The Key West Citizen Newspaper, March 29, 1954, Page 1

Key West, Florida, has the most equable climate in the country, with on average tange of only 14° Fahrenheit VOL. LXXV Ne. 75 THE HURRY, HURRY!—Mervin Thompson of Jaycees signs the resolution proclaiming this as “Time to Register Week.” Mayor C. B. Harvey turned over his desk to the club for this purpose but ‘watches to see that it is well done. Jaycee Jim Keen, chairman of the committee to get out the » ‘vote, looks on.—Citizen Staff Photo, Finch. County Jail Trusty Is Picked Up After Unscheduled Trip To Miami Durham Registers At Swank Miami Paul Durham, 32-year-old ‘escapee from the Monroe County jail, was being re- turnedhere today by deputy sheriffs, He was a trusty at the county jail when he took a walk Saturday about 6:30 p. m. Shortly after noon Sun- day he was arrested in Mi- ami. Durham was serving six-months on two bad-check charges. Defer- red sentences on two other bum- check raps are pending. 5 The sheriff's department said he also will be charged with escap- ing. He also faces a possible Federal charge of illegally wearing a mili- tary uniform — a sailor’s uniform he wore to Miami. Dade Files Charge On top of all that, Dade County fis filing a grand larceny charge against him, the sheriff's depart- ment here said. Here is the story of the escape as told by the Monroe County sher- iff's department: As a trusty, Durham worked a- round the kitchen and grounds at the jail. When his absence was noted a- bout 6:30 p. m. Saturday, Miami authorities were notified. How Durkam made his way to Miami still was unknown today. Police also had not yet learned where he got a sailor’s uniform, (Continued on Page Two) Dr. Morrison Attends Health Meeting Dr. C. W. Morrison, county heal- th officer, today was at his office here after attending an orientation meeting in Jacksonville. He said the meeting was attend- ed by health officers, nurses, so- cial workers and others interested in public health. ~ See Inside Ad Regarding First Federal Savings and Loan Ass‘n. Easter Parade Prizes Named; Beach Hotel Sat. | More Than $375 Contributed Boy’s Condition Remains Critical Seven-year-old Wayne Wil- liams, 1110 Curry Lane, is holding his own but is still on the critical list at Monroe Gen- eral Hospital. Young Williams was injured last week when he was struck by an automoble. Hospital offi- cials said today that he “spent @ good night but is still on the critical list.” Another youth riding on a bi- cyle with Williams was unin- jured. Two Blazes Quelled Sunday Fire fighters were called out to quell two fires Sunday, both of them caused by defective appli- ances, The first blaze occurred in the home of Elwood Venal, 135-D Poinciana. It was caused by an overheated water heater. Then firemen were called . to Fort Taylor to quell a blaze in the home of W. S. Gornient, caused by an overheated stove. Navy fire fighters also answer- ed that alarm. Damage was slight in both fires. Lang Attends Training Course City Manager Victor Lang is in Gainesville today to attead a three day course in municipal adminis- tration at the University of Fiori- da. City Clerk Victor Lang and Fin- ance Director Craig Bowen were back at their desks in the city hall today after attending similar cour- ses last week. Earlier City Building Inspector Ray Knopp attended a course in his field. Attendance by city employes at the annual training courses was au- thorized recently by the city com- mission. NOTICE Commencing April Ist, by order of the Gov- ernor and Comptroller, this office is open to the public daily between 9 A.M. and 12 noon. These hours are necessary through October 31st in order that all time possible may be devoted to the com- pletion of the tax rolls by November Ist. CLAUDE A. GANDOLFO, ax Assessor. Twenty-one merchants have con- tributed more than $375 in merch- andise as prizes in the Easter Parade contest, it was announced today. Mrs. Willie Mae Simmons, chair- man of the Retail Merchants’ Easter Parade Committee and owner of the Children’s Corner, announced the following list of merchants and the value of the Prizes they are contributing: Three Sisters $25.00 ie Ideal Togs 25.60 Childrens’ Corner 25.00 S. H. Kress and Company 25.00 McCrory’s 25.00 Beachcomber Jewelers 25.00 Paul Sher, Jeweler 25.00 Herman’s 25.00 Miller’s 25.00 Mangel’s 25.00 Diana Shops 25.00 Woodrow Men’s Store 25.00 Schiff’s Shoes 25.00 Appelrouth’s Shoe Center 15.00 Chappell’s Variety Store 10.00 Butler’s Shoes 10.00 Rubin Appel 5.00 MarEd 5.00 The Ditty Box 5.00 Lee’s Orient Restaurant Dinner for 4 Dairy Queen ist, 2nd, and 3rd prizes within each age group. The prizes represent the value in merchandise which may be chos- en from the contributing store by the winner of that prize. Tops Last Year Rae Carmitchell, manager of Three Sisters Store, is in charge of collecting these prizes for the Easter Parade winners. She re- ported that already the value of the prizes this year exceeds that of last year by over $100.00 Meanwhile, registration of en- trants is going steadily ahead and a large and colorful turn-out is indicated for this year’s parde. All contributing merchants auto- matically become eligible for free registration of entrants in their Stores. Mrs. Simmons is distribut- ing the entry blanks. Any stores which have donated Prizes but have not yet received (Continued on Page Two) Special Masonic Notice All Master Masons and So- journers ‘are requested te be || Present at the Masonic Temple, Eaton and Simonton Sts., Tues- | day, March 30th, at 4:00 P.M., for the purpose of attending the funeral of our late Brother HARRY SHAW who passed away Saturday, March 27th, ROBERT POLLOCK, Ww. M. Attest: PAUL C. HEFLIN, Secretary. KEY WEST, FLORIDA, MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1954 Navy, Civie Leaders Plan Annual Event Armed Forces Day Celebration Will Be Held May 15 Members of the Navy met with representatives of local civic or-; ganizations on the Naval Station last week to diseuss plans for this year’s Armed Forces Day, to be held May 15. The meeting was called by the Navy for an informal check with local civic organizations to see what plans were being made to celebrate the occasion and to offer the Navy’s wholehearted coopera- tion. Armed Forces Day is the day set aside to honor the armed ser- vices of the United States. It re- Placed the individual Army, Navy and Air Force days, celebrated in the past, and is sponsored by the civilian community, Steering Committee Civic organizations present took advantage of the situation and nominated an Armed Forces Day Steering Committee, composed of all organizations present. Louis Carbonell was nominated to head the committee. Arthur Sawyer Post of the Amer- ican Legion was nominated to run this year’s Armed Forces Day Parade, and accepted. It was de- cided to stage the major part of this year’s activities at Garrison Bight and in Bayview Park, The Navy offered to present air-sea rescue demonstrations in the bight, along with actual deep sea diving exercises, Bayview Park will be the center of static displays, and location of the major Armed Forces Day ad- IN THE The Key West Citisen SOUTHERNMOST NEWSPAPER U.S. For Quick Communicatiom, Use CLASSIFIED Ads! You'll Teach buyers and sellers— tenants or workers . . Just DIAL 2.5661 or 2-5662, PRICE FIVE CENTS Rep. Papy Says Hell Fight Efforts To Slap Tolls On County Re Answers Webb’s State Advocating Fifty Cent ; For All Users Of Highwa¥Qrgo54? State Representative Bernie C. Papy told the Asso- ciated Press in Tallahassee that he will fight any plan which forces residents of the Keys to pay tolls for using TRAVIS! A.| GRESHAM Senatorial Candidate Makes dress, Numerous Events This year’s Armed Forces Day Plans call for an essay contest, Poster“ contest, . window contest, afi “AUneTouy events. Tentative plans were also made for an Armed Forces Day Ball to be held Saturday night, May 15, in the Seaplane Base Hangar, with the proceeds going to the Navy Relief Society. The Navy will sponsor the dance, which will be opened to the general public, and (Continued on Page Two) LOPEZ RETURNS AFTER THREE-WEEK ABSENCE Circuit Court Judge Aquilino Lo- pez, Jr., today was back at his desk after sitting in circuit court, Dade County, for three weeks. He heard a condemnation suit involving property along 27th Ave- nue in Miami, USED | Don't Miss { °53 M. G. TD Roadster 5400 Original Miles — Like °53 Plymouth Fordor - Just Like New — A Be °52 Chevrolet Fordor _. °52 Ford Customline - Fordor with Fordomatic — *51 Oldsmobile 88 _. Fordor — Hydramatic °50 Olds Futuramic 88 Tudor — New Paint — On Radio — Ready To Go °46 Pontiac Fordor - New Paint — Radio — 8-Passenger — Metal Station Wi Tan Color — Like New Inside and Out Key West Camp j Fort Myers Vote-Seeker Says Little Man Is Scorned Travis A. Gresham, Fort Myers, @ candidate for the State Senate from the 24th District, today level- led sharp criticism at one of his opponents, incumbent Senator Ja- mes A. Franklin, also of Fort My- ers, Gresham will be at the La Con- cha Hotel here for the balance of the week in connection with his candidacy. He charged that Franklin who, he said, has one of the largest corporation law practices in the (Continued on Page Two) Biggest Savings Ever! CARS This Sale! $1495 Full Price Popular English Sports Car — Beautiful Black Finish — New Only $1295 Full Price $1495 Full Price gon — One Owner — Only $1095 Full Price New Paint $1195 Full Price lean — One-Owner Car - Only $895 Full Price wner — Hydramatic — Radio °50 Plymouth Fordor -...... Only $695 Full Price $299 Full Price ansportation — Choice of 2 Others From $50 Up We Also Have Some 1954 Demonstrators. That Will Go For $500 Off List! In Most Cases, Your Car the Down Payment—Easy Terms— 2 Full Years To Pay—at YOUR MONROE COUNTY AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER Monroe Motors, Inc. SHOWROOMS AT 1117 WHITE ST. AND COR. SIMONTON AND GREENE Phone 2-5631 or 2-5881 Until 8:00 P.M. aign Visit KEY WEST'S TRAFFIC BOX SCORE To March Date Accidents _..____._ 50 149 Traffic Deaths 0 Traffic Injuries _. 3 Property Damage $11,567 $39,983 Ninety thousand dollars in‘ acci- dent damage was reported in 1953. Six weekend accidents reported today resulted in damage of $1,- 385. The total property damage in 1954 now stands at $39,983 — 44 per cent of last year’s total. Only bright spot in the picture is the fact that traffic injuries are apparently on the downswing — only nine injuries have been re- | ported since aJn. 1, as compared with about 20 for the same per- | iod last year, Scooter Driver Injured In Crash Thomas L. Ketchings, 28, 1207 | South Street, was treated at Mon- roe General Hospital for abrasions about the body Saturday after his motor scooter was involved in an accident at Angela and Duval Streets, According to the report of Patrol- } man Lionel Soriano, the accident occurred when Ketchings passed a | truck on Duval Street and smash- ed into a car driven by Maxwell Helmich, of the USS Wylkie. The motor scooter, valued at | $300, was listed as a total loss, | damage to Hellmich’s car amount- ed to $50, police said. Ketchings was charged with (Continued on Page Two) Tuesday and Wednesday “Show Times: 1:45 - 9:45 - 6:06 - 8:27 BOX OFFICE OPENS 1:30 P.M. the Overseas Highway. Papy made that statement in commenting on a pro- posal by Cecil Webb, chairman of the State Road Depart- ment that a flat 50 cent toll be set for all users of the Overseas Highway. Webb also repeated his proposal, made in Key West March 12, that an 80-million dollar bond issue be floated to improve and four-lane the highway to Key West. Sabotage Is Suggested In Ship Disaster Burned-Out Hulk Is All That’s Left Of British Transport ALGIERS, Algeria — A first shipload of British soldiers, res- cued from the burning troopship Empire Windrush, sailed for home today, thankful to be alive after one of the most spectacular res- cues in nayal history. Some 1,500 Britons—among them 277 women and children and 17 invalid soldiers—calmly and quick- ly abandoned the blazing ship yes- terday morniag 20 miles offshore in the Mediterranean and were rescued safely. Four crewmen of the 14,651-ton transport died when an engine room explosion sent fire and chok- ing smoke racing through the ves- sel, No Official Comment London newspapers speculated the ship had been sabotaged but Admiralty and Transport Ministry authorities refused to comment on this. The speculation was height- ened because she had just been through the Suez Canal, where the Egyptians are waging a ceaseless campaign to force out the 80,000 British troops stationed there. The burned-out hulk was report- ed still glowing today and the Ad- miralty said she would be towed out of the sea lanes as soon as personnel could be put aboard. In- spected today by a destroyer, she did not appear to be leaking. Most of the persons aboard were military personnel and their fami- lies on the way home from the Far East and the Suez. The fire broke out while almost all aboard except the duty crew were still in their quarté™. The ship was pushing easily through an eceptionally calm sea, about 50 miles northwest of Algiers, Then the flames began licking upward into the upper decks. Orderly Procedure “All our electric equipment went out,” said the ship’s captain, Wil- liam Wilson. ‘The. loud-speakers would not work.” Everyone went calmly to his Proper post. Nobody lost his head, not even the women and children, They were the first to be put aboard the lifeboats. “After that we threw everything overboard which would float—ta- bles, benches and planks. Then the men began jumping overboard, all (Continued on Page Two) “J don’t want Monroe County residents to pay toll to get to their homes,” said - Papy. The veteran legislator also said that he would oppose a bond issue if Monroe County residents “have to pay any part of it.” Webb made his statement as the latest development in a heated con- troversy which has raged over the future of the highway. 50-Cent Toll Webb thinks a 50 cent toll should be collected from all motorists, in- cluding Monroe County residents who now use the highway free. He first advanced his plan March 12 when he met with members of the Overseas Road and Toll Bridge District Commission. At that time, he stated that Mon- roe County “is discriminating a- ainst the rest of the state by not paying tolls.” = “Debt Free Webb added that the origitial bond i for the road can be paid off rtly from revenue. “T don’tewant it dumped in our (the Sta’ Road Department’s) laps with olls lifted. That would mean the state would have to re- pair and resurface the bridges and roads out of state and primary road funs,” said Webb. The present toll each way is one dollar for a car and its driver, plus 25 cents fof each passenger. Advocates Tolls Webb stated earlier that “when the state takes over the roads, I don’t know what is going to hap- pen.” He said that, in his opinion, “the district should keep the tolls on the road and “you'll see this part of the state develop as it should.” “You have God-given resources and you should take advantage of them,” he added. Reason for the State Road De- partment’s reluctance to take over (Continued on Page Two) * Disaster Control Drill Scheduled For Tomorrow Units of the Naval Base will participate in a Disaster Control Exercise tomorrow, The exact nature of the simula- ted disaster will remain a secret until the signal for commencing the drill is sounded ~n the dia- phone. The exercise will include the use of the various Navy fire depart- ments, medical facilities, public works facilities, rescue squads and the Emergency Ground Defense Force. The drill will begin at 9 a, m, with eight blasts on the Naval Sta- tion diaphone. HEAVY BOAT TIMBERS, at Strunk Lumber 120 Simonton St., near Coca Cola CLASSIC BALLET Languages PRINCESS NINA Children and Adults TEL. 2-3161 NOTICE! Tangible and Intancible Personal Property ‘e calling to the attention of every person, firm or corporation in this county that has control, management or custody of tangible or intangible personal property that April 1, 1954 is absolutely the deadline for filing these returns. Also if these returns are not filed they bear a 10% penalty and the Tax Assessor will set the valuation. CLAUDE A, GANDOLFO, . Tax Assessor.