The Key West Citizen Newspaper, December 23, 1953, Page 1

Warmest City In Nation Today Was KEY WEST 4 THE sou Flying Deckplate Wrecks Crane ee ~ jnear Homestead. PT. PLEASANT, W. Va.—An ail barge explosion, which killed at least six persons at Pt. Pleas- ant, W. Va., yesterday, tossed this 6-by-30 foot chunk of deckplate 300 feet. Steel sheet hit the boom of the 25-ton crane, one was hurt at this point—(#) wrecking it and toppling the boom onto a truck (left, rear), No Wirephoto, : City Manager's Powers Over Police Department Told By City Attorney : Legislation Had Slight Effect ’ On Police Affairs, - Opinion Reveals The responsibility for the future conduct of the Key West Police Department has -been tossed into the lap’ City Manager Victor Lang, it was revealed yesterday at a meeting of the “decency committee.” ‘The action was taken in the wake of an opinion from City Attorney J. ¥, Porter, that local legislation passed in Tallahassee this year did| not take effective contro! of the/ police department from the city manager. Former City Manager Dave King gave that legislation es ene of the chief reasons for his resignation last July. And the matter erupted two weeks ago at a meeting of the city | commission at which time city ma-| nager Lang declined to interfere with police department operations because he “didn’t want responsi- bility without authority.” But Porter’s opinion states that the “duty of the city manager and his: responsibility, under the city charter insofar as the admin- istration and control of the police department is concerned is the same today, as it always has been since the present charter went into effect.” . | The only changes effected by the) legislation are the powers of sta- tioning and control of police of- ficers and the appointment. of spe- | cial police officers, And even these powers, which | were given ta the police chief un-| der the legislation, are virtually meaningless, Porter indicated. He pointed out that the police ehiet is held back by two “‘qua- lifications.” “Stationing, is subjec? te such rules and regulations as the city commission may prescribe or as ts prescribed by the charter or Navy Says Merry Christmas With Decorations, Parties Ships In Area sping Lights MISSING FEMALE From Stem To PARROT FOUND _ Stern For Xmas The misting female . By JOB ELLEN KELLER -syelidy head and a_green has been found. **"~ Guess where? Hanging around a saloon. When Mario Mora closed his Boca Chica bar on Stock Island yesterday morning he found the parrott sitting in her stain- less steel cage just outside the door of his saloon. He gave the bird back to her owners, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph &. Dunn, 1230 Fifth $t., accord- ing to the sheriff's department. Chest Reports Further Gifts From Civilians City’s Total Will Exceed $17,000 As Gifts Swell ships tied up at the piers or gleam. ing with vari-hued lights out in the channel. For Glamor Girl of the fleet at Key West we nominate the hand- somely decorated USS Saufley, EDDE ~ 465, at the Naval Annex. White lights strung the length of her foremast and across the yard- arm form an enormous cross that can be seen from many parts of the Key. She also has a large Star of Bethlehem aloft that flashes at in- {tervals. Around the 0-1 deck are! ja Santa and reindeer with the le- gend beneath “Merry Christmas ‘To All.” The quarterdeck and gang- way are decked in sprays of yule greens and strung with colored lights. Party Given But the Saufley doesn’t limit Christmas to decorations alone. Her crew gave a lavish Christmas party on Monday afternoon, to twenty- lone underprivileged Key West chil- dren whose names were obtained from the welfare office here. The youngsters had refreshments on the fantail and were wide-eyed THERNMOST NEWSPAPER IN THE KEY WEST, FLORIDA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1953 Key West Man Is Killed In U.S.A. Ray Garcia, 24, of 411 Catherine St., was killed in- istantly at 2:30 a. m. today when his car overturned Nicky Died! The Dade County Road) Patrol said Garcia was driv- ing a 1952 four-door Pontiac sedan north on Krome Ave. about six miles south of the Tamiami Trail. The car fail- led to negotiate the curve, turned over at least once and threw Garcia out. The car came to rest on its wheels but had rolled over Garcia, the road patrol said. i Another Key West man was’ in the car but the incomplete. re- port of the road patrol did not contain his name yet. He was re- ported to have been injured and taken to the James Archer Smith Hospital at Homestead. It was reported here that Gar- cia’s aunt had had an accident ‘Tuesday on Krome Ave. and that Garcia was going to her aid when he was killed. According to the re- port, Garcia was killed at about the same spot on. Krome Ave. where his aunt had had an acci dent. % The Lopez Fugeral Home here will be in charge of funeral ar- rangements, / entucky Kids LOUISVILLE, Ky. P—All the kiddies know Santa Claus but it’s time they met his wife. She’s @ jolly woman, well over 300 pounds, who plays the role be- cause “she gets the blues around Christmas.” And she’s ever so busy, with stacks and stacks of toys to get ready for her husband to deliver tomorrow. Until yesterday, the boys and the other of poison and was justia little Nicky was just one of seven dogs to be poisoned this morning by some, unknown person or ‘person with no feelings. Living at 1523 Von Pliister, the Harrises have always’ cared for their dog, putting him up at night and seeing to his welfare. Ac- cording to neighbors, the pup never bothered anyone in any manner.—Citizen Staff Photo, Finch. Pet Poisoners Makes Holiday Late returns from the head- quarters of the Key West United ‘over the huge cake baked by the’ ship's cook and frosted in white ‘Community Chest indicate that the,with “Merry Christmas” written city’s campaign contributions will across the top in green icing. far outstrip those of local Naval|Then Crew members took their personnel. small guests below to the mess girls she talks to by telephone didn’t know Mrs. Santa had anoth- er name—Mrs. Agnes Leverett, A/ reporter discovered her identity. He also learned she had been in-! tercepting some of those thousands, of letters that youngsters sent to} Santa at the North Pole. She gets | them from the dead-letter box at the main post office. Christmas, however, is a year- round job for Mrs. Leverett. For! the past five years, she has been cdllecting all sorts of things to be raffled for a crippled children’s! hospital and collecting toys and! food to give the needy. “I'm just a beggar. I get on the telephone and beg anything from anybody.” She was begging yesterday for a television set for the palsy vic- Bridge On Blvd. | . oye Unhappy For Local Families ‘This isn’t a merry Christmas for; Carol Harris, 11, daughter of Mr. jand Mrs, Emory Harris, 1523 Von Phister Street. When “Nicky,” spaniel Contract For the family’s Awarded Tues. State Representative Bernie C.| Papy revealed today that a con} ter and brothers whe are Jack, jtract for the construction of @ Con-| 15, Terry 7, and David, 5. crete bridge on Roosevelt *Boule-/ The Harris children are having vard has been awarded to Powell|a hard time trying to think of what Brothers Construction Company, it is like to be without loyal little Fort Lauderdale, Nicky who had been a member Rep. Papy made that announce-jof the family for five years, Mr. ment upon his return from a meet-|Harris let Nicky out for his usual ing with the State Road Board inrun at seven o’clock this morning. The Ken West Cilisen PRICE FIVE CENTS Wierd Charges Hurled A “Decency Panel Meetin Gibb Suspended; Charges That Cobo And Eisner Had Him Transferred By JIM COaB The “decency” committee’s investigation boomer- ranged yesterday and caught one of its members in a web of rumors that he helped protect cab drivers en- gaged in the prostitution racket. Police officer Bill Gibb blew the lid off the situation when he testified before the group and told them that City Commissioner Delio Cobo attended a clandestine meeting of cab-drivers in a Duval Street restaurant last April. Se) Gibb said that former SEAR City Commissioner Louis M. FOR saan J. Eisner also met with the cabbies that night. Eisner A search was on today for idenied Gibbs charges today but Cobo is in Miami at the bedside of his nicee who is seriously ill, Result of the meetings, Gibb said, was an order given the police chief to “lay off” prostitution oper- ations at the north end of Duval Street.and"his transfer from that beat to one in Poinciana. But that was only one interest- ing development revealed at the meeting of the decency committee, It was brought out also, that Gibb has handed a 15 day suspen- sion pay by City Mai with conduct unbecoming an office? as @ result of an incident on his beat last week. During his testimony yesterday, Gibb admitted that he had been drinking heavily last week. Yes- terday’s session also produced a “mystery witness”—g man who Said that he had been ‘a cab driver and bartender here. In outlining the events on the evening the meeting was suppos- ed to have taken place, Gibb said that Bisner put in an appear- ance at 12:30 2. m. and thet Cobo met with the cabbies about twe hours later. Shortly after that, he was re- Commission Rules That Explantion Period Is Over By FORREST EDWARD $ PANMUNJOM (®— American} war prisoners who embraced com- munism chanted Red songs, shout- ed and linked arms with fellow captives in a wild swirling dance today, drowning out last-minute broadcast appeals to return home. The U.N. Command said the broadcasts a few hours before midnight deadline for explanations, to balky prisoners ended efforts to woo home 22 Americans, 1 Briton moved from his beat and stationed in Poinciana, Gibb said. “Was that meeting held to get Pressure applied to have you trans- ferred?” asked committee member Louis Carbonell, “Yes, I think it was,” Gibb re- plied. He added that “the cab drivers on Duval Street didn't have uch use for me because I was strict.” City Comissioner Carbonell then (Continued On Page Two) and 327 South Koreans who stayed with the Reds. The Communists, who have pressed repeatedly for an exten- sion of the explanation period, asked to interview more Chinese prisoners from the anti-Communist TV Firm Abandons Plans For Station Bill Spillman, president of Tele- As of December 2, civilian con- tributions totalled $17,387.8, accord- ing to chairman Bill Neblett. The although they have not issued a breakdown as to how much of that money has been contributed by ci- vilian workers at the Naval Sta- tion, by ordinance,” Porter's opinion “As to special officers, there is who have not made their final re- jports and a few local business thouses who are conducting can-| Navy's share amounts to $18,008.82) “There are still some workers; go provision for pay of same and vasses among their employees,” thus, indirectly, by control of the (Continued On Page Two) (Charter Boatmen Elect John West \As New President The Charter Boatmen’s Associa-|' jtion held election of officers last) jweek, Newly elected officers for the en-) suing year are: president, John’ i | Neblett declared. West; secretary, Wadsworth De- tims at a local school. A f |Tallahassee. Amount of the con-|At eight, Mrs. Harris received a liphy a Sided, called, to. 20k es tract, Papy said, is $98,451, Work frantic telephone call from a neigh- he could deliver one—free. | Mrs. Leverett and her husband are childless but they love chil- dren. A few years ago they drove (Continued on Page Six) $275 Bond Posted Robert J. Paul, 50, also known! | | ‘on the project will start immediate- bor whose dog had been found! ly, he added. dead. Mrs. Harris called Nicky Papy also stated that the E. E. and searched the premises. Nicky) Collins Construction Company, has was found under the house by her been awarded a $12,213 contract!and the weeping children he loved for road repairs on Key Largo. |so much. He also learned at the meeting) Nicky is enly ene of the seven that the widening of the Overseas) victims of poisoning early this (Continued On Page Six) (Continued On Page Six) as Red Murphy, today was releas- ed from the county jail ir 275 bond Seven Plead on two charges: driving while in- Holiday Season budget, the commission actually) “The biggest lag,” said Neblett, Meritt; treasurer, Ted Smith. All retains a veto of this power,” he ‘‘is those business establishments;members expressed hopes of see- continued. with headquarters away from Key ing in the near future improved Yesterday, city manager Lang West. Cooperation from Iccal mer- facilities and favorable harboring (Continued On Page Six) [chants has been excellent.” \conditions for visiting yachts. The — | Among business places and per-|Association says that at one time NOTICE |sons reporting, are the following: Key West was considered one of Effective Jan. 25 Bus Service te Sigsbee Park will be discontinued et 6 P.M. daily. KEY WEST TRANSIT Co. Shopping Day ee Christmas | Crane Foundation $200.00 | La Concha Hotel $115.00 Key Wester $100.00 Mike the Plumber $100.00 Continued on Page Six) i the best yacht havens in South Florida, and they expressed the de- sire to see Key West once again a well-known and popular resort for yachting tourists. toxicated and not having a driver’s license. Slows Filing Of Warranty Deeds Guilty Today Highway Patrol, said he arrested Seven persons today pleaded’ Paul about 5 p. m. yesterday at guilty in criminal court before Marathon. Judge Thomas S. Caro. On Oct. 15, Paul was arrested Those who pleaded guilty, the of- for driving while intoxicated. At fenses, and the sentences were: that time, he was listed on the Kenneth G. Kimball, drunken- criminal court docket as Red Mur- ness, $15 or 15 days. { Phy. That charge was reduced to F peggy ea y, reckless Teckless driving and th riving, or ys. ving e sentence och as Fase) nS DON’T SPEND DEC. 24 IN THE KITCHEN Get Your Desserts at Perez Bakery and Key Lime Pies FRUIT CAKES CiLQBED ALL DAY ZMAS Dairy Secs ROOSEVELT BOULEVARD \deferred by Judge Tomas S. Caro. South Camp tomorrow. vision Relays, Inc., announced to- But the Neutral Nations Repatri-day that his firm is abandoning ation Commission ruled that the|plans to establish a “closed cir- explanations had ended. cuit” television setup here in the The commission approved a re-/face of opposition from the City quest from the pro-Communist Commission to the project, Americans and the Briton to meet; “I’m not going to fight them any Allied and Red news correspond-|more,” Spillman said today. “It Is ents inside their compound tomor-jevident who and what they want ‘ in television here.” He had applied Loudspeakers outside the barbed for a franchise to establish a sta- wire enclosure broadcast 12 times tion here but the city commission during the day—four appeals each |balked at granting him permission to the 22 Americans, 1 Briton and to start operations although they South Koreans who had not been |had earlier given such a franchise individually. All of the /to Sheriff John Spottswood. South Korean sinterviewed | “I’m turning all of my data over South Koreans interviewed tg mr. Spottswood—I hope that he (Continued On Page Two) can do the job we could have ,done,” Spillman declared today, interviewed 20 250 til 8:00 P.M. 901 DUVAL STREET All Holiday: Delicacies SPECIAL MASONIC NOTICE "Dade Lodge No. 14 will con- Mamet thie PACKAGE STORE |*” Prices Are The Lowest 01 DUVAL STREET Free Delivery Day or Night