The Key West Citizen Newspaper, December 3, 1952, Page 1

VOL. LXXIII. No. 288 Che Key West Citizerr THE SOUTHERNMOST NEWSPAPER IN THE U.S.A. KEY WEST, FLORIDA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1952 To Present Minimum Lot Requirement In County 'Papy Questions | Wisdom Of 5,000 ' Sq. Foot Ruling The end of the require- ment for 5,000 square feet tminimum per lot in Monroe eounty was foreshadowed at County Commission meet- ing last: night when State Representative Bernie C. Papy challenged it both during the meeting and af- terwards. County Comrhissioner Barry Harris commented: “Our county engineer, John Goggin, who suggest- ed this limitation of a mini- mum of 5,000 square feet _ per lot, drew this Sadowski plat with lots smaller than that knowing we wouldn’t be able to approve them.” Goggin had suggested the mini- tmum footage some months back ‘and County Commissioners had ap- proved the measure as a means pf providing more space in sub- divisions. The question came up when rn Attorney cn air a r presented two plat approval by the five commis- In Bridge Crash When Lt. Joseph L. Reilly of 103 Main Road, Sigsbee Park fell at the wheel, his automobile into the Stock Island Briage, ‘ite Tuesday night. was uninjured but his car was severely damaged. Police Of- ficer W. R. Archer issued a sum- mons for. reckless driving and causing an accident. In another accident, the porch of a house st 607 Margaret Street Was extensively damaged \ Len a ear operated by Mrs. Edna G. ckwell of B-7, George Allen lace went out of coutrol and struck the house. Mrs. Blackwell paid that she lost control of the vehicle when her small child fell out of the car. Damage to the car was set at $13,500 Award In $125,000 Lost Arm Suit Leskosky Settles With Insurance Co. After VA Pays Medical Bills And New Arm Anthony J. Leskosky, who lost his arm in an accident involving Calvin H. White, was awarded $13,- 500 by the U. S. Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance company in an out-of-court settlement, Attorney Robert Youmans reported today. Lekosky agreed to the settlement far below the original suit for $125,000 damages, chiefly because his medical bills were paid by the Veterans Administration, and he has his old job back. He is a temporary civil service air conditioning mechanic at the U. S. Naval hospital. He is still on the job following the provision oi an artificial arm by the Veter- an’s Administration, Youmans said. Leskosky was injured when his car and a mail truck driven by Calvin H. White sideswiped each other on Big Pine Key, June 14. His left arm was amputated at the Naval hospital on that same day. He spent a long time recover- ‘adh e hospital but has since no chil- | en he whave-to along with one arm, Youmans said “he can still work at the old job. A trial had been hoped for in January, The sudden settlement was indicated when the insurance company approached Youmans Friday. The actual settlement was made yesterday afternoon. No Openings In Some Positions At Naval Station Examinations for Indefinite ap- pointment to the positions of Clerk, Clerk-Typist and Clerk-Stenograph- er, announced by the Board of U. S. Civil Service Examiners at the Naval Station has been amended to change closing date of examina- tions. Because a sufficient number of applications have been received, notice is hereby given that applica- tions for the position of Clerk, (Continued. On Page Six) EES Mrs. Papy Wins “| Bazaar Prize I. R. Stowers Co. As usual we are offering $10 as a trade-in on your old bike. USE OUR LAY-AWAY PLAN Winner of the large basket of fruit, donated by Frank Yac- carina and given as a prize at the Weman’s Club bazaar yes- terday, was Mrs. Bernie C. Papy. Mrs, Papy disclosed that she is, in turn, giving the basket to the Strachan family whe. were burned out of their home on Whitehead Street early Thanks- giving morning. KEY WEST SALVAGE CO. STOCK ISLAND Contractors and Builders Attention FOR SALE USED — STEEL PIPE . BEAMS - ANGLES OF ALL SIZES We Want Junk of All Kinds OLD CARS A ND TRUCKS CALL 136 Murder Case Against Perez Will Be Heard Next Tuesday Bell Telephone Co. Gives Big Tax Check To County One of the largest checks in pay- ment of county ad valorem taxes on property has just been paid to the county tax collector by the Southern Bell Telephone Company. The payment totaled $21,969.22 and was delivered by C. A. Cold, Key West manager for Southern Bell, to Howard E. Wilson, county tax collector. Southern Bell is one of Monroe County’s and Florida’s largest tax- payers, Today’s payment is part of an estimated $3,800,000 tax bill to be paid by the telephone com- pany to the State of Florida and its counties and cities for 1952 exclusive of income, sccial security and excise tax payments to the Federal Government. Town Finance Co. Sold To Miamian The Town Finance company of Key West, located at 604 Duval Street, has been sold to J. H.Meynahan of Mi it. was announced today by’ owner Frank M. Magnuson. Mervin W. Thompson, J: White Street, will rem: as manager, a position he has held for the past six months. There will be no personnel changes. Under the new ownership set- up, the Town Finance company becomes a branch office of the Town Finance of Miami. The company makes small loans to residents of this area. CRIMINAL COURT DOCKET SLATES ASSORTMENT OF CASES FOR TRIAL Joseph Perez, accused of the second degree murder of Frankie Kee on July 18, will go on trial be- fore a Criminal Court Jury next Tuesday at 10 a. m., it was an- nounced today. The trial has been set for the case of the stabbing which ac- cording to the infortaation was a “mortal wound”, Perez, also known as “Koochie”, is alleged to have stabbed Kee, known as “Par- kee”, and killed him. The state has lined up police and other witnesses. Dr. Herman K. Moore will testify at the trial. Another case of interest of an entirely different story is the State’s charge against Ben Clein that the exclusive Rod and Reel. hotel in Key Largo has been operating with- out a state license. Though no date next week has been set for the case, state witnesses have .been subpoenaed for trial. -E. D. Catts, supervisor of the Florida Hotel and Restaurant Commission and Ri ‘The charges of 2; ae sault against Vivian Knight - ed with cutting Thelma Jenkins October 30 will be heard by jury and Judge Caro. Miss Knight who lives at the same address, 306 Amelia street, as her victim is alleged to have cut the latter with a straight razor. According to the charges Miss Jenkins had to have 55 stitches as a result of the slashing. Benjamin Pierce, 412 Bahama street, will be tried on charge of assault and battery at the Midget Bar on November 18. Execution Is Payment For Czech Commies VIENNA (#—Rudolf Slansky and ten other Czechoslovak Communist leaders convicted in the recent purge trial were executed early today, Prague radio announced. The 11--once trusted servants of the Kremlin -- were sentenced to death Nov. 27 as confessed traitors who admitted they led a “Zionist, Trotskyite” plot to overthrow their Pro-Moscow gover=ment. Those who died with Slansky, the Czech party’s former secretary general, were: Viado Clementis, former Czech foreign minister; Bedrich Geminder, former head of the Communist party’s inter- national section and mlin spokesman in Prague; Otto Sling, former deputy secre- tary general of the par‘y; Ludvik Frejka, former head of the state economic commission; Bedrich Reicin, an ex-general and former deputy defense min- iarwe; Otto Fischl, former deputy fi- nance minister; Rudolf Margolius, former deputy trade minister; Andre Simone, ex-editor of the Czech Communist newspaper Rude Pravo; Josef Frank, formerly Slansky’s deputy and a member of the par- ty's Karel. LEGION HONOR GUARD SET DINNER TONIGHT The Honor Guard of the Ameri- can Legion will enjoy a Swiss steak dinner tonight at Casa Cayo Hueso at 7:30 p. m. Approximately 45 guests will be present including the wives of the members of the organization. Principal speaker for the even- ing will be Captain of the Guard E. J. Delgado. Protests To County Commission Foreshadow End (Sidewalk Repairs Planned Truman, Harris For | School Soon SCHOOL BOARD TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CITY’S PLAN FOR RENOVATIONS The Monroe County School Board will take advantage of the city’s! newly announced policy of bearing 75 per cent of the cost of sidewalk repairs since, at their regular meeting last night, they voted unan-: work on the sidewalks near Harris} and Truman Elementary Schools. ; Under the terms of the plan, the school board will be assessed but' 25 per cent of the total cost of the} work with the City making up td difference. They will make appli- cation for the work shortly and it will be completed in the order of | application. Several other items of routine business were also disposed of at the session when the board mem- } bers moved to defer action on a proposal by the Dade County School Board to give the Monroe County group a Link Trainer, a device utilized in aviation pilot | training, for the use of the Key West Civil Air Patrol in their training program. Under the terms of the offer, the device would be given to the County at a rental of one dollar per year, would be shipped to Key West at no cost to the local school system. The board members felt, how- fever, that the responsibility of maintaining the expensive piege of} machinery, would p. the ac- ceptance of the grant. ber Billy Warren, in maintained that he rd Mem-| 5, ssure be Associated Press Teletype and Photo Services. ars Devoted to the psts of Key West PRICE FIVE CENTS 4 Commissioners Return From Jax Parley, Good Progress Reported The operation of the long awaited Havana-Key West ferry line appeared to be virtually assured today following the return of three members of the City Come mission from a meeting of the newly formed corporation who will operate the line. Mayor C. B. Harvey and Come missioners Jack Delaney and Delio Cobo reported that the results of the aging.” Jacksonville parley were very “encour The commissivners met with officials of the Marine Bridge Transport Corporation, a company which has been imously'to authorize badly needed Set up to operate the multi-million-dollar ferry operation, which expects to start the shuttle service between Key West and the Cuban capital early in the spring. Bicycle Rider Deplores Lack Of Driving Care Former keeper of the Key West Lighthouse, 73 year old E. P. Johnson of 615 Frances Street, asked today that all motorists, Key Westers and out-of-towrers, be more careful in opening car doors on the streets. He exhibited | _ a badly lacerated and still swo'len finger as a sample of what lack of caution by drivers can do; vent other accidents and more serious injury to passersby, pedes- trians, bike riders or other drivers. That's my aim,” the whitehaired man said in telling what happened him. “Twas riding along Angela and was.about to pass an ‘town car parked along the -tman shoved door open’ with “such. force «.and county commission districts. The Florida National Bank was) designated as the depository for Monroe County School funds in a routine move required by law. The board also authorized certain expenditures for needed equipment including maintenance supplies, the purchase of instruments for the use of the Key West High School band and repairs to school facilities. WARREN ACCUSED OF DEMANDING KICKBACKS IN SRD State or to any contractor doing | been parties to any conspiracy to; Warren at the time asserted JACKSONVILLE \# — Sufts filed Tuesday in Federal and Circuit Courts here accuse Gov. Fuller Warren of directing “that those | doing business directly or indirect- \ly with the State Road Depart- ; ment make ‘kickback’ payments or otherwise pay tribute to the gov- ‘ernor' or his friends and associ- j ates.” S. L. Kilgore asks $300,000 dam- | ages in the suit, claiming he was fired as sales manager of the Flor- ida Crushed Stone Co., because of open hostility ‘‘toward the entire ‘shakedown’ arrangement and be- cause he had fully and openly ex- pressed to a number of the de- fendants that he did not believe [that such tactics were right and that such tactics smacked of ‘gang- sterism’.” Defendants are Gov. Warren; |five members of the State Road Department, Alfred A. McKethan, Merrill P. Barber, J. Glover Tay- llor, Marion G jten Drake Jr.; Stone Co.; Clarence N. Camp III, |B. M. Craig. C. V. Griffin, C. H. Doebler, C. B. Treadway and H. A. Bargeon, trustees of Construction Equipment Co., a dissolved Flor- ida corporation. Kilgore’s suit charges Construc- tion Equipment Co., had as one of its purposes the collection of 10 cents a ton on rock sold to the; Nelson an’ Trus- | Florida Crushed | business with the State. The money was earmarked to pay back “some of the huge cam- paign contributions that had been made to the Warren, campaign by the defendant, C. V. Griffin, and others, and for other illegal pur; poses,”’ the bill declares. Gov. Warren, road department members and other defendants who could be reached deried the charges. In a statement issued in his of- fice at Tallahassee, the governor said: “The charges of Thomas T. Cobb (attorney who filed the suit) and S. L. Kilgore against me are a crazy collection of fantastic lies. “These absurd allegations re- semble a strumpet’s disordered dream, “I have never requested or even suggested to anyone at any time or anywhere that the requirements for gradation of lime rock, hard rock or slag be changed. “I have never ordered the state road department to do anything.” The members of the Road Board jissued a joint statement which said: “The alleged insinuations which | are contained in the suit of S. L. Kilgore reflecting that Alfred A. McKethan and associate members of the state road board have ever defraud the state of Florida, the U. S. or any individual corpora- tion is nothing more than a mali- cious falsehood and smacks of the lowest political chicanery and is nothing more than headline hunt- ing. ‘ “This suit has oo basis in law or fact and we feel sure is insti- tuted primarily, if not solely, for political purposes.” Griffin, millionaire citrus grow- er and a prominent Warren backer who broke with the governor in 1950 amid an exchange of sensa- tional charges, said at his home in Howey-in-the-Hills: “I know nothing about the rea- job. I am sorry it happened. How- | ever, his suits against me and the | state at large are completely un- | founded.” The suit aroused ghosts of the | Griffin-Warren break which came | about 2% months after the date | Kilgore says he was fired as sales | |manager for the crushed rock | firm. At the time of the break Grif fin charged there was wide open | gambling and vice with which | Warren “can’t or won't cope.” | Federal investigators came to Florida and there was an unsuc-/ cessful effort to impeach the gov- | ernor. i sons for Mr. Kilgore losing his | | such stone.” Griffin once asked to be appointed Road Board chairman (Griffin de- nied it) and that Griffin said their break could be settled “by mak- ing him executive assistant to the governor with power to make changes in personnel and give or- | ders to the chairman of the Road Department.” Eventually Warren and Griffin made up and last June the gover- nor named Griffin to the Florida Citrus Commission. Kilgore’s suit said in part: “Florida Crushed Stone Co. was, ‘for many years, the only source of supply in Florida for large quantities of the various types of stone specified by the State Road Department in state road and bridge projects, and in 1949 it was the major producer in Florida of Road Board members, the bill said, “caused the issuance of an amendment to the standard cpeci- fications for road and bridge con- | struction adopted by the State | Road Department on April 1, 1947, | - setting up an off-standard grada- | tion requirement for cover mate- rials which these defendants well knew that Florida Crushed Stone Co., could not supply.” “The purpose of closing the spec- ifieations in this manner was to (Continued On Page Six) Attention Please! KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN By Calling MR, FEINSTEIN PHONE 1309 We BUY all kinds of JUNK All Kinds of Scrap Metal Located at Simonton & Dey Sts.) Christmas Suggestions BLACK and DECKER TOOLS FULL LINE OF TOOLS FOR THE HOME USE OUR LAY-AWAY PLAN HOME APPLIANCE CO., INC. 605 Simonten St. Tel. EQUIPMENT FOR Ur !:. Water Fishing Thompson Enterprises, Inc. HARDWARE DIVISION | Caroline St. Phone 686 | REAR ATERS RSTRROE SCIN POOR OLD CRAIG | quickness that I ‘t have time to get out of way. I was knocked off my bicycle. The: blow injured my finger pretty painfully. If there had been a car behind me, I might have been killed.” Johnson said he didn’t wrangle with the driver at all and didn't bother to take the license number or report the accident. “I didn’t Say anything mean. I just said people ought to look out before they shove open doors of cars, And that’s what I want the public to be warned about. Folke ought not to open ear doors on the street side without watching.” The injury to Johnson occured a week ago Saturday, and today, his finger is healing but still swollen to twice normal size. Housing Expert Is In Key West Today Milton W. Blanton, economist for the Housing and Home Finance Agency in Atlanta, arrived in Key West yesterday for a one day study of the City’s low cost hous- ing sitvation. Scheduled to come under his scrutiny is the site of the pro- posed Navy Trailer Park in the “salt. pond area” near Roosevelt Boulevard. Blanton spen. the morning in conference with Naval officials on houding problems The housing expert expressed the opinion that Key West will receive the necessary financial aid for the ezpansion and rehabilita- tion of the sewer system in the near future. The request is cur- rently undei study in Washington. WE WILL REMAIN OPEN SATURDAYS FROM 9 TO 5 ROBERTS OFFICE SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT 126 Duval Street Phone 256 SELECT YOUR TROT ON DOWN TO NAVARRO’S AND GOBBLE UP THE USED CAR BARGAINS! A FREF TURKFY with Each NEW or USED CAR Purchased from Now Until Dec. 20th CHRISTMAS CARDS EARLY — It Is Not Too Late To Have Them Imprinted Use our payn.ent pian on type- writers ind Adding Machines. ”—_e_———_—— 7 Following a four hour session with the Jacksonville group. the Key West representatives report- ed that all that seemingly stands in the way of the start of service is the completion of arrange ments in Key West for the long term leasing of the City-owned Clyde-Mallory docks for use as the local terminal for the ferry service. The commission has set a special meeting for tomorrow night to iron out the details of the leasing agreement which was ten- tatively agreed to by the repre- sentatives of the ferry company, Marschal Facio, a top official in the Cuban Tourist Commission, represented the Cuban government at the sessions. He reported that final arrangements in Havana are tingent only on the completion of the leasing agreement with the city of Key West. The Cuban gov- ernment is furnishing dock space for the Havana end of the line,: The Gulf Atlantic Transporta- tion Company is the major stock+ holders in the concern and Cuban capital amounting to over two million dollars being poured city, These would include and refreshment rights. “— The city would be required to make the necessary repairs to the Ciyde-Mallory docks and would ready at least one building on the psemises for use as a waiting room andf or customs and immi- gration inspection stations. City Manager Dave King is working on a survey of the dock, He has estimated that it will re- quire nearly $50,000 for he needed repairs. The commissioners who made the Jacksonville trip were taken on 2 tour of the 415-foot ship which will be used in the opera- tion. The vessel, # partially com- pleted. Navy LSD, is currently in drydock, Completion of the ship, which is expected to require at least 120 working days, has been held in abeyance pending the final arrangements in Key West. Tie repairs to the ship include the addition of staterooms and the adaptation of the craft for use as a car ferry The repairs to the dock are ex- pected to be completed at about (Continued On Page Six) EFFECTIVE MONDAY, DEC. 8 ALL ADVERTISING COPY MUST BE IN THE CITIZEN OFFICE BY 9:30 AM. For That Day’s Publication THIS NEW DEAOLINE HOUK APPLIES TO PAGE 1, INSIDE DISPLAY AND CLASSIFIED. THE KEY WEST CITIZEN PHONE 51 NAVARRO, Inc. DUVAL ST. 60! TEL. 600