The Key West Citizen Newspaper, February 11, 1953, Page 2

CL III VIII IV IV IIIS CS PCIEOP ICIS SSCS CIOS ty ~,.. Ear To - The Ground By JIM COBB ALLAALADAAAALAAAAAABAAAADS AABAARAASSDAS Vindicated at last! Sheriff John Spottswood issued a statement which appeared in the February 2nd issue of the Citizen in which he denied withholding in- formation from the press concern- ing rape charges brought against a local man. In the release, Spottswood said: “I should like to point out that this case never came before the Sheriff.” “In fact,” the Sherift continued, “Justice of the Peace Ira Albury has informed the Sheriff's Office that charges in the case have not THE KEY WEST CITIZEN Wednesday, February 11, 1953 been substantiated and the case dismissed by nim.” That is his story and he is stuck with it. He ‘tlaimed that he knew nothin; about the case, which we doubted at the time. Now, on the basis of Peace Jus- tice Albury’s rebuttal, which was run on the front page of Wednes- day’s Citizen, it appears that Mr. Spottswood might have been with- holding information after all. I didn’t ask Mr. Albury to make any statement --- he came into the of- fice voluntarily, irked because the Sheriff had used his name “‘as an excuse for not giving information to the press.” Albury said: “I called Spotts- wood by phone to come to my office where he was shown and read the statement that the wo- man had written and the clothing she wore at the time. The man was not arrested until that night.” (Which would indicate that ‘the ‘Sheriff read the complete testi- mony of the complainant the day before he said that “he knew nothing.” When Spottswood, read the “at- tack” on him in The Citizen, he immediately demanded. a retrac- | tion. The Citizen editor said that he could not have it but that he would be given equal space-for his rebuttal. The Sheriff came into The Citi- zen office with a prepared state- ment in which, ameng other things, | he called the writer, who happened to author the, original story, “an unmitigated liar.” I am not.an unmitigated liar or any other kind of a liar, for that matter. According to Peace Justice Al- bury’s statement, the information that Spottswood released was. not exactly accurate. I denied being a liar, but. in fairness, Spottswood was allowed to run his statement which was given just as much space as the original article I wrote. He was talked into toning down CELEBRITY CLUB AL ROBINSON & ALKALI IKE INTRODUCING JACK NOW. OPEN! La Conga STARRING & JILL, America’s Foremost Piano Duo MOST BEAUTIFUL KEY WEST'S FAVORITE PAIR “4 Guy and a Noll” AL and Little Wooden Head NIGHTLY ~ NO MINIMUM COCKTAIL LOUNGE OPENS 124 DUVAL ST. A. W. CASTRO Co-Owners NO COVER! cee : * MONA DELMONTE his “unmitigated Mar charge” to! plied, i ingofréct,” however. a barrage.of invective which hi loosed in lon, the Sheriff algo mentioned the word “ethics.” Claimed that I was un- ethical in my stand on the matter. Which brings to mind the thought, that, until the day comes when the Sheriff fulfills his oath of office by going out to Stock Island and put- ting a padlock on Mom’s Tea Room (which is known to be ‘a fancy name for a brothel), he will hardly be qualified to discuss the question of ethics. Of course, some public officials are likely to say (privately) that Mom’s fulfills. a definite need in the community -- but it is a bro- thel and under the state laws, il- legal. It is the duty of the Sheriff “In that case come righty out.”” | Now, why did this hassle begin? | It really doesn’t. amount to a hilt of beans, when you stop and con- sider it. 2 . It all started when I became aware that Spottswood was with- holding information from the press on the rape case in question. On one point, I agree with the Sheriff -- an overwhelming ‘per- centage of the “rape cases”. re. ported in Monroe County, are un-} substantiated when the facts are | learned. It seems that every time a B-girl works herself into a tom-| promising situation, she shouts | Tape and some unfortunate indi dual winds up in jail facing a pos- sible long prison term. “| door nightly, leading many to be- j| lieve that the old landmark would | when the Sheriff attempted to pre- to close brothels, when and if they| 1 agree, Mr. Spottswood, that are brought to his attention. Per-| the situation is becoming alarming: haps the Sheriff's pre-election| But, the fact remains - when a Policy of “complete law enforce-; warrant is issued charging rape ment” does not extend to Stock|(or attempted rape), a charge Island. which could cost a man his life if Sinee the advent of the dog track] convicted -- it is news and it is on Stock Island, hundreds of auto-|the duty of the newspapers to mobiles have been passing Mom’s publish it. Hence this situation all came up finally close its doors. vent the reporter from doing his In. an effort to check such ru- job. mors, this reporter phoned Mom’s Tea Room, which is listed in the Subscribe to The Citizen phone book (the number is 2-9222) and posed as a tourist seeking a SERVICE STATION A man answered the phone and I said: “Im, visiting in town and T'd like to have a little party. Are Francis at Truman 2.9193 man,” was his business-like reply. BIA: I assured him that there were] YOUR PURE OIL DEALER you open now?” . “Yes, we are open but we don’t three of us in the party and he re-/ p00, | | Tubes . . Batteries . - Accessories wake up the girls for just one RADIO and CIFELLI'S T.V. Service EE HUGS CLEANED HESTER BATTERY | ansermai oe FOR ONLY $9.95 (Exch.) | *™® Pome LOU SMITH CIANA DRY CLEANERS 1116 White St. 218 Simonton St. Dial 2-7632 Tax Consultation...Accounting S ROBERT J. GROVER Former Internal Revenve Agent In Charge . of the Key Wes Office Announces his severance from same, and the opening of a lecal Office :o serve the people of this area on Tax Consultation and general accounting service at i 227 Duval St. (Caroline St. entrance) OFFICE PHONE 2-5022 RESIDENCE PHONE 2.9640 Y OPEN FROM 12 NOON Opposite Str, ind Theatre ‘on SMITH LANE AIR CONDITIONED STRAND ... AT ITS BEST Methods Used — FIRST TIME HERE | Factory e Adviee given on all matters of life All Work Guaranteed such as love, ge, divorce, happiness, health or business.) FOR PROMPT AND RELIABLE Bring your problems to me. SERVICE — SEE... Satisfaction Guaranteed DAVID CIFELLI LOCATED IN HOUSE TRAILER 920 Truman Ave. (Rear) — STOCK ISLAND Dial 2-7637 Watch for Sign SLOPPY With Palm On It KEY WEST JOE'S ‘JAM SESSION SALVAGE CO. NIGHTLY STOCK: ISLAND Continuous Music BUYING ALL JUNK Featuring AND METALS MARK STANLEY OLD CARS AND TRUCKS PHONE — 2-5196 and his Dixieland Band Open Sat. arid Sun. Mornings BLOCK DANCE THURSDAY, FEB. 12—8to12 P.M. FRONT of NCCS CLUB DUVAL STREET below TRUMAN Two Orchestras .. . Bazaars PROCEEDS APPLIED TO GAY LOU BARROSO “The Tender Queen” {U.S.S. H. W. GILMORE) Help Her to Become the Navy Charity Carnival Quéen for 1953 NOW OPEN WEAVER’S, Stock Island Full Course Dinner Full Course Dinner (American) _. $1.75 | (Italian) _____ $2.25 CHEF'S SALAD SMALL ANTIPASTO Choice of Tomato Juice Minestrone Soup ENTREE— Choice of 1, Spaghetti and Meatballs 2. Veal Scalloppini With Choice of Two Vegetables 3. Pork Chop Pizziola . With Choice of Spaghetti or Two Vegetables Assorted Bread ond Butter 1. Chopped Steak or 2. Veal Cutlet Choice of Two Vegetables Assorted Bread and Butter Cheice of Dessert Cottee, Tea or Choice of Dessert Demi Tasse Cotfee, Tea or Demi Tasse WE CATER TO PARTIES PHONE 2-9948 2.8.4:06 Night 6:12 & 8:18 Wed. Thurs, Fri, Sun. + Mon. - Tues. . Wed. ‘wath HUGH O'BRIAN - CAROLE MATHEWS ‘SCAT MAN CROTHERS and introduciog CHET ALLEM) ‘A _UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL PICTURE af HOODLUM Lawrence Tierney and Arlene Roberts Brooding Drama OKLAHOMA Judy Conga Western” THE BATTLE OF THE CATTLE KINGS! WARNER BROS. CATTLE TOWN Starring DENNIS MORGAN with PHILIP CAREY -:- RITA MORENO BOX OFFICE OPENS 1:45 P.M. CONTINUOUS PERFORMANCE PHONE 2.3419 FOR TIME SCHEDULE SAN CARLOS THEATRE