The Key West Citizen Newspaper, July 17, 1954, Page 1

Key West Welcomes Spearfishermen, Spectators To Tournament Key. West, Floridc, has the most equable climate in the country, with am average range of only 14° Fahrenheit VOL, LXXV No. 169 Army Experts Seek Way To Make Blast Area Safe For Use Russians Tell Of Work In Polar Area Maintenance Of “Scientific Stations” Disclosed By Reds MOSCOW H — The Russians @isclosed today they are maintain- ing “‘scientific stations” on two floating ice islands in the polar region north of Alaska, The Soviet News Agency Tass paid teams on the icefloes are tak- fing depth measurements of the Arctic Ocean, studying atmospher- fe conditions and making geologi- cal surveys of the seabed. The scientists were flown to their drift- fox bases last spring and are being supplied by helicopters. Tass said one of the stations is north of Alaska and within 100 miles of the North Pole. The other is above Siberia and about 500 miles northwest of Point Barrow, Alaska, It is 650 miles from the pole. Told ‘The report said the Arctic teams. are living in tents and prefabri- eated houses héated with coal and 08, 7¥resh vegetables, letters, and newspapers are be- to them regularly, ‘Thé bases were said to be eq with tractors, motor cars and (mills, Their radio stations are keeping regular contact with the-Soviet mainland. stations are under the com- mand of two specialists in geo- ical science. far extensive research -has een carried on in the central Afctic near the North Pole, the submerged Lomonosov Mountains @nd the continental shelf of the Chukotsk Sea, it was said. Western observers looked on the establishment of the icefloe bases as another move in the Soviet-U.S. contst for supremacy in the Arc- tic — the shortest air route be- tween Russia and North America. Scout Troop 253 Continues Tour Tony Martinez, Scoutmaster of Troop 253, told The Citizen this morning in a phone call from Lake Wales “the boys are all healthy and eating well.” While in Lake Wales, the troop presented Mayor Childs with a letter from Mayor C. B. Harvey. » A picture was made of the pre- sentation. The Lake Wales official told the boys he would send a copy to The Citizen, The troop arrived in Lake Wales Thursday night and leaves for Bradenton today. They expect to arrive in the west coast city this evening. Troop 253 is on a tour of the state and visited Bo¢a Raton, St. Augustine, Green Cove Springs and Lake Wales. TEAKETTLE WARNS FAMILY OF DANGER FORT WORTH (®—A whistling tea kettle roused a Fort Worth family yesterday after a gas stove mishap set their kitchen on fire. Evacuation Of Town Set In Tense Situation CHESTERTOWN, Md. ‘#—Army demolition experts today studied the problem of removing highly sensitive lead azide from the scene of the blasts that yesterday took at least 10 lives and wrecked a fireworks and munitions plant here. Persons living in nearby areas will be evacuated, Army spokes- men said, if the removal is at- tempted. Lead azide, an extremely sensitive nitro-glycerin compound, is used in the detonator fuses made by the Kent Manufacturing Co. at this Maryland Eastern Shore com- munity. Yesterday’s blasts, estimated by one company official as doing $500,000 damage, came in grim co- incidence with a fireworks factory explosion in Chicago. Three were killed and one in- jured in explosions in the Melrose Fireworks Co. building in subur- ban Schiller Park. In Chestertown, one person was unaccounted for and it was feared the list of 10 dead might be lengthened by one more life. Army, FBI and company offi- | nell An automatic burner on the stove | Carter L. Bennett, USN, will as-| was unexplainedly turned on. The| : cials sought the exact cause of the blasts and took precautions against further National, Guardsmen patrolled the streets and stood guard atthe armory, converted to an-emergen- ey morgue, where the remains of 10 victims were bundled in bla kets, most no bigzer than over- night bags. Dead Identified Six of these bundies had been identified through watches, rings, keys or by other means as five women and man who had worked on assembly lines putting together firecrackers, detonator fuses and Army training shells. One was Mrs. Eva L. Fisher, 65-year-old mother of eight chil- dren. Another was Nelson Lord, 21-year-old bridegroom of three weeks. The others were Mrs. Mary E. Fallowfield, 64, wife of a barber and town councilman; Mrs. Nellie Starr, 47, Mrs. Lina Mae Taylor, 41; and Mrs. Magdaline Seiler, 57, of Henderson, Md. Five other women were listed by their families as missing but it was probable the names of four could be matched with the four: unidentified bundles on the armory floor. Remains of the 11th victim apparently were still buried some- where in the maze of smouldering litter that had once been part of eight main buildings and 22 small- er structures destroyes. Plane Rumors While the rumor persisted that two jet planes seen flying over the plant seconds before had touched off the blaze by jarring the highly sensitive lead azide, a nitro-glycer- in compound used in detonator fuses, authorities discounted the Possibility. P Col. Harry S. Russell, Chester- town Civil Defense director and plant officials said ‘survivors know exactly which machine it B, the first to blow sky. high. Mayor Philip G. Wilmer, who is (Continuea on Page Two)’ CAPT. BENNETT WILL HEAD SUBRON FOUR Former submarine tender Bush- eommanding afficer, Capt. sume command of Submarine (the blast) started on” in Building | also president of the company, | Key West Citi THE ship and all-around character. Standard Bids Low Standard Oil Co. was low bidder on 336,000 gallons of fuel oil when bids were opened at the Utility Board meeting yesterday. Standard bid .0981 cents per gallon. The only other bidder, Gulf Oil Co., bid .1005 cents. The fuel oil is for use during the 12-month period beginning duly 19, 1954. (Man, Wife Tell Conflicting Tale Of His Stabbing George Gibson, age 46, of 1119 Elgin Lane was admitted to the Monroe General Hospital late yes- terday afternoon for treatment of a butcher knife wound that had been inflicted in his left chest. Police officer H. Conley stated in his police report that Gibson told him that he was Jying on his bed when his wife, Mrs. Ruby Gib- son, came up and stabbed him with a butcher knife. Mrs. Gibson, who is being held in city jail on charges not relating to the stabbing, denied the charge. “He did it himself,” she said. Mrs. Gibson is being held in jail on charges of causing an accident, leaving the scene of an accident, and driving while intoxicated. The police report states that she was driving a vehicle that collided with a parked car belonging to Carlton F. Smith of 95-2 Poinci- ana Place at about 9:30 last night. No charges have been filed in| connection with the stabbing. No Injuries ‘Oceur In Early Morning Mishap No one was injured this morn- ing when two cars collided at 8:15 at the intersection of Southard and | Elizabeth Streets. A car driven by Fay R. Field, an electronics engineer from Orlan- do, Florida, was proceeding north on Elizabeth street and struck the left side of a vehicle driven by | Myrtland Cates, city purchasing | agent. | Field admitted non-observance | | of the stop sign and was charged with reckless driving, causing an accident, and no driver’s license. SCUTHERNMOST NEWSPAPER KEY WEST, FLORIDA, SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1954 sis fe HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR HONORED—Michael Cates, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cates, is pre- sented with the Associated Harvard Club book by Julius Stone, local attorney. The beautifully bound bosk is a compilation of interesting literature and is given by the Harvard Club to a high school junior selected for the honor by his school principal and classmates on the basis of scholar- Stone is a mc@.2er of the Miami Harvard Club, donor of the book. This is the second time that the award has been made locally.—Citizen Staff Photo, Sybil. Dentist Is Acquitted Early Today In Triangle Slaying Chet Cold Is Honored At JC Convention Chet Cold, a formér yice presi-| dent ‘of the local Junior of Com- merce, has received. the Clint Dunagan Memorial Award given each year to five outstanding national JayCee directors, it was announced at the JayCee meeting this week. The Dunagan awards are an in- dication of the national recogni- tion that a JayCee can receive for his civic leadership. Cold was manager of the Bell Telephone Company here before his transfer to a position in the Miami offices of the company. The convention at which the award was made was held Jun 11 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in the beautiful Penrose Stadium on the grounds of the famous Broad- moor Hotel. William R. Neblett, Democratic nominee for State Senate was/ guest speaker at the meeting. | After listening to the business session, Neblett said, “It is a pleasure to hear a group of young men so interested in civic affairs.” He asked for any suggestions of or questions that the JayCees wished to present. Neblett voiced an opinion that the Junior Chamber | of Commerce and the Chamber of | commerce should work more close- Vy. When a JayCee reaches the} “overage” group of his organiza-| tion, he could readily become an asset to the senior organization | if he is already familiar with that | group, Neblett pointed out. .The program committee present- ed another in the series of movies which are proving to be of great | interest to JayCees and their! guests. The meeting closed with refresh- ments being served by the capable house committee. on Every Post Is Your Trademark of Quality! Jury Decides He WasInsane At Time Of Killing ALLEGAN, Mich. (#—The love- triangle murder case against Dr. Kenneth B. Small, Detroit dentist why killed Hiisprevy wife’s ad- mirér, ended in a dramatic verdict of acquittal by-reason of insanity early today. An Allegan County Circuit Court jury of 11 men and one woman returned its verdict at 1:40 a.m. EST after five hours four minutes of deliberation. Women spectators screamed. Others applauded. Some women kissed Dr. Small. The verdict, in effect, held that Dr. Small, 31, society dentist was not mentally responsible when he shot and killed Jules M. Lack, 45, New York playboy-industrialist, at a swank summer coftage near here last Memorial Day weekend. At the time Small’s brunette wife, Edith, 30, mother of three boys, was a guest with Lack at a house party. The husband had trailed her to the cottage after be- coming suspicious of her story she was with a woman friend in Chi- cago. Listens Quietly As the verdict was about to be read, Dr. Small sat quietly. His eyes were closed, It appeared he might have been praying. ~ At the “not guilty” declaration, he looked behind him to smile at his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Small. Friends rushed to his side to clasp his hand. Mrs. Small was not in the court | room at the time of the verdict. Judge Raymond L. Smith re- quired some moments to restore order. It was 10 minutes before the spectators quieted. Michigan law requires that Dr. Small be kept in a state hospital until the state decides that he is sane, or insane. This means he could be released at an early date, or never. On petition of Defense Counsel Leo Hoffman the court granted a week’s stay of the commitment (Continued on Page Two) IN THE U.S. A. Soldiers Tell Of Trouble With Czechs Threat Of Being Imprisoned Told By Returned Gis FUERTH, Germany (® — Seven American soldiers held 12 days in Communist Czecholsovakia said to- day their captors threatened them with imprisonment if they did not reveal U.S. military secrets. Capt. Jack Davis, 31, of Ray- town, Mo. — one of the captives — said Czech army officers told the men “after a year or so (in pris- on) you will probably give better answers.” Davis, speaking for the others at a news conference in an Army mil- itary courtroom crowded with pho- tographers and newsmen, said they were never bodily harmed or threatened with physical violence. The seven are: Davis, Pvt. Rich- atd J: “Jumper, 21, Booneville, Miss., Pfc, Leonard D. Tennis, 18, Alliance, Ohio, Cpl. John F. Glas- son, 24, Oakdale, Calif., Pfc. Jerry W. Griffith, 22, Springfield, Ohio, Pfe. George Switzer, 23, Milburn Neb. and Pvt. Ross McGinnis, 21, Greensburg, Pa. Tells Of Capture Davis, chubby, freckled medical officer, said the men went to the border July 4 “‘to take a look,” and that they were captured by a rov- ing Czech border patrol of about 20 armed men. He said the Czechs fired several warning shots at the men “‘so they could capture us.” After they were captured, Davis said he protested and explained (Continued on Page Two) Reassurance Is Civen On Boat For Ferry Use Alex M. Balffe, president of the Dade Dry Dock Corp., Miami, to- day wired Mayor C. B. Harvey that any rumor that the Coast | Guard will not okay the Patricia |for Key West-Havana ferry service is “absolutely erroneous. ’ The text of the telegram: “Any rumor that Coast Guard will not approve boat Patricia for ferry service to Cuba is absolutely erroneous. Conversion for ferry service by this company under supervision of Capt. Brown, re- presenting the Bureau of Veritas, is now being completed. You may release this statement to the press.” The Patricia is a 225-foot Land- ing Ship Medium that is due to going into the Key West-Havana run early in September. Crown Fence WILL BEAUTIFY YOUR HOME WITH For Quick Communication, Use CLASSIFIED Ads! You'll reach a spearfishing tournament. The tourney, being held LEE Accidents, Drunks Keep Police Busy The city has been plagued for the last 24 hours with aute- mobile accidents and drunks. The Police Department made a total of 13 arrests en charges ef drunkeness. Four accidents were reported in the city limits as weil as one in Peary Court which was investigated by the Nevy. Ne injurias were teperted. Cleveland Cops (Offer Help In Mystery Death Reports Of Tall, Bushy-Haired Man Continue CLEVELAND (4).—Mayor An- thony J. Celebrezze offered today | to have the Cleveland Police de- partment take over investigation of the two-week-old Marilyn Sheppard murder mystery. The mayor said the city’s ex- perienced, well-equipped homicide bureau would try to crack the baf- fling slaying “if asked by respons- ible officials and if we were given complete charge.” Mrs. Sheppard, 31, attractive wife of a wealthy osteopath, was beaten to death in a bedroom of her home in suburban Bay Village, and her husband, Dr. Samuel Shep- pard, has told police he fought her assailant and was injured by him. No weapon has been recov- ered and no very helpful clues have been turned up since the crime was committed about 4 a.m. July 4. Specialist To Help County authorities yesterday in- vited into the case Dr. Alan R. Moritz, one of the world’s out- standing medicolegal experts and director of Western Reserve Uni- versity’s school of pathology. He has been consultant in dozens of major crime cases, is chairman of the Americar Medical Assn’s. medicolegal problems groups, and has written a textbook: “The Path- ology of Trauma.” While teaching tenants or workers DIAL 2-5661 or 2-5662. (Continued on Page Two) Catholic Girls buyers and sellers— +. jum PRICE FIVE CENTS Spearfishermen To Vie ‘Tomorrow In State Tourney Tournament Area Is From “J” Marker To Amer. Shoals Light By DENIS SNEIGR _ Spearfishermen from all over Florida will meet at 7 p. m. today in the American Legion Home, Stock Island, to discuss final plans for tomorrow’s state championship here for the second consecu- tive year, begins at 8 a. m. tomorrow and ends at 2 p. m. The area for the tournament will range from the “J” marker to American Shoals light. Key West’s team — the Key Cudas — is composed of Lt. J. M. Dowling, presi- dent of the Cudas, Buddy Roberts, C. L. Alexander, J. L. Ballew, Paul Dammann, and J. W. Prejean. The team that wins the state championship will rep- resent Florida in the nation- al spearfishing meet here August 29. Florida cities and towns that | will be represented in ‘tomorrow's State meet are: , Key West, Bradenton, Dania, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Sar- asota, Tampa, Ft. Meyers, West Palm Beach, and St. Petersburg. Lt. Dowling said he felt sure there would be a team here from Tallahassee and that Miami would possibly have three teams in the meet. Compete For Cup Besides prizes for first, second and third place, the underwater teams will be competing for the Cuda Cup. The Neptune Club of Miami has won the Cuda Cup the past two years. If the Neptunes win it again tomorrow, they will own it permanently. That’s one reason why the Key Cudas will be putting on a little extra pressure tomorrow. They'd like to bring the Cuda Cup to Key West and they'd alse like to keep the Neptunes from gaining per- manent possession of it. A team that wins the Cuda Cup three consecutive years keeps the cup permanently. Some of the spearfishermen ar- rived here yesterday and others will be pulling into Key West all day today. Some brought their families with them. Tourney Set-up Small boats from which the con- testants will work will take off (Continued on Page Two) Two Women Are Treated For Cuts Two women received treatment at the Monroe General Hospital this morning at 7 o’elock for lac- erations from unknown causes. Police officers J. Cerezo and E. Ramirez stated in their report that on arriving at the hospital they found Peggy Jackson on the operating table receiving treatment for a cut on the nose. The report states that Miss Jackson who works at the Brown Derby did not know what had happened. The other woman, Bernice Gray of 208 Duval Street, said that she received her laceration from a broken bottle. Hail Pope Pius VATICAN CITY W® — Seven thousand Roman Catholic girls The total! damage to both cars was estimated at $150. The case will be heard in city court Mon- day. heat melted gas tubing and start- ed a blaze that set water left in he ketle boiling. A whistle on the kettle awakened Squadron Four next Tuesday, it | was announced today. He will re- | lieve Capt. Philip W. Garnett, USN, who has been ordered to the staff @ Me painting — ne rust © Alsi fi ahs ifetioe fittings © quan EL PASAJE terial & oonst. the Clifton Terry family in time| to keep the fire from spreading. Old-Fashioned WINDOW and DOOR BLINDS at Strunk Lumber 120 SIMONTON STREET Near Bank of Commander Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet. motion to his present rank when he headed the the Torpedo Procure. ment Branch, Bureau of Ordnance at the Navy Department. He recently was relieved as commanding officer of the tender Bushnell, which he assumed from Capt. Garnett in July, 1953. Capt. Bennett received his pro- | Police officer L. Soriano made | the investigation. HELP WANTED PHOTOGRAPHER | Must have ten years’ experience. | Otherwise, do not apply. | Don Ray Studio 705 Duval Street 12-9 P.M. REALOCK RE« wi , Fittings ve lite a $18 me, IPE 283 N.E. 71 St. (Showroom) For FREE Estimate 2-2545 ‘Weoxdays 8 to 8 — Sun, 2 te 8 FENCE CO. Ph. 84-0651 P H ° from more than a score of coun- tries hailed Pope Pius XII today as he was carried into St. Peter’s basilica on his portable throne. The audience was the final event of a Marian Congress held here by the Daughters of Mary. Most of the girls came here from Italian towns and cities and from France and Spain. But there were also small groups from other European countries and the United States. RESTAURANT 1005 TRUMAN AVENUE Saturday and Sunday SPECIALS ROAST PRIME RIBS of BEEF Mashed Potatoes, Peas and Salad, Tes or Coffee $1.75