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

Key West, Florida, has the most equable climate in the country, with an average range of only 14° Fahrenheit , VOL. LXXV No. 195 ‘ARIES EAT—Forty-one Congressional secretaries yesterday were luncheon guests of THE Drowning |Man Saved fi County. The girls drove here from Miami yesterday, had lunch at Logun’s Lobster House, and returned to Miami afterwards.—Citizen Staff Photo, Sue. s ‘ 41 Congressional Secretaries Are Feted By Local Officials Monday Group Delayed By PlaneMove |Neblett Seeks Aid On Proposed Bills William R. Neblett, Democratic nominee for the Up Route 1 Forty-one Congressional secretaries yesterday drove from Miami to Key West to have lunch here as guests of Monroe County. ‘There are a total of 65 wecretaries in the group visiting Miami. Grant Stockdale, Dade County commissioner, organized the party of 41 which drove to Key West. it wae..a-hastily ar rage — the Monroe Coun- ty commissioners only had a few hours notice of the group’s arri- val — the luncheon went off smoothly. a3 As soon as Stockdale notified Gerald Saunders, chairman of the board of county commissioners, Saunders moved swiftly to organize the luncheon and invite other guests. The luncheon was served on the patio at Logun’s Lobster House at the foot of Simonton Street, Those Present Besides the 41 secretaries, the others present were Saunders, Commissioners Joe Allen and Frank Bentley, City Commissioner Louis Carbonell, Stockdale, Sheriff John Spottswood, Rear Adm. G. C. Towner, commander of the Naval Base, Capt. C. L. Murphy, chief of staff to Towner, and Lt. L, B. Rice, ‘and Mayor C. B. Harvey. The secretaries were expected to arrive here about noon. However, a Marine Corps airplane that was being moved up U. S. 1 from Mar- rathon to Miami slowed traffic on the highway and it.was almost 2 p. m. before the entire party as- sembled at Logun’s. ‘The Marine plane crash landed in the water near Lower Matecum- fhe Key Friday morning. The pilot ‘was uninjured. Yesterday morning a Navy tug picked the plane out of the water and loaded it on a truck at Marathon. A few cars carrying secretaries arrived about 1 p. m. Met At Marathon ‘The remainder of the cars were met at Marathon by two cars of the sheriff's department. A city police car met the group at the city limits and escorted the group to Logun’s. Carbonell, Harvey and Saunders welcomed the group to Key West. Saunders introduced each of the (Continuea on Page Two) } Man Found Guilty Of Hitting Cop Arlie Black, of the Naval Station, ‘was fined $50 in city court Mon- day on a charge of resisting arrest after two people testified that he assaulted police officer Brian K. Lioyd last Friday night in a Duval Street bar. Black said that “he could re- member nothing of the incident.” But officer Lloyd, Jack Grey, owner of the Downtowner Bar where the incident occurred, and another eye-witness said that he punched Lloyd, used obscene lan- guage and assaulted him. unit system.” Neblett will and Collier Couunties, Fourth Man Tried Today In July Theft The last of four men charged in the breaking and entering of the Dora Garcia home went on trial today in Criminal Court before Judge Thomas S. Caro and a six-man jury. The defendant in today’s trial was Raymond Hernandez, of Mi- ami. Amando Rocamora, 808 Ashe Street, yesterday was found guilty of charges of being an accessory before and after the fact of break- ing and entering and grand lar- ceny. The jury was out about 15 minutes, Yesterday morning, Angel Mir- anda of Miami and Alceo Perez, 18-E Porter Place, pleaded guilty to charges of breaking and enter- ing and grand larceny. Sentencing Later Judge Caro said he would sen- tence them and Rocamora later. The state contends that the quar- tet broke into the Garcia home, 708 Eaton Street, the night of July 21 and made off with cash and jewelry. The state also says the group tried to open a safe in the hourse but failed. Mrs. Dora Garcia was the first state’s witness this morning. Under questioning by Bob You- mans, acting county solicitor, Mrs. Garcia testified that she left her home around 10 p. m. July 21, and that when she returned a few hours later she found that the front door had been broken open. She said that the knob had been knocked off the safe but that the safe had not been opened. The door of the linen closet, she said, had been removed by knock- ing the pins out of the hinges. Loss Told Mrs. Garcia testified that more than $150 in cash had been taken (Continued on Page Two) Be Sure with Quality Materials — from Strunk Lumber Judge Enrique Esquinaldo, Jr., Beard the case. 120 Simonton Street, near City Hall State Senate has begun a survey of the opinion of his consitutents on two important issues which will be con- sidered during next April’s legislative session. The issues are: Reapportionment and the “eounty represent South Florida’s Fishing Boat Mate Saves Sailor From Gulf Docks Water The heroic action of the mate aboard a tuna-fishing boat saved a local Navy man from drowning last night at the Gulf Oil Docks. The sailor, identified as Don W. Peterman, of the USS Guavina, leaped from the dock in an apparent suicide try at about 7:30 p.m, He was rescued moments later by Archie Cross, a mate aboard the Santa Antonio, a west coast fishing boat in port here for re- pairs. Peterson, reportedly highly in- toxicated when he made his leap, is being treated in the Naval Hos- pital for exposure. Three Witnesses According to the police report, there were three witnesses to the incident. They are:. Tom Woodbury and Walter Lumpkin, employees of the Dayco Fish Co., and George B. Logan, a United States. Mar- shal, of Miami, who happened to be on the dock at the time. They said that Peterson walked to the end of the dock and “‘step- ped off.” He drifted or swam beneath the dock and clung to a piling in an apparent effort to drown himself. Cross, along with two unidenti- fied bystanders, commandeered a small boat nearby and managed to Pry him loose, He was very close to drowning at that time, they said, Earlier Action The police report added that Pe- terson was identified as the man who was brandishing a gan in the rear of the Tropical Hotel on low- er Duval St. earlier. 24th Senatorial District comprising Monroe, Lee Hendry He is assured of election in the November general election since he will not be. oppos-' ed by-a Republican candidate. f Neblett’s. survey has taken the form of a questionaire mailed to all state representatives if the 24th district, county clerks, newspaper editors, and other interested per- sons, groups and organizations. The letter: “The opinions of the addressees is desired in connection with the subject matter, as it promises to be a highly controversial issue at the next session of the legislature. Some pressure is being brought al- ready upon the writer to make some statement or commitment, however, it is desired to give this matter a full and thorough discus- sion and study, with particular re- gard to the desire of the majority of the people in this senatorial dis- trict. Wants. Response “TI urge you to give the matter thought, to bring it up in public discussions, and to give me, in writing if possible, your views on the subject. “There are always two sides, or more, to every question. Fairness would seem to indicate that the larger population centers do not have proportionate representation to their population. On the other hand, representation is sometimes a matter of geography. Tradition- ally, the small county group has always stood together, and Lee, Hendry and Monroe Counties are in this group. “Since there must be a begin- ning to a discussion, without going on record at this time, but for the purpose of providing a spring- board for discussion, let us start with this proposal, for the sake of argument: Proposals Made “1, The small counties must have adequate representation in order not to be lost in the shuffle. “2. The very large counties (po- | pular-wise) now have inadequate representation, which we admit should be increased. “3. It. is impossible or at least impractical to apportion all repre- sentation strictly on a popul<tion basis. Senatorial apportionment should be on a geographical basis. “4. The 24th Senatorial District should be changed from its pre- sent boundaries because of the dis- tance involved. (I promised that I would support this movement). “5. The county-unit plan should be adopted because it would pro- tect the small counties. “You assistance in this reguard will be greatly appreciated. It is my desire to represent you, and, as far as possible, to vote your views and to work actively to see that your interests prevail.” He was apparently in an “intoxi- cated and His blouse, inside out. : . He’ had earlier bees watned the shore patrol. . Naval Hospital officials said that his condition was “good.” Immediate End Of Segregation Called Unwise TALLAHASSEE (®—The U. §. Supreme Court apparently will be told in October that a careful study of Florida public opinion in- dicates immediate ending of racial segregation in the schools would be an’ unwise step. Findings of an interracial com- mittee set up by Atty. Gen. Rich- ard Ervin to gather information for the brief he will present to the court add up to a feeling by a ma- jority. of ‘both races that integra- tion in the schools should be a gradual process, The court gave Southern states (Continued on Page Two) OUTBOARD CLUB SETS OVERNIGHT CRUISE Members of the Key West Out- board Club will participate in a 200-mile overnight cruise this ee it was announced to- lay. The cruise, with 14 or more boats taking Part, will leave the group’s Stock Island clubhouse at 8 am. Saturday. They are ex- psocerg ies arrive in Tavernier abou P.m. and return to West Sunday. an There will be a meeting of the club Thursday at 8 p.m. in the clubhouse to make final plans for the cruise. As set up now, the plans call for the boats to stop at Bahia Honda, Marathon and Islamorada on both days for rest Periods and | to re-fuel. HOUSING AGREEMENT OK’D BY THE CITY _An agreement between the city and the Key West Founda- tion Co. that they will continue to operate their 368 units in the Poinciana Housing Project for at least ten years was approved last night by the city commission. An earlier agreement had stat- ed that they would operate the Project for five years with an additional five-year option. The agreement was necessary before the federal government would sell: the housing units to the realty company. IN THE KEY WEST, FLORIDA, TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1954 Body Of Ne Is Found In The Key West Citis SOUTHERNMOST NEWSPAPER U.S. A. HE FOUND THE BODY—Johnny, Walker, who operates a bait stand on Roosevelt Blvd., points to the spot where he found package containing the bedy of new-born baby this morning. Walker observed woman deposit bundle there Monday noon. Key Westers are incensed about sordid crime and search is eon- tinuing for woman.—Citizen Staff Photo. Unauthorized Sailing Voyage vestigation’ after he Eugene Proffitt, 26, who hails from San Angelo, *Y | Texas, is being held by the Sheriff’s department for. in- was apprehended by the Coast Guard early this morning, as he attempted to sail a 20- foot sloop, “Caprice” belonging to Raymond R. Ander- son, 2015 Flagler Avenue, through the Northwest Chan- Cobo Asks End To Indecent Phatos An end to the “eyesore” re- sulting from the practice of lower Duval Street strip joint operators of exhibiting life-size photographs of nearly naked female entertainers, was ask- ed last night by City Commiss- loner Delio Cobo. Dr. Cobo termed the photo- graphs a “di that the bar owners be forced to e them. He was told that at least one of the owners had agreed te do so. ESS City Grants Plea For Trailer Park Construction Here A local resident whose plea that | he be allowed to construct a trail- er park on Toppino Court, was turned down two weeks ago, wes given permission to go ahead last night, when the city commission reversed their stand on the ques- tion. The man, Maurice Jabour, ap- peared before the commission ask- ing that his request be reconsider- ed. The commission, after they had turned down his request, had pass- ed an ordinance prohibiting any more trailer parks in Key West. But Commissioner Delio Cobo said that when Jabour’s request was vetoed earlier, the law was not on the books. City Attorney J. Y. Porter, told the commission that since the law was not in effect when Jabour ap- plied before, they could legally grant him permission despite the fact that the ordinance had been passed. Commissioner Louis Carbonell cast the only dissenting vote on the matter. In other action trail- ers, the commission down a Tequest that a resident at 411 William Street be allowed to park two trailers in the rear of her pro- perty to store materials and tools during a remodeling project. nel. Anderson, a project engineer at the Seaplane Base Ordinance La- boratory, anchors his boat at Gar- rison Bight. A friend, who frequently uses the boat came by the bight this morn- ning and noticed the boat was miss- ing. It is assumed that he saw the sloop leaving the bight. He notified the Coast Guard and called Anderson. The Coast Guard dispatched their 83-footer and hailed Proffitt who was apparently sailing the “Caprice” towards Marquesas. Shots Fired While Anderson watched through binoculars from the NOU pier, the Coast Guard boat hailed Proffitt and when he disregarded the hail fired two shots across the bow of the “Caprice.” «The sloop went aground but the unauthorized pilot managed to get under way again, thought better of it, came about and alongside of the Coast Guard boat. Proffitt was taken into custody by the Coast Guard and released to the Sheriff's department. The stolen sloop was towed to the coast Guard Base by the picket it. Parking Meter Areas Are To Be Extended Acting on a request of Com- missioner Delio Cobo that steps traffic problem before the tourist Season gets underway, the City | Commission last night voted to in- struct the city manager to extend the parking meter areas and call for bids on a quantity of new meters. Lang told the commission that tentative plans call for the meters to be installed in the area bound- ed by Elizabeth and Whitehead Streets, including all cross streets. Parking meters will also be in- stalled on Simonton St., he added. Lang pointed out that the city budget provides for $35,000 in an- ticipated revenue from parking meters, but unless the city adds more meters, they will fall short of that estimate. For Quick Communication, Use CLASSIFIED Ads! You'll reach buyers and sellers— tenants or workers .. » Just be taken to ease the city’s thorny ; DIAL 2-5661 of 2-5662. PRICE FIVE CENTS Infant Bait Shop Operator Tells Of Walker, who operates a bait and tackle shop near the spot where he found the baby’s body, told the Sher- iff’s Deputies that he spot- ted a woman carrying a bundle walking into the bushes about noon yester- day. The bundle was tossed into the water near the southeast corner of Bayview Park. Walker said that the woman was rather tall and wore a white blouse and black skirt. Walker added that he was sus- Picious at the time but that he did not check the scene until this mor- ning. Checks Bundie This morning he found a bundle tightly wrapped and fastened with safety pins floating in about two feet of water near some mangrove roots. The hody was wrapped in sever- al cloth diapers and a plastic sack, similar to the type that is used to wrap vegetables, and brown wrapping paper. Walker described the tiny baby as a % pretty child.” Walker, immediately notified the Sheriff's Department. They -were unable to locate a coroner and County Judge Raymond R. Lord was called in to act as coroner. He authorized the removal of the child’s body to the Lopez Funeral Home. May Set Autopsy State Attorney J. Lancelot Les- ter was expected to order an au- topsy today to determine if the child was dead when it was plac- ed in the water, if it died of drown- ing, or if it was smothered by the thick wrapping. Authorities said that they esti- mate the child’s age as “less than two days.” The umbilical cord had not been tied, indicating that the birth may not have been attended by a physician. Meanwhile, shocked Key Westers are up in arms over the crime. “Why didn’t she leave him on my doorstep,” said one woman at the scene tearfully.” Officials Seek Wanted Man In This Locale One of the most wanted crim- inals may be in Key West or the Keys today. Alerted by the FBI, police and deputy sheriffs were looking for Walter James Wilkinson, 30, who is wanted for armed robbery, burglary and kidnapping. The FBI described Wilkinson as five feet, nine inches tall with blond hair that may have been dyed a darker color. He has che word “Molly” tattooed on his left forearm. Wilkinson, who is believed to be armed, was reported in Miami two days ago. iLocal Bidder Low On Dump Truck The Mulberg Company was low bidder last night on a dump truck being purchased by the city. They bid a net price of $2,593,. Other bids were: Navarro, Inc., $2,624.56; Monroe Motors, $2,768.79 and Howe-Moredock Co. of Miami, $2,844.40. Rainbow Do-Nut Shoppe 1030 Truman Avenue NOW OPEN FROM 7:00 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M. All Kinds of Doughnuts of Unsurpassed Quality Woman Tossing Bundle In Water By JIM COBB The Sheriff’s Department is searching today for a tall Woman, about 30 years old, who callously dumped ~j| the body of a-newly-born male infant into a salt pond “| at the end of Virgina Street about noon Monday. The body of the infant was discovered after 8 a.m. today by Johnny Walker, 908 Packer St. shortly Se Miami Man Is Hit By Truck On U.S. 1 An 85-year-old man was Monree County's lth traffic fatality of 1954, the Florida Highway Patrol reported today. Philip Seerth, of Miami, was fatally injured about 1 p. m. yesterday when he was struck by a truck as he crossed U. §. 1 at Whale Harbor. Seerth, 2 retired hotel op- erator, was on a fishing trip. Florida Highway Patrolman Robert Young investigated the accident. Humane Group Asks Stiffer Horse Laws Local President Appears Before City Commission Mrs. George Mills White, president of the Key West Humane Society last night petitioned the city commis- sion ‘for more stringent re- gulations governing horse ownets in the wake of re- ports*that animals are not being cared for properly. After hearing Mrs. White's plea, the commission moved to have an ordinance drawn up for considera- tion at their next meeting incor- porating her suggestions. Mrs. White asked that a license fee be assessed against horse own- ers, that the city law which says that horses must be kept in fly proof stables be enforced, and that the Humane Society be given the authority to impound horses which are found being mistreated. $100 Fee Asked She suggested that the license fee be set tentatively at $100 with a $25 annual renewal fee. “it has been suggested,” Mrs, White said, “that the fee be set high enough so that it would pro- hibit those who cannot afford to care for horses properly from own- ing them.” Mrs. White added that the Hu- mane Society has received almost daily reports that horses are al- lowed to run loose on the streets and that they have been tethered in vacant lots. “From both the humane and ci- vie int, the condition is de- plorable,” she told the commission. At the conclusion of her plea, City Commissioner Delio Cobo ask- ed that a probe be conducted and Commissioner Carbonell suggested that an ordinance be drawn up for the consideration of the commis- sion. City Asks Share Of Insurance Tax The city commission put the wheels in motion for obtaining a share of the state casualty insur- ance tax when they passed an or dinance which will give them one- half of the two per cent levy for the police retirement fund. The action was recommended by Finance Director Craig Bowen. It was brought out at last night’s meeting that the move will not re- sult in an increase in insurance Premiums since it is already being levied.