The Key West Citizen Newspaper, December 27, 1940, Page 2

PAGE TWO y Newspaper in Key West and Mourve County West, Flevida. as second class matter Member the Associated Press 8 exclwsively entitlea to use all mews dispatches credited to credited in this paper and also s published here. SUBSCRIPTJON RATES — $10.00 5.00 5 -20 CIAL NOTICE ards of thanks, resolutions of ©, ete., will be charged for at by churches from which s a line. tes discus- al or general us communi- PROVEMENTS TOR KEY WEST ADVOCATED BY THE CITIZEN s and Apartm nd Bathing Pavilion * perts—Land-and Sea. of County City Hospital. na deaf man gets heaying in always ready to pwll—sooth ind, let us not to cut eapers is upt in laces bu in your garden. like a criminal, ntion mark. heartily agree with those abolish capital punishment. When 2 girl warms up to a fellow a Kt- tle, he thinks he has her “knocked cold.” »me who clamor loudly for justice sjuawk even louder if they og it. We usually admire those who are in- lent enough to agree with our own Paraphrasing an old saying: You ean vs tell a non-advertiser, but yeu can’t vim much. got into Delilah’s hair, why his and not her own? dying every day en the to find out how fast a completed. ukelele lephoningsfor a string, a rl asked the dealer to tune the wre serding it out. atesman declares nis country and the ibe absurd. Soare all wa lent has often whi ed, clothed, ill - Let © not ill led. tion one-third of us he ronome? igured that to explode we would have Time enough for t-ef hot extras. King Vittorio Emanuele, of Italy, had a tough job to do the other day) He was to praise the valor of the retfeating lian troops. It must have,been galli hat “mo obstaele aud po difficulty e glorious ascension-ef It The eity of Fort Myer s sold the de- linquert tax certificates of a large property ner to an Illinois fi The amount paid was $88,309.21, the price including $16,000 in 1940 taxes on the property. beosted the 1939 city tax ¢ t cent of the total roll. Other Florida ties, including Key West, might ad- vantageously adopt the thods of Fort Myers in bringing tax delinquents to the mat, neier. ectio to business RECREATION WANTED! t is not too late to do something con- | e about the establishment of recrea- ies in Key West—both for the 2 and for the tourists. It’s not te to create a parent group to oversee venture and thus place our city in th hundreds of others in the south- cognize such a need. start was made in that di- nen it became apparent that the ival authorities were becoming alarmed icerning the lack of wholesome enter- tainment on hand in the city. A temporary ion was formed which saw to a fhe construction of facilities at La Concha Park, and then, for lack of pro- per encouragemert, it dissolved. A movement is now on foot, The Citi- -ars, by the churches and civie clubs ide, to cooperate, one with the other, nish wholesome recreation for the : personnel and tourists now pour- to the city. Many interesting pro- -e been su gested, all highly ap- need now is to furnish a leading rolling group of citizens for this recreation venture. The Citizen sugges nd cen see ro better group than a special -ommittee of the City Council to form the us of such a commission—one vested islative power to cope with what- ecal or civic problems that-may crop ne matter. This then, is an important function of in the category that Key West finds Tourist cities should have such a ission and active cooperation on the The addition of a mili- the more f all citizens. status makes the cause all isiness is better in Key West and is ig still better. Patriotism for the city should not overlook the necessity of return- ing at least a nominal proportion of profits being taken in recognizing the recrea- tional wants of our visitors—both tem- porary and more permanent. After all, just what is there to do here it - West? The list of activities is in- deed small. Let's form a Now! nov Recreation Commission. FOLLY OF PACIFISM When we hear someone say that it would make no difference to the United States whether Britain or the Axis wins the present war, it may not mean that he is a ‘ columni cr a traitor, but it cer- ns thai he is either ignorant or There are many who profess to be 1 Americans who still argue that if Hit- hould defeat Britain he would never e trouble for us if we minded our own <iness. But that is what Norway, Den- Holland, Belgium and other coun- s thought only a couple of years ago. They relied on Hitler’s promises, even aiter he had taken over Austria and part of Czechoslovakia, and had crushed Poland. agents in all the now conquered encouraged their people to be- e that they were in no danger, just as an agents and their American dupes : in the United States today. ice the first World War, a large num- yer of so-called peace societies have sprung in the United States, some of them com- ‘or the most part of honest citizens, THE KEY WEST CITIZEN YESTERDAY: Although Sally has known all along that the per- son who murdered Aunt Maggie ‘might be any of the guests at the houseparty she and Bill, her husband, are giving, she is whcl- ly unprepared for the informa- tion that Lieutenant ‘“Grego-y gives her now. The Lieutenant thinks Bill is guilty. and bases his opinion on a quarrel Andrew, the butler, says he heard »e- tween Aunt Maggie and Bill a few minutes before she was found dead. Chapter 36 Andrew Talks “V AT?” I asked weakly. “I cannot believe it. Andrew is mistaken.” “I am afraid not,” said the offi-| cer dryly. Then, turning to Rob-| erts, “What was it Andrew says/| he overheard Mrs. Ambler say to Mr. Stuart?” Roberts flipped the pages of his notebook, cleared his throat, moi tened his lips and read: “Don you dare lay hands on me, Willie. “But it is impossible!” I cried. “And yet someone did lay hands on Mrs. Ambler,” I was reminded inexorably. “It was the natural thing for her to say under the cir- cumstances. there was no one else known to be oa the premises whom she would have addressed by that name.” “I don’t care,” I argued. “It’s all wrong. Bill wouldn’t do such a thing. Mr. Dodson, you said you had a glimmer. Surely you know better than this “We must not interfere with Lieutenant Gregory’s. investiga- tion,” he old me. “There are still others to be questioned, you know. When he has finished, we will see what we can do.” “But Andrew could so easily be mistaken,” I insisted. “After all, he admits that he was not paying much attention. There are other words, other names, that sound like Willie. It was just an asso- ciation of ideas in his mind. Aunt Maggie was one of the few people who call Bill by that name. An- drew, of course, knows this as well as anyone, and if she said anything sounding at all like Wil- lie he would naturally jump to the conclusion that that was what she meant. ; “You are just wasting your breath, my dear,” said Bill. “I’ve been over it all with Lieutenant Gregory. I've tried to convince him that I had no reason to kil? Aunt Maggie and no desire to, or to kill anyone.” “I'm afraid you are going to have to try to prove that to a jury, Mr. Stuart,” said Lieutenant Gregory. “And in view of these new developments, Mrs. Stuart, wouldn't you like to amend your own story? Are you cure that vou gave a correct statement of the facts when you said that you saw | | no one else in the p: ge when you stepped out there ly af- ter the murder?” “Sally, you don’t have to answer that question,” cautioned Mar- shall. ., {But, of course, I will answer it,” I said. “I did not see an ive “All this is very unnecessary.” Mr. Marshall told Lieutenant Gregory. “Assuming that Mr. Stuart is guilty, which I do not, I suppose you are aware that, ac- cording to law. a wife is not com-| pelled to testify against her hus-/ band.” “But I'm telling the truth,” I repeated. “Mr. Dodson, you be- lieve me, don’t you?” “Yes, Mrs. Stuart,” he said sim- ply. “I do believe you.” “Thank you,” I choked, sudden- | ly very near to tears. Bill squeezed my hand hard and for a moment ro one spoke. The silence | was so heavy you could feel it. Or rather you could feel all sorts of Vibrations in it—vibrations that met and clashed there. in, that/| auiet room as definitely. as words that are said or swords that are} crossed. Andrew Again I looked around the circle of in- tent faces. Roberts fidgeting with his notebook and so obvious- |¢aa understand vi *jin’ outside “Yes, sir. Yes, sir, Mr. Bill That’s right But I sho’ didn't want to.” “Suppose,” said Coroner Dod- son, in his pleasant, deep voice, “you telliyou exactly what did happen, Aingrew.” “Check# this testimony,” said Lieutenant Gregory to Roberts. Andrew looking appealingly first at .then-at Bill “Well, sir,” he an, “Il was in the breakfa$t ‘réom after dinner last night. I done went in there to put up some Binen we brung out from town what belong in that room. We been’§o busy I forgot all about it, Then I see it in the kitchen jafter dinner and I say to Bessie, |‘Law, Bessie, if Miss Sally see this, she'll git after me, sho’. ” ‘All right, Andrew,” Lieutenant Greogory prompted. “You can skip that. Just tell us what you heard.” “Yes, sir. Yes, sir, but I just want to show how come I was in that r vasn’t tryin’ to hear |no I didn’t pay no he door. N: they is passin’ and repass: jI notice Miss Maggie's voice and jit seem to me she sound worried | about somethin’. She talk louder, but I still don’t hear what she say. I hear a man, too” — Andrew looked over at Bill, as though he realized fully the import of what he was saying and did not wish to | go on. | “All right, Andrew,” Lieuten- ant Gregory prodded. “Well, I can’t understand what the man,.say. Seem to me they ar- guin’ about somethin’. I never can tell who'the man’s voice is. Then I hear Miss Maggie say, ‘Don’t |you dare lay hands on me, Wil- ie. | Bill, whose had been fixed jon Andrew ever since his recital began, now | be so sure she sai | drew?” “’Cause, Mr. Bill, she say it louder’n she done say anythil else. Like she plum scared.” * “Did you hear anything else, Andrew?” Mr. Dodson asked. “No, sir. I sell out and get away from there. I know when white folks fight, it ain’t no place for me.” i . “What did you do afterward, Andrew? Nid you tell anybody | about this?” “No, sir. When I go back to the kitchen, Miss Sally in there talk- | in’ to Bessie *bout what we goin’ |to have for breakfast next morn- in’. Bimeby, Miss Sally go on out through the breakfast room and 'find Miss Maggie dead on the floor. She call Bessie to come there quick ‘cause Miss Maggie ; fainted. We brung along a pitcher | of water, but we ain’t able to re- | vive her. She done dead. Then I j know I must not say nothin’ to | Bessie ver, ‘Cause women can’t | keen no s : | .. “You mean,” asked Mr. Dodson, |“that you didn’t intend to tell anycne about all this?” . | ‘No, sir. When folks gets mad, they liable kill somebody ’thout meanin’ to. Mr. Bill wouldn’t {harm nobody in his right mind. And Miss Maggie could be right ; worrisome sometimes.” | “How do you mean, worri- some?” asked Lieutenant Gregory quickly. Andrew scratched his head. “Just worrisome,” he repeated, “like old folks is sometimes. Miss Maggie, she talk about family trees all the time and ste want everybody to look after her.” “Not quite grounds for murder, CES will agree, Lieutenant,” said | Bill. “Any more questions, Coroner?” | the officer asked. “All right, you = 8, Andrew. But stay within call. “Oh, Mr. Bill,” Andrew begged from the doorway, “please don’t “That's ail richt, andrew,” Bill | interrupted, “I know.” } Interruption eye an easily see Andrew's point,” said Mr. Dodson when |the door had_ closed. ence when it ; ly resentful of what he consid-|is not the premeditated variety. ered special privilege. Lieutenant | After all. the white race has had | unremitting in his vigilance lest with Nazi, ! + or Communistic leanings. Their ob- t has been and still is to hamper efforts national defense, and they have done in- ulable harm. very right-thinking person desires peace, but events of the past few years have proved as never before that for a defense- ss nation there can be little hope for con- tinued peace in a war-mad world. QUALIRYING AS A PROFESSOR Professor Chester J. Prince, of Liberty, seems te be somewhat of a philosopher, vill be seen from the story that tells how he “qualified as a college professor.” When his family complained of cold irafts from the attic the professor took h er and nails and went to work. He boarded up the opening and found, to his dismay that he was in the attic, unable to pry the boards loose in order te get out! Thereupon, he called upon his family and they rescued him by working from the other side. According to the newspaper ispatch, when he regained his liberty, he ked, philosophically, “I guess I had to io something to qualify asa_ college pro- | fessor.” Gregory, stern and hard-bitten, thousands ef years of the disci- pline of-efvilization and law and he be taken in by a too-plausible | order. A-hwhdred years ago An- story. Mr. Marshall. his features drew’s ancestors were savages or etched in line of deep distress, | Slaves. That's why the South has his eyes full of incredulity that|such a high homicide rating. It two people he had known since their childhood could have be- come involved in such an unthink- able predicament. Bill, still puz- doesn’t indicate that we are any more vicious than other sections, but only that many of our citizens are still more or less children so zled and impatient, but wearing | far as morals are concerned. Their a fighting iook as well. Only Cor- | acts are largely governed by their oner Dodson’s countenance, with | emotions— the unseeing eyes, was serene. Lieutenant Gregory cleared his He said now, and his voice was | throat. Evidently he had heard all like oil poured on troubled waters, | this before. “I'm afraid we had “Lieutenant, may I beg an indulg- ence? I was not present when the better be getting on,” he said. “So we should,” Mr. Dodson butler was interviewed. Would it | agreed, “but it is a subject that in- delay matters too much to have him brought in and let us go over his testimony?” terests me deeply. Pardén my di- gression, Lieutenant.” “I should like to ask Mr. We waited in hushed expec- | Stuart,” Lieutenant Gregory re- taney for Lieutenant Gregory’s|sumed, “what paper was burned reply. After all, it would not have been unreasonable for him to re- at his wrist watch, “I have no ob- in the right-hand fireplace in the room where Mrs. Ambler was fuse. But he said finally, ae ote | Pa after her death?” jection to your questioning the | geth witness, provided you will be} brief.” “Paper?” Bill and I echoed tor er. “Yes. One of my men found the ashes ‘and a scrap of the unburned. There were tears on Andrews’ olack cheeks when he was brought in, and at sight of them I al- most broke down myself, “Oh, Miss Sally, he cried, “fo’ God, they could've Pvouldn' "ve told. but they just ee ae ‘Never mind, Andrew,” I said. And from Bill, “We know you paper there this morning.” “T have no idea,” said Bill, “un- less—” “Unless what?” “Sally, do you think it could have been the clue to the seeret Bill asked. room?” “May I see the serap that was. left” I requested Lieutenant “Here it is,” he said, pointing to what you believed to be | the desk. the truth, but how the hell could you have thought it?” * Te be continued (Cotyright, 1939, Medora Field Parkerson) SUBSCRIBE FOR TIl= CITIZEN—2te WEEKLY. PEOPLE’S FORUM COMMISSIONER CURRY’S CHALLENGE Editor, The Citizen: Citizens are being misinformed and deceived concerning the action of the Board of County Commis- sioners at the special meeting held last Monday night at which the Board authoriz@d the re: ing of Monroe County's * $ ding bonded indebtednes&” ~~ County Clerk Ross Sawyer, it seems, has undertaken to cham- pion and defend the action of the Beard and also to try to discredit me because of my negative vote and my opposing views in the matter. In this connection I wish to state that Mr. Sawyer, as a fee of- ficer, is greatly benefited by any bond refunding plan whether for ‘ or against the interests People. and a bond ny nating every twenty-four hours may be to his liking. The people of the county are entitled to know the truth the whole truth and be given nothing but the truth in such an mm- portant matter.endI de hereby challenge or invite Mr. Sewyer of anyone else including Mr R E Crummer, to come before the citi- zens of this county and discus: with me all of the angles and de tails of this recent refund: plan The people are entitled to know the truth, I say. and I promise * give it to them and be willing abide by their judgemeng. Respectfully. T. JENKINS CURRY Commissioner—Sth Drstrict THE BATTLE OF KEY WEST Editor, The Citizen: The front page editorial in Thursday’s issue deserves the ,hearty commendation of every clean minded citizen. The awful stench of the immorality of our streets becomes known to many of our people only through the medium of the press. In calling attention to it you are rendering # public service. The problem is that of all our people. Mainly, however, it be- longs to the police department. The whole ugly breed of evils, gambling, drunkenness, brawling, prostitution is within their terri- tory. These men, from the mayor down fo the patrolman, are re- sponsible fer the laxness of public morals. The evils complained of are never “necessary.” These men sought the offices which they oc- cupy. Their fellow citizens had. and still have confidence in their ability to enforce the laws. They know where the evils flourish, and who profits by them. Let them give Key West the benefit of an honest effort to throttle them. Will they l@us down? The prophylatic methods dis- cussed in previous editorials do nct meet the seriousness of the conditions to which you call atten- tion. They are only superficial. Why should a harlot be given a card cf clean health? Dr. Warren was quoted recently in the sugges- tion that “her customer ought to SEDELIEHTS By MARCY B. DARNALL _ Former Editor of The Citizen Finding herself about out of gas and with only 18 cents in her purse, an Atlanta lady asked a filling station attendant to put a gallon in her tank. When he took her money he said: “Would you like a road map to Florida?” Berkeley L. Bunker, 34, filling Station operator and Mormon bishop, has been appointed United. States senator to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Key Pittman of Nevada, Gover- nor Carville, whe appointed Bunker, is a Catholic. Winchell reports that Grinnell College alumni have asked that the premiere of the movie “Meet John Doe.” starring Gary Cooper, be given in the lowa town. When a student at Grinnell, Cooper was rejected by the dramatic society, whose members thought, he had no talent for acting. Practice firing by anti-aircraft guns of a National Guard ynit at Yaphnk, N. Y., was postponed three days until the duck-hunting season ended on December 15. Hunters had requested the post- ponement because the guns were frightening the ducks away. To express its disapproval of Col. Charles A. Lindbergh's atti- tude toward the administration's foreign policy, the city council of Brownwood, Tex. changed the name of Lindbergh avenue in that town to Corrigan street. Forrest C. Donnell, Republican governor-elect of Missouri, a few days ago submitted a2 revised Statement of hig campaign ex- gotten to include, a few items in his official list of expendiures. The added amount was $7.94 and his total campaign expense was $124. Walter Bonneville of Snow Hill, Md., watched fora thief which had been stealing three pies and a loaf of bread left on his doorstep every morning by a baker. The culprit was found to be a mongrel dog which w>s carrying away the food to share with her four pups in a vacant building nearby. i be compelled to carry one to The problem is an old one. Abster tion, not prophylatic. s b cure and preventive sor attend to wisdem, bend your om to knowledge, that caution me take care of you: keep held caution and sound sense. that the may save you from the se woman: her lips drop honed words, her talk is smoother thar oil itself, but the end with ber bitter poison. sharp as 2 sword with double edge: her fect © down to Death. her steps leod straight to the grave; the high read of Life is not for her. shifty and shppery are her tracks “Now listen to me. my son. he fast to what I say: keep cle her, never go near her door. te= you have to part with you money, and hand your | over, lest outsiders enjoy al you make, and all your week goes to a stranger's household till you ape left at last to moar when all you have is waste At why did I hate euidance. wh c I despise all warning’? Why not listen to those who tamed me, and bend my ear to these were my guides? I hawe been nearly sentenced to death by th community”” (Proverbs 5 < Moffatt's edition.) JOHN C. GEKELER Pastor First Presbyterian varmnme Today's Birthdays Gen. Payton C March USA retired, born at Easton. Pa. 7 years ago. US. Senator James M Mead New York, born at Mt Morris N. Y., 55 years ago Oscar Levant of New composer, pianist, Information “expert” of radio fame, born = Pittsburgh, 34 years age Marlene Dietrich. screen star born in Berlin. 36 years age Charles H. Swift, board char man, Swift & Co. Chicago. bors at Lancaster, Mass. 68 year ago. Louis Bromfield of Lucas. Oh» noted author, born at Mansfield Ohio, 44 years ago. George J. Mead, muted sere nautical engineer. born at Ever ett, Mass. 49 years ago Evelyn Asay of Mount Carroll. TL, was sold for $3,498. or $3.3 a pound Bought by L. K Fire- stone, the steer will be exhibited over the country. ion eh