The Key West Citizen Newspaper, May 7, 1954, Page 1

Key West, Floridc, has the most equable climate in the country, with an average range of only 14° Fahrenheit VOL. LXXV Ne. 109 Kev West = THE SOUTHERNMOST NEWSPAPER IN THE U.S.A. KEY WEST, FLORIDA, FRIDAY, may 7, 1954 Red-Led Rebels Take Frenc Dien Bien Phu Falls After 57 Days Of Bloody Fighting By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PARIS — Dien Bien Phu has fallen. Premier Joseph Laniel northwest Indochina bastion “has been submerged.” A little fortress named announced late today the Isabelle, site of the French Union garrison’s main artillery, still was holding out three miles south of the bloodied, muddied bastion, that had epitomized the Indochina war to the world for 57 days. Ro Hears | High School NEW BAR MEMBER—Jack A. Saunders, center, is shown as he received oath yesterday from Circuit Judge Aquilino Lopes, Jr., as the newest member of the Monroe County bar. Saunders, & recent graduate of the University of Miami Law School, is associated with attorney J. Y. Por- ter, IV, left—Citizen wii Photo. Ex - Toll Road No Evidence On Demeritt, Head Protests 'says Marsh Accusations Are “Malicious ~ Lies” Anthony Demeritt Says Anthony Demeritt, sus- pended chairman of the ‘Overseas Road: and Toll .| Woodside Story Reports Conflict _. Who is kidding who about the testimony Walter Weodside gave te John D. Marsh, spec- ial prosecutor in the toll dis- trict probe? The ‘Citizen was told today by a responsible source that Woodside testified before Marsh Bridge District Commission, today tagged reports that he and his family had used the facilities at the Pigeon Key headquarters of the district on an average of twice a month, as a “ma- licious lie.” In a statement to The Citizen today, Demeritt replied to charges levelled by one Walter Woodside, at Pigeon Key at 12:15 p. m. yesterday. The Miami Daily News and the Associated Press had the Woodside story before that time. The same source told The Citizen that the Miami Daily News got the story Wednesday from Woodside. Apparently Woodside testified for the Miami Daily News and then for Marsh on the following day. a former employe of the distriet who told Dade County Solicitor John Marsh of the alleged visits by Demeritt to Pigeon Key. Marsh has admitted that the statements are uncorroborrated and that he has no evidence that they are true. Marsh was assigned to the investigation by Acting Governor Charlev . Johns. Malicious Lie Demeritt’s statement: “J prand as a completely mali- cious lie, the statement made by Walter Woodside that I had used the facilities at Pigeon Key at least twice a month. In the four and a half years that I was a member of the commission, my family was on Pigeon Key exactly three times. “My particular family consists of, in my case, my wife, one single daughter, one married daughter with two of her children, and my father and mother, since we all live together. “It is not hard to visualize the hardship rather than the pleasure of attempting to transport a fam- ily of this size on a trip of any kind.” Invitations Given “Although invitations were ex- tended often to visit, they were accepted only on the three occa- sions mentioned. “In the entire time mentioned (Continued On Page Seven) Woman Is Called In Road Probe A subpoena for Maxine Wood, of Marathon, was issued yesterday by John D. Marsh, Dade County soli- citor, who was appointed special investigator in the toll district Probe. The subpoena called for her to appear at Pigeon Key immediate- ly. Marsh has interviewd about 20 witnesses in closed sessions at. Pi- geon Key and Islamorada. It was reported that Miss Wood works in a fishing tackle shop at Marathon. TRUESDELL TO SPEAK AT AF DAY DINNER Captain W. H. Truesdell, Com- School, will be guest speaker at the Armed Forces Day Kickoff Dinner sponsored by the Key West Lions Club at the La Concha Hotel on Thursday, May 13, at 8:15 Pp. m. Captain Truesdell will speak on “Power for Peace” Reservations for the full course dinner must be made by Monday, May 10, and may be obtained at the Sunny Isle Luncheonette, 901 White Street. THE WORD SEEMS SO INADEQUATE, BUT IT CARRIES ALL THE APPRECIATION OF MY HEART... THANKS for Your Wonderful Expression of Confidence last Tuesday Gerald Saunders. (Paid Political Advertisement) Will Take No Action _ Against Key Wester; ~ Demeritt Innocent Special Prosecutor John D. Marsh last night told The Citizen that in his investiga- tion of the Overseas Road and Toll Bridge District he had found nothing to corrob- orate . Walter Woodside’s charges against Anthony Demeritt, former chairman of the Overseas Road: and Toll Bridge District, and that he would take no action against the Key Wester. Marsh said that he was sorry that the story was re- leased concerning Wood- side’s charges in regard to Demeritt. The Dade Coun- tian emphasized that he did not want to discredit Wood- side, but:-what “one man says about another is not evi- dence.” “Nothing that I have heard regarding him, (De- meritt) would cause me to take any action against him without corroborating evi- dence and that I have failed to find.” The soft-spoken Miami state attorney declared that the story got out in the pap- ers because newspapermen brought Woodside to him, and Woodside’s statement (Continued on Page Seven) NOTICE All 8,000 tickets giv- en out for FREE cones to children receiving Gamma Globulin shots must be redeemed by Saturday night. DAIRY QUEEN Corner WHITE and UNITED STREETS | Students Spe Pinder And Ramos Present Coxtest Speeches At Meet One of the last orders Brig. Gen. Christian de Cas- tries, the lanky commander in chief, sent to Isabelle was to fire on his own command post when the Communist- led rebel riflemen finally cut through. There was no immediate word as to the fate of Gen. De Castries, commander of the fallen garrison, nor that of Genevieve de Galard Terraube, a French nurse and the only woman in the besieged fort. Stevens Tells Of Threats In Schine Case Army Secretary Swears To Truth Of His Testimony WASHINGTON (#—Secretary of the Army Stevens swore today that “An American Citizen’s Rights | She had been decorated for gallan-|Sen. McCarthy's aides threatened and Responsibilities Under the Con- stitution” and “Courteous Motor Manners How to Promote Them” were the topics of speeches by two high school speech students at the regular luncheon meeting of the Key West Rotary Club on Thorsday. Ronnie Pinder, who placed third in his first speech competition in the South Florida contest held in Miami recently under the sponsor- ship. of. the Knights of Pythias, urged that drivers apply the same courtesy while driving as they would’ in a social situation. He said that life is made up of little things’ and that a second can mean the. difference metrremn life and death “and com- situations calling for courteous behavior in one’s contacts with other persons. He said, “While most of us would not dream of pushing ahead in a line, how many are guilty of crowd- ing snother car waiting for.a light to change?” In closing, Pinder said that speed is the No. 1 killed and urged that drivers observe the speed laws and at all times be alert to changed driving conditions. The highway safety contest is a nation-wide pro; of the Knights of Pythia Rames Speaks Charles Ramos, winner of the 10th district title in the national| American Legion-sponsored speech contest, said that Americans often take the fact that they are Am- ericans for granted. He further said that it is time to stand up and be counted. He asked, “How often have we said, ‘I am an American’ and realized what rights and responsibilities are con- tained in that simple statement?” Continuing, Ramos said that our forefathers in drafting the first ten (Continued On Page Seven) KEY WEST'S TRAFFIC BOX SCORE To Property foes sass $50,641 Two accidents wh which occur- red yesterday brought the toll for the month of: May up to eight — an average of slightly more than one per day. Both mishaps were caused by carelessness which is get- ting to be an old story. One happened when a car backed into a parked vehicle and the other was caused when the sun blinded a driver. More than $250 in damage was caused in the crashes. The total amount of damage in the accidents for 1954 is fast approaching the 1953 mark. It amounts to $50,641 — in 1953 there was only $90,000 in da- mage for the entire year. FREE SHRIMP COCKTAIL With Each Meal . DUFFY’S TAVERN—218 Duval St. American & Italian Kitchen Entertainment ELINQR WILLIAMS at the Piane PIZZA PIES 75¢ UP ‘try twice within the week. Counterattacks Premier Laniel told the National Assembly counterattacks had been launched in a vain to block the rebels from making a juncture in attacks from the northeast and the southwest, but the defense ef- forts failed. “The government has just learned that Dien Bien Phu has been submerged after 20 hours of neemereupee combat,” Laniel Laniel said “the French reaction will be the reaction of the virility of a great nation.” He added that France will con- firm its instructions to its dele- that without admitting | le: fall. of Dien Bien Phu can <aPrance il el os Ales seven years = has red t * News To Geneva All the cepaties ip! the -Aseesily stood while Laniel announced the fall of Dien Bien Phu—except the pri cal They remained seat é him if Pvt. G. David Schine failed to get favored treatment. % They made “exceedingly seri- ous” threats, Stevens told the Sen- ate subcommittee investigating the McCarthy-Army row. And, Stevens declared, he had a distinct impression from MeCar- thy, as well as from the senator’s aides, that the more the Army did for Schine the less “hammering” 'the Army would be subjected to from the’ McCarthy ception. | Schine, a member 4 a weal New York family, w: consultant to the MeChrthy Hore until he” was drafted wae oa hom row a bi a wad’ Tew awade: iad Proper. efforts to get preferential treatment for Schine.and MeCar- thy’s counter charges the Army | een tried to shut off the senator’s in- yesoagaaee of Communists in the MeCarthy hammered questions at Stevens and the usually mild- mannered secretaty, in his 12th day in the witness chair, ye" ws fn sod i Gen. Ho Nguyen Giap’s rebel|back with a sharpness not siege forces, bidding for victory | Played before. before the Geneva conference} Pressed by McCarthy to say Started negotiations for an end to| whether Roy M. Cohn, the McCar- the 7-year-old war, outnumbered | tuy subcommtttee’s chief counsel, De Castries’ garrison by 4-to-1 or and Francis P. Carr, its staff di- more, rector, had ever “threatened” him, De Gastries was estimated on Stevens maintained they had. the eve of the showdown battle to| He said that because of the sub- have 14,000 men, including} committee’s search for espionage wounded, at his command. These | at Ft. Monmouth, N.J., “taken in were Frenchmen, Foreign Legion- conjunction with the constant dis- naires, Vietnamese and North Af-| cussion of Schine, it was my feel- ricans. There were about 1000 wounded in underground bunkers of the fort. All efforts for a truce to evacuate them had failed. ing that they were~ threatening me.” “If I did not do something, they (Continued on Page Seven) Giving Of Camma Globulin Extended Through Saturday Wind-Up At Naval Hospital Tomorrow Between 9 And 11 The Navy and county health authorities today ex- tended the time for gamma globulin shots through to- morrow. Dr. C. W. Morrison said that Navy personnel and civilians who were unable to take the shots today or yesterday should report to the Naval Hospital tomor- row between 9 a. m. and 11 a.m, He stressed the fact that both Navy personnel and civilian should visit the Naval Hospital tomorrow morning. Illness Provided For Dr. Morrison also said that chil- dren with contagious disesase — mumps, measels, i x or other child diseases - - should go to the health clinic today for their GG shots. If, he: added, they were unable Phone Orders Promptly Delivered by Strunk Lumber - 120 Simonton, near Citizen Bldg. % to leave their homes, they can, visit the clinic any day next week for their shots. Meanwhile, children through 14 years of age and expectant moth- ers were | streaming to three schools and the Naval Hospital to- day for GG shots. Up until noon; at Poinciana School, 412 persons had received the temporary polio preventative. At the high school, 156 persons had received shots. The Naval Hospital and Poincia- (Continued on Page Seven) Women Only Sat., May 8, 10:30 A.M., San Carlos Theatre AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY questions NO CONTRIBUTIONS NO SOLICITATIONS TIME: 10:30 A.M. PLACE: SAN CARLOS Women Only For Quick Communication, Use CLASSIFIED Ads! You'll reach buyers and sellers— tenants or workers DIAL 25661 or 2.5662, +» Just Public = For Ousted Policeman Civil Service Board Tells Chief To Re-Instate Cop Until Hearing By JIM COBB The Civil Service Board last night refused to uphold charges against a suspended Key West police officer and set a public hearing into the case for next Thursday night. No Action Taken By Grand Jury Monroe County's busy grand jury was in session today but up until noon had taken no action. The body was expected to re- turn an indictment yesterday but failed to do so. The same runor was floating around the county court house today. Mrs. Lucas Is Named To Post :|ForC. OFC. Mrs. Kathleen Lucas, o ane manager of Lucas Electric, has elected Chairman of the Re- tail Division of the Key West Chamberof Commerce, filling a vacancy created last week by the resignation of J. E. Tucker of S. H. Kress and Co. The announcement of Mrs. Lucas’ election was made at Wednesday’s meeting by Mrs. Mary Lee Gra- ham, president of the Chamber of Commerce, who then turned over the conducting of the balance of the meeting to Mrs. Lucas. First on the agenda was the establishing of Thursday afternoon store closing to start at 1 p. m. this coming Thursday, May 13, and continue all Thursdays throughout the summer season. Parade Entry Next it was, tentatively decided that the Retail Merchants’ Divi- sion will enter a float in the com- ing Armed Forces Day Parade on May 15th, and Mrs. Hannah Baer, of Ideal Togs, was appointed chairman in charge of this project. Further details are to be worked mittee, and plans for the merch- ants’ Armed Forces Day float will be published within the next few days. Other projects were also discuss- ed, but plans are not sufficiently developed for announcement at this time. : All in all, however, it appears that Mrs. Lucas is going to have a busy division to work with as the Retail Merchants intend to maintain the momentum gained in their Division by the recent highly successful Easter Parade. And Wednesday’s meeting closed with everyone wishing Mrs. Lucas suc- cess in her chairmanship, and as- suring her of their full cooperation. LOPEZ TO FILL IN AT LAUDERDALE COURT Circuit Court Judge Aquilino Lo- pez, Jr., will leave here Sunday for a week’s work in Fort Lauder- dale, he said today. The judge will be sitting in Cir- cuit Court there in place of an ab- sent judge. Judge Lopez said he did not know if he would hear criminal or civil cases. The move came as the lat- est development in a wide- spread series of firings, sus- pensions and resignations in the police department in re- cent weeks. A petition bearing about 400 names defending the officer was ‘|brought to the board at their re- gular meeting last night. In addi- tion, Criminal Court Judge Thomas S. Caro and City Commissioner Louis Carbonell appeared on his be- half. Alleged AWOL The officer, Patrolman Henry Roberts, was suspended for 15 days by -Acting Chief Bienvenido Perez on April 20 for alleged ab- sence from duty without leave. And last night, a letter was addressed to the board from City Manager Victor Lang was presented recom- mending that Roberts be perman- ently separated from the city’s em- ploy. . Roberts, a Negro, had been sta- tioned int THé Coloted section of the city. However, Carbonell, who said that he appeared as a private citi- zen, protested to the board that Roberts shquld be given a hearing before they acted. He pointed out that Roberts had requested the hearing within five days of his sus- pension as required by law. Severe Punishment , Carbonell added that the punish- ment recommended was unusual- ly severe. Several recent cas@s were cited the meeting ‘where police officers had reel only short suspen- sions for infractions considerably more serious than what Roberts was accused of. Roberts allegedly took an unau- thorized day off. He said that he miscalculated by one day, and started his monthly three day leave one day early. Board chairman Isabel Fleming then moved that Roberts be given a public hearing and that Acting Chief Perez and City Manager Lang be present and bring with them all records of the case. Ordered waited The board also moved tovinstruct Perez to re-instate Roberts to his post until the hearing is held. ADD HEARING SET tag Judge Caro, in addition to speak- ing on Roberts’ behalf, submitted a letter of protest to the board. Caro said that he had no interest in the case except that he wanted to see Roberts kept on the job “because he is the best man they have.” “These people are-going to suffer if this man is fired,” said Judge Caro pointing to the large audience of colored Key Westers present at the meeting. Honest and Courteous Judge Caro’s letter: “I have been informed that Hen- ry Roberts has been suspended as a police officer and has requested a hearing before the board. I have known this officer for several years and he is honest and cour- teous. In my experience with him, I have found him to be an excel- lent officer. I feel confident that (Continued on Page Seven) JOSEPH YATES PORTER ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR AT LAW Announces With Pleasure His Association With JACK SAUNDERS LLB., UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, 1954 PHI ALPHA DELTA, OMICRON DELTA KAPPA To Engage in the General Practice of Law Under the Firm Name of PORTER and SAUNDERS With Offices at 505 Whitehead Street Key West, Fila.