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

Warmest City In Nation Today Was KEY WEST 7 VOL. LXXV Ne. 263 Adenauer Sees Rearming Plan Aided By Vote German Chancellor ' Loses Some Ground , _ But Holds Control FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Chancellor Konrad Adenauer said today he is satisfied the results in two important Germany on the side of the West. He said in a statement the vote was. a reconfirma- tion of the correctness of his foreign policy, but used on- ly the word “satisfactory” to give his reaction. Bavaria Held The Chaneellor’s Christian Dem- ocratic Union lost ground in yes- terday’s yoting in Bavaria and Hesse but held control of the Ba- varian state government. This in- the Adenauer regime’s re- of its two-thirds majority upper house of the federal Parliament (Bundesrat), whose me. are named by the state ernments. me voting outcome also raised the possibility that a coalition dominated by the Christian Demo- crats- could supplant the Socialist government in Hesse. This would give the federal regime 30 of the 38 Bundesrat seats, instead of the they now hold. as goon off any Socialist ¢hal- lenge in the courts, Adenauer wants a two-thirds endorsement in both houses of the’ federal Parlia- ment for the Paris agreements to raise half a million German troops under the banner of the North At- lantic Alliance. : aah sa eebeiebeil “The election outcome cae ati tion ae sh ‘the ‘ratifica e pee next year. But the declines in Christian Democratic strength from its high mark in the 1953 mational ‘election were a warning to Adenauer that many Germans actively resent his demand that they turn soldier again. Adenauer’s controversial agree- ment with France to “European- dae” the Saar Valley rated much Jess attention from the voters than the rearmament problem. The Christian Democrats’ big- gest setback came in Hesse, tradi- tionally’ a Socialist and Protestant area. The CDU blamed its losses on Socialist charges that rearma- ment ahead of negotiations with Russia would lead to a new war. Hesse Voting The CDU’s percentage of the total vote in Hesse dropped to 24.1, from 33.2 last year. The Socialist percentage soared from 33.7 to * 42.6, The Christian Democrats also slumped in Bavaria—largest cf West German states in area and second iin population—from 47.9 per cent in 1953 to 38 per cent yesterday. Y q The Communists and right-wing extremists failed to elect a single deputy in either state. In Hesse, where a total 2,500,529 valid ballots were cast, this lineup was elected for the 96-member Parliament: Socialists, 44; Chris- tian Democrats, 24; Free Demo- rats, 21; Refugee party, 7. With no single party winning a majority, pro-Adenauer leaders an- nounced they would try to form a coalition state regime of Christian Democrats, Free Democrats and Refugees. GRUENTHER GIVEN TOP FRENCH HONOR PARIS ) — Gen. Alfred M. Gruenther, commander in chief for Allied Powers in Europe, has been awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor—the top rank in the order founded by Napoleon. The @ecoration was conferred by decree of President Rene Coty. The Grand Cross is given only occa- sionally to a foreigner. in AFTER A TIRING DAY OF SHOPPING— STOP AT LEE’S ORIENT RESTAURANT And Pick Up One Of Our FAMOUS COMBINATION PLATES $1.35 506 FLEMING STREET state elections | yesterday mean voters sup- | port his policy of rearming | KEY WEST, FLORIDA, SUBSTANDARD HOUSING?—No, this. is the first stage of construction for the Nativity setting in front of the Chamber of Commerce building. A prankster posted the vacancy sign. When completed. the Nativity scene will be lighted during the Christmas holidays.—Citizen Staff Photo, Don Pinder . Blaton Gale Goes Before Grand Jury ¢ { State Attorney Begins TV Slaying Presentation J. Lancelot Lester, state attorney, began presentation of the Blaton case¢ to the new grand jury this morning. Mrs. Eleanor Blaton, 28, is charged with shooting and killing ‘her, husband, James 'P. Blaton, Jr., 29, a sailor, after an argument over buy- ing a new TV set for the Blaton home at 904 Olivia Street, October 30. f She is in the county jail charged with first degree murder, Sworn In Today The fall term grand jury. was sworn in at 10 a. m. today by County Clerk Earl Adams, in- structed by Circuit Court Judge Aquilino Lopez, Jr., and went in- to session to hear witnesses in the Blaton case, Judge Lopez appointed Edwin H. Roberts foreman of the grand jury and Lee Skaggs acting fore- man. Other members of the new grand jury are: John D. Rivas, Henry Jenks, John Gandolfo, Jerome B, Saw- yer, Stanford Watkins, Ralph D. Amable, Herman H. Bethel, Sr., Henry F. Saunders, Howard S. England, Lykes 0. Turner, William 0. Wickers, Le- roy Sawyer, Ira Cash, Linton G. Camus, Charles G. Yates, and Paul K, Lake. Annual Voice Of Democracy Event Slated Tonight School winners in the eight an- nual Voice of Democracy contest will be heard tonight on Radio Station. WKWF at 8 p. m. The three winners from the local schools will voice their winning speeches over the air at this time and will be judged for the winner to represent Monroe County in the state wide eliminations which will be held in December. Through the cooperation of the radio station and the Key West Junior Chamber of Commerce, high school students have an oppor- tunity to enter the national Voice of Demoeracy contest. This broadcast script writing and voicing completion pays big divi- dends — a $5050 college scholarship, an all expense paid trip to Wash- ington, D. C., and Colonial Wil-| liamsburg, and a radio or televi- sion receiver. These prizes will be awarded to each of the four co-equal national winners in this year’s Voice of De- mocracy contest. McCARTHY RALLY NEW YORK (#—A rally in sup- port of Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy (R-Wis) is scheduled for tonight in Madison Square Garden. us Remedy For Erring ‘Em Rat Poison - four of her h nd She calmly smoked a cigarete as she described in detail how she administered the poison into the food and drink of spouses from four states. County Atty. J. Howard Edmond- son said a murder charge will be filed today against the 49-year-old plumpish, jovial widow for the Oct. 6 death of Samuel Doss, 58, of Tulsa. a Edmondson said the ther poi- soned husbands and “the dates they died are: Frank Harrelson, Jacksonville, Ala., 1945. Harley Lanning, Lexington, N.C., 1952. Richard L. Morton 64, Emporia, Kan., May 19, 1953. Other Deaths The prosecutor, with city offi- cers and Kansas and Oklahoma agents, has questioned the woman since her arrest Friday night and said investigations into the deaths of four of her relatives probably will be undertaken. He identified the relatives, whom he said succumbed under: strange circumstances, as Mrs. Doss’ mother, two sisters and a step- grandson. After making her confessions, Edmondson related, Mrs. Doss de- clared, ‘“‘My conscience is clear.” Southern Bell Pays $40,000 In County Tax Monroe County’s biggest taxpayer presented Howard Wilson today with the larg- est tax check in their local history. Don Nichols, local manag- er of Southern Bell, stated the check was in the amount of $39,739.10. This check for county tax- es coupled with a check for city taxes paid last month will total better than $60,- 000 for the year. Reason For Increase Nichols revealed that the main reason for the increased taxes paid to the city and county this year was due to the tremendous expansion of dialing equipment and cable facilities to provide our coun- ty with the best communication system possible. Nichols said, “Seeing this amount of money go to Monroe County makes me feel good for it clearly indicates to me the extent to which my company is a local business. Our seventy-two employees vote, own homes, shop in local ‘stores, attend local churches, and are ex; tremely active in civic work.” “Tt is these employees,” he con- tinued, “that are Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company in Key West and hand in hand are working together for the im- provement and growth of our com- munity.” He said it was a comment she uttered after each formal state- ment. The only surviving husband is Charley Braggs, of Alabama City, Ala, Edmondson said Mrs. Doss told him the marriage to Braggs in 1921 produced four daughters, two now living. They were di- vorced in 1928, Her Reasons County Investigator W. A. Lang said Mrs. Doss gave the following reasons for poisoning her spouses: She poisoned Lanning by doping his food. She said she poisoned him on-a Tuesday or a Wednes- day and that he died the following Friday. r She said she had been jealous of Lanning because \he was popu- lar with the women, That was the same reason she gave for placing the rodent killer in the coffe of Morton, a native of Okmulgee, Okla., and of Indian descent. She claimed Harrelson beat her so she poured liquid poison into his jug of corn whisky ; Edmondson said she denied any connection with the deaths of her sisters, her mother or Harrelson's 2%-year-old grandson, who pre- ceded Harrelson in death by two months. Enjoys The Show Mrs. Doss permitted an inter- ruption of her ‘interrogation yes- terday long enough to make an appearance for television camera- men. She sat through a filmed interview at which only questions from authorities were permitted. Officers said before the-filming, she insisted on prettying herself for the occasion. She smiled and seemed to enjoy herself during the brief questioning. She was quoted as saying she poisoned Morton because “I lost my head and blew up when I found out he had been running around with another woman and had bought some rings.” Edmondson said she told him she poisoned Doss twice. because “he was mean to me.” Once she poured “a lot of poison on his prunes.” After eating them he went to the hospital for 23 days. The day after he returned, ‘she was quoted, she gave him a tablespoonful of poison in a cup of coffee. Doss drank the coffee and died the next day at the hospital, she recalled. : “He sure did like prunes,” she said. “I fixed a whole box and he ate them all.” Man Charged With! Child Molesting A child molesting charge was filed Sunday against a local Navy man after he allegedly made an indecent proposal to a young girl on Duval St., police reported to- day. Identified as Lawrence Hallowell, of the USS Sea Dog, the man was jailed by Patrolman Ralph Mari- bona, who said that he was ap- proached on Duval St. by a young boy and girl who told him of the incident. 1 Hallowell was jailed and later picked out of a three man police lineup by the children. There is one other witness to the incident, according to the police report. Hallowell was scheduled to be arraigned in city court today. ~—__ SSE City Commission Wiréd For Sound The city commission has been wired for sound. Workmen started today in- stalling a public address sys- tem so that the deliberations of that august body will now — by all attending meet- s. In the past, complaints have been voiced that all of the dis- cussion held on important is- sues under consideration by the city’s governing body have been inaudible. The new system will be ready for use during tonight's com- mission session, Handbills Are Illegal In City--Lang City Mgr. Warns It is illegal.to distribute handbills in Key West. That bit of information, generally unknown, was Pointed out by City Manag- er Victor Lang in a letter to local printing establish- ments. Lang wrote the letter to the print- ers to save them possible loss due to ignorance of the law. City law enforcement officials first became aware of the law last year when a Coral Gables man came to town and attempted to fight the innoculation of local chil- dren with gamma globulin to con- trol the city’s then eritical polio situation. That's The Law ‘The law, Section 2.5 of the city cod>. sara: “It shall.be. unlawful to rib ‘pedestrians ‘any street, park or other public place in the city, or to distribute to passengers in any bus, or to throw into or onto any bus, auto- mobile or other vehicle, any hand- bill, dodger or advertising notice of a commercial character. “Tt shall also be unlawful for any person to distribute or deposit any handbills, advertising, printed matter or rubbish upon any real property located in the city, with- ox the consent of the owner there- of.”” There is also a state law which prohibits throwing advertising ma- terial into automobiles. Submerged Car Is Discovered Off Cudjoe Key Two underwater swimmers found a 1952 Buick in 12 feet of water off Cudjoe Key yesterday atfter- noon. The sheriff's department today said the hard-top convertible had been reported stolen Nov. 21 from the rear of the Bahama Bar, 519 Duval St., where it had been park- ed by the owner, Jacqueline Ledou- lange of 330 Duval St. About 3p. m. yesterday, the sheriff's office said,. two sailors, Lamar Liddle of the USS Odax and Sammie W. Coster of the USS Cor- poral, found the car. It was about 30 feet from shore on the ocean side of Cudjoe Key. The car was pulled from the wa- ter and taken to Caraballo’s gar- }age, 801 Eaton Street. Planning Group Arrives Wed. A Canada - United States region- al planning group will arrive here Wednesday for a week’s stay, the Navy announced today. _The group will confer here and visit various Naval activities. The eight-members of the Cana- dian armed forces who will be here are headed by Group Captain E. M. Reyno, of the Royal Cana- dian Air Force. The seven-man U. S. is headed by Col. R. S. Hewitt of the U. S. Army. The group has been invited to attend the charity football game here Friday night. SABREJETS ARRIVE TAIPEH, Formosa (#—The first batch of American F8% Sabrejets for Nationa‘ist China arrived on Formosa today, qualified sources reported. The shipment reportedly {contained about a dozen planes. The Kev West Cilisen THE SOUTHERNMOST NEWSPAPER MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, IN THE U.S.A. reach RESCUE—Irving Jones, 24, of 515 Front Street, rescued a man fromthe main ship channel this morning... Jones said the man, whose name was not learned, was attempting to swim from the Gulf ‘Dock to Wisteria Island. Jones heard his cries for help and swam 125 feet into the channel to pull the man ashore. Jones was a swimmer with the 1lih Airborne Division in Japan. —Citizen Staff Photo, Don Pinder. Commission Sets Special Meeting The city commission — will meet tonight in special session at 8 o’clock. Business on the agenda in- cludes consideration of propo- sals made by the Chamber of Commerce regarding the pur- chase of property at Simonton and Angela Sts. for use as a city parking lot, opening of several bids and the refunding of sewer bonds. Foreign Teachers Make Key West Tour Saturday Key West played host to a group of 21 foreign school teachers Sat- urday. Students of the University of Miami, the educators are tour- ing the State of Florida so they can take back to their home na- tions a background of life in Am- erica. The Key West Chamber of Com- merce sponsored the group while they were here. Under the guid- ance of Mrs. Jo Garland, of the Chamber’s staff, the teachers were given a tour of the Navy Yard, Martello Galleries, the Aquarium, the turtle crawls and Hemingway home. All members of the party were conferred membership in . the Chamber’s King Conch Club and were handed souvernir conch shells as a memento of their visit to the Island City. Luncheon at the A and B Lobs- ter House and hot béllos with Cu- ban coffee-served by Rene’s on Fleming Street gave the visitors a taste of Key West’s favorite foods. Stickney Urges Early Mailing For Christmas Business Firms Requested To Aid In Mail Problem Acting Postmaster Clyde P. Stickney today stressed the importance of mailing Christmas cards and parcels early this year. “The handling of the Christmas mails is a big job,” said Stickney, “and in order for it to be accom- Plished successfully the coopera- tion of the public is necessary.” The local post office is prepar- ing te meet the rush of the com- ing holiday season. Plans are be- ing made to provide for the addi- tional services which will be need- ed. Help Asked Business firms are requested. to mail their regular correspondence | before 3 p. m. throughout the | Christmas season. They can help even more by withholding all circular-and cata- logue mail until after the critical | period, Dec. 15 - 25. | Patrons are requested to careful- ly prepare and correctly address their cards and parcels. Gifts should be mailed early in December in order to insure de- livery for Christmas. Early mailing will prevent dis- appointment. Don’t delay, Mail early! Reinforcing Stee] Sirusk Linwher For Quick Communication, Use CLASSIFIED Ads! Youll buyers and sellers— tenants or workers . . . Just DIAL 2-5661 or 25662 Today. PRICE FIVE CENTS Porter To Present Plan To Refinance Sewer Bond Issue 3 Lower Rate Of Interest Could Mean Tax Saving By JIM COBB A plan to refinance: thé city’s $900,000 sewer reves nue bond issue, to obtain a lower rate of interest will be presented to the city commission at their special meeting tonight, City Ate torney J. Y. Porter said this morning. The plan, Porter said y would result in a saving of $197,000 over the 23 year average life of the bond is- sue and could conceivably result in a lower tax rate for the city by cutting down the amount of interest. paid out annually on the bonds floated to finance the huge sewer project recently com- pleted. Bond Brokers’ Bid Porter said that he was approach- ed by officials’ of Miami office of Atwell and Co,, nationally known bond borkers. The. brokers, Pore ter said, have expressed interest in refunding the huge bond issue, The city presently pays an in- terest rate of approximately 4.5 per cent on the bonds. Under the plan to be presented tonight, the interest rate could be cut an estimated one per cent, ree sulting in a saving of about $9,000 annually in interest payments by the city. Cost Estimated Cost of refunding the bonds, Pors ter estimated, would be about $18, 000. When the city sold the bonds two years ago, only one firm, a Boston brokerage house, submitted a bid, But, since then, the bonds have proved their worth and are in de mand on the market making them more attractive investments and enhancing the chances for a re- funding program at a consequent saving to the city, BURGLAR GETS $40 IN CAROLINE ST. HOME The latest of.a rash of ies netted $40 for a seat tet who entered a Caroline St, home Sunday, police have reported. Miss Minnie Porter Harris, 425 Caroline St., told police that some body gained entrance to her home |by cutting the screen on a front door and forcing the lock. Patrolman Ralph Maribona said that the house was ransacked and the money was taken from a poce ketbook in a bedroom. Miss Harris said she was sure prised at the burglary as she keeps nothing of value in her home. GREETING SET FOR FLYING FARMERS Navy planes from Boca Chica will greet the Flying Farmers in the air when the group arrives at Marathon Dee. 7. John Goggin, president of the Marathon Chamber of Commerce, said today that between 300 and 400 Flying Farmers and their families are expected. } Some of the group will fly to ‘Havana. Others will go to Cuba via Aerovias Q. 120 SIMONTON STREET Near Weather Bureau