARD
TO JUDGE INCLUDES PLEA
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., <#>—
Circuit Judge Sam C. Blair was
surprised Wednesday to receive a
Christmas card from an inmate at
the Missouri State Penitentiary.
A close look showed the convict
was, attempting to appeal to the
compassionate side of the law. J.
Johnson, the prisoner, had neatly
penciled his request for writ of
habeas corpus on the back of the
card.
Judge Blair was untouched by
the sentiment. He denied the writ.
>___
bling wooden structure and its
contents of valuable antiques de
spite the efforts of at least a half
dozen fire-fighting units.
Guests often stayed at the inn,
but police said no one was in the
building at the time of the fire.
The historic stopping place on
the old Boston Post Road was built
about 1686 and was known orig
inally as the Red Tavern. Later it
took on historic interest when
Longfellow used it as the inspira
tion for his “Tales of a Wayside
Inn.”
The late Henry Ford purchased
the structure and several other
historical buildings in Sudbury in
the early 1920s. The inn was
owned by the Ford Foundation
and leased for the past few years
to private interests.
Only one section of the building
remained standing after the fire—
the east wing, containing a gift
shop, the ancient kitchen and a
cocktail lounge. But they were
badly damaged.
Otto John Arrested By
West Germany on Charge
Of Suspected Treason
KARLSRUHE, Germany, CP) —
Dr. Otto John was formally ar
ested by West German authorities
today on a charge of suspected
treason. The turn-coat former in
telligence chief had been under
'‘voluntary” detention since his
surprise return Dec. 12 from
Communist East Germany.
Federal prosecutor Carl Weich
mann, who announced the arrest,
confirmed previous reports John
claimed he was unconscious when
he was taken to East Berlin in
July, 1954. Weichmann said this
claims was “unbelievable.”
The prosecutor said federal in
vestigators will have to deter
mine whether John could be
charged with other offenses, par
ticuarly whether he divulged state
secrets to the Communists. John
reportedly has insisted he did not
disclose any such secrets during
prolonged questioning in East
Germany and Russia.
Christmas Stockings at Cavota's
THE HUT
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