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

Warmest City In Nation Today Was KEY WEST or VOL. LXXV No. 299 FIRE DAMAGE—Johiiny Cotton, left, and Willie Taylor look over some of the ruined furnishings after a fire at 808 Windsor Lane gutted the second floor of a two-story house.—Citizen Staff Photo, Don Pinder. THE Fire Guts Upstairs Of House; ‘Death Probe Tenants Face Bleak Christmas It looked today as if Chi fair for the persons living at ristmas will be a dreary af- 808 Windsor Lane. Fire gutted the upstairs of the two story house yester- day morning, destroying all the persona] belongings of Willie Taylor and his wife, Aline, and of Johnny Cotton, all of whom occupied rooms on the second floor. H. W. Gray and his wife, owners of the house, live on the first floor. Extensive Water Damage Their belongings were damaged, extensively by water. ¥ Taylor said the fire, which start- ed from wiring in the ceiling, wip- ed out all the Christmas presents | he and his wife had bought for | their two sons, Oscar 12, and Mose, 16. The boys live at present with Taylor’s sister in Birmingham. Taylor estimated he and his wife lost about $300 in property, includ- ing all their clothes. Cotton said his loss was about $200. Gary estimated damage to the building at $1,000 to $1,500. FACTORIES PLANNED MANILA (® — Firestone and Goodrich, two of the world’s lar- gest rubber tire manufacturers, plan to establish factories in the Philippines. Sass Special Hours At Post Office Acting Postmaster Clyde P. Stickney announced today that on Saturday, December 18, the main post office and its stations will observe the following sched- ules: Main Office — stamp, parcel post, and general delivery win- dows will remain open from 8 | a. m, to 6 p. m. Sigsbee Park Stamp and Par- eel Post Unit — 9 a. m. to 12 noon and 1 p. m, to 5 p. m. | Stock Island Stamp and Par- | ce! Post Unit — 9 a. m. to 12 | mi Mm. .» m, and 12:30 p. m. to 4:30 p. m. South Beach Description Of Is Protested “Up to three weeks ago that letter may have been! justified,” Julius Brown said | today, “but not now. I’ve never seen South Beach look- ing better in the last six) years.” Brown, who operates the conces- sion on South Beach, was referring to a letter published in The Citi- zen yesterday. The letter, from Mr. and Mrs. Gardner Campbell of Wakefield, Mass., took the city to task for the unsightly condition of the beaca. Bad After Rain Brown admitted the beach was} in deplorable condition after the | recent heavy rain, He said he called on City Manag- er Victor Lang and that within two days Lang and Ivan Roberts had city equipment, including a_bull- dozer, at work on the beach. “It has been six years since I’ve seen it looking as good,” Brown said. “Lang and Roberts are due a compliment for the quick | and good work they did to put the beach in condition.” GIRL SLIGHTLY HURT IN ACCIDENT THURS. Sally Ann Spencer, 18, of 724 Caroline Street, was injured slight- ly Thursday in an automobile acci- dent at Caroline Streets. The mishap, second at that in- tersection in two days, occurred when a car Miss Spencer was op- erating was struck by an automo- bile driven by Hubert C. Heath, 44, of Geneva, Ohio. Police said that | Heath failed to observe a stop sign. | THIS COUPON WORTH 25c TOWARD PURCHASE OF PACKAGE at JUNGLE BAR 801 DUVAL STREET We Meet All Advertised Prices LIQUORS the | | FREE DELIVERY || \ 1M. Sweat, 28, rece jday for the funeral services and Elizabeth I ils Recessed For Funeral Men And Officers Of Penguin Go To Diver’s Rites By DENIS SNEIGR i The investigation into the death of Navy diver sed to- at 2 ale. Thirty-five men and p. m. in Fort Lauder- officers ‘from the submarine rescue vessel enguin, to which Sweat was at- tached, went to Fort Lauderdale | for the funeral. Sweat, a diver first class, died Tuesday afternoon in the recom- pression chamber of the Penguin. After completing a routine dive from the Penguin off’ Pelican Shoals, Sweat was hoisted aboard. About one minute later he collaps- ed and was placed in the recom- pression chanber where he died. Given Aid In the chamber ‘ie was attend- ed by Lt. F. L. Bergquist, Medical Corps, and R. H. Bond, chief hospi- tal corpsman. A board of investigation, headed by Cdr. James M. Hingson, opened hearings yesterday to determine | the cause of Sweat’s death. Cdr. Hingson, in announcing the recess today, said the board may hear Dr. Bergquist, who is on duty at the Naval Hospital today, if he can get away from his hospital du- ties. Yesterday's session heard Lt. Edward Duckworth, commanding officer of the Penguin, recount the detail’s of Sweat’s last dive. Lt. Duckworth was emotionally upset as he told of the dive. The lieutenant is a diver of long ex- perience, having started diving in 1937. He took command of the Pen- guin Sept. 10, 1954. Normal Dive Sweat made a normal dive to 265 feet, Lt. Duckworth testizied. t was when the diver was being (Continued on Page Two) 3 ARE NAMED TO COUNTY AD BOARD Joe Pearlman, Walter Price, and Allen Skipper today were named| as the Monroe County Advertising Commission at a special meeting | ef the county commissioners. Pearlman of CBS Construction | Co., Price of Price Tours, and Skipper who owns a restaurant on} Key Largo, will serve for one year. | ACCOUSTICAL BOARD — at Strunk Lumber 120 SIMONTON ST, near City Hall | Paul |hoff said: SOUTHERNMOST NEWSPAPER InN T KEY WEST, FLORIDA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1954 Navy Confirms Water Line Talks Washington Naval authorities have confirmed The Citizen’s exclusive story that talks will be held early in January with the Florida Keys Aqueduct Commission to sibility of the sa West - m ind water line. According te the Associated Press, the talks had been sche- duled for this week, but were postponed. Hamilton J. Tredway, of the Navy‘s Bureau of Yards and Docks, along with other Navy officials will come to Key West for the conferences. The Citizen revealed Thurs- day that the Aqueduct Com- mission is interested in buying the 130-mile long line which supplies the keys and Key West with water. U-M To Start Courses Here February 7th Registrations To Start Soon For ourses The University of Miami| will offer 15 extension cours- | es in Key West starting Feb- ruary 7. That information was released | today by Dr. D. N. Steinhoff, dean | of the University’s evening divis- ion. In a letter to Richard Griener, |who has been active in arranging for the courses here, Dean Stein- “It is with great pleasure that Tecan report to you that the dean’s | council today voted unanimously to approve the establishment of au} oft-campus extension at Key West. Hasty Action “We are thus prepared to give hasty action to thé preparatian of a schedule of classes for the spring semester which will begin Febru- ary 7.” Here is a list of the courses to be offered: Monday: Accounting (introduc- tory principles,) English, (written and oral composition,) History United States to 1865,) Mathemat- ies (college algebra,) Speech (bas- ie public speaking,) Self Improve- ment and Dress Designing. The latter two are non-credit courses. Wednesday courses: Manage- ment (principles of business Mathematics (trigonometry,) Psy- chology (general principl Span- ish (elementary,) Creative writ- ing and Interior Decorating. The latter two are non-credit courses. | Survey Here Courses were chosen on the bas: | is of a survey conducted here by the university. A total of 209 persons, includ- ing 114 Navy men, indicated that they are interested. There will be 15 students in each class. Registration will start January 3) at the Monroe County Board of} Public Instruction, Fleming Street. The board will also arrange for equivalency examinations for those | who do not have high school diplo- mas wishing to take credit courses. Miss Eugenia Nicola is supervis- ing that phase of the program. JUST IN! Carload Shipment Christmas Trees Overseas Fruit Mkt. | 934 TRUMAN PH. 2.7742) re | path, The Ren West Citisen HE U.S.A. NG \ DIAL For Quick Communication, Use CLASSIFIED Ads! You'll teach buyers and sellers— tenants or workers . - » Just 2-5661 or 2.5662 Today PRICE FIVE CENTS Key West Accident Rate Soars; May Exceed 1953 GIFT TO COMMUNITY—The Christmas pageant presented by the high school band, chorus, speech and dramatic departments at the high school athletic field last night was the school’s “Christmas gift” to the citizens of Key West. The huge Christmas tree in the background was designed and erected by the County School Maintenance Department. A capacity crowd attend- ed the pageant.—Citizen Staff Photo, Don Pinder. Sheppard's Fate is In Jury’s Hands CLEVELAND (®—The jury be- gan deliberating the murder case of Dr. Samuel Sheppard today aft- er solemn instructions in which Judge Edward Blythin told them: “You are not to recommend mercy out of considerations of frejudice, sympathy or favor, or for the purpose of avoiding what you may consider an unpleasant task or duty.” it took the judge 36 minutes to deliver his charge. The jury took the case at 10:13 a. m. In a lengthy explanation of the law, the 70-year-old judge told the jury it is not necessary to prove motive under Ohio law. And he explained that circumstantial evi- jdence must be carefully consider- Judge Blythin locked the doors of the small courtroom before be- ginning his instructions Sheppard’s two brothers and their wives were in the courtroom The defendant gave them a small smile as he stood waiting for this last legal act in his nine-week-old trial. Attentive Jury During Judge Blythin’s charge the seven men and five women on the jury swiveled their chairs in ‘is direction and gave him close } attention. Dr. Sheppard, 30-year-old osteo- was seated about 12 feet his eyes fixed on the jury. He is charged with first degree murder in the July 4 bludgeon slaying of his wife Marilyn, 31. After the judge was finished, he dismissed the 13th alternate juror, Mrs. Lois Mancini, an attractive brunette. She had sat throughout \the nine weeks of the trial, ready |in the event of illness or death to take the place of one of the regular | jurors. In a 36-minute explanation of the | law, the 70-year-old judge told the jury it is not necessary to prove motive under Ohio law. And he explained that circumstantial evi- fully. The judge locked the doors cf the small courtroom before he began his instructions Sheppard's two brothers and their wives were in the courtroom for the last legal act in his nine- week-old trial. ITED NATIONS, N.Y. ® — | U.N. Secretary General Dag Ham- |marskjold today accepted an in- vitation for face to face talks with Red China’s Chou En-lai in Pei- | ping. The secretary general acted less than four hours after he had re- ceived a cable from the Chinese Communist Premier saying Ham- marskjold would be welcome if he wished to discuss questions related to world peace and international tension. | Although Chou did not agree to discuss the 11 American fliers jailed as spies, Hammarskjold was understood to feel that such talks had not been ruled out. For this reason, he accepted, without delay. The exact date of Hammar- skjold’s departure for Peiping and |for the talks was not fixed, but | the secretary general intends to go as soon as arrangements can be | worked out. Message Exchange j out of a resolution adopted by the | U.N. General Assembly last Friday condemning the Peiping regime for | holding the fliers and directing the ‘Pope’s Condition (Called Grave | VATICAN CITY —Pope Pius | XII remains gravely ill and his weakness continues. | That was the report today on his over-all general condition from Dr. Riceardo Galeazzi-Lisi. The pontiff’s private physici state- ;ment confirmed previous word from Vatican sources that despite For Talks In Peiping The exchange of messages grew | secretary general to do his best to win their release Hammarskjold immediately sent off a‘ cable proposing direct talks with Chou. He received two cables from the Communist leader this mor: one denouncing the Assembly’s a tion as illegal and the other saying he would receive Hammarskjold for talks at a date to be decided upon by the secretary ral In reply Hammarskjold sent two cables. The first merely ack edg owl d the receipt of Chou’s blast against the Assembly and informed Chou that the mess; was being circulated to U.N. members Second Note The second said “I acknowledge receipt of you cable No. 38 of 17 December con cerning my proposal for a visit Peiping. I look foi portunity of meeting you, In vicw of the necessary practical arrange ments, I am not yet in a position to fix a date for the arrival nor }can I say definitely who will come with me. I may get an opportunity for the first contact corcerning }some of these practical arrange ments with your ambassador in Stockholm.” A spokesman for Hammarskjold said he would leave at 6 p.m. to night for Stockholm, according to previous plans. The spokesman said the secretary general also would definitely return to New York next Wednesday. Final arrangements for the trip will be made then. It was under. | stood he would take several advis- ers with him, but it still had not been decided who they would be ° rd to the op. | Injuries Exceed Last Year, Says | City Safety Man | It is almost certain that Key West’s 1954 traffic ac- cident rate will exceed last yea ccording to Charles R. Butler of the city’s pub- lie service department. He pointed out that with just two weeks remaining |in the year, there have been | 458 accidents — only 16 less |than in 1953. During December, there have been 18 accidents. Two Deaths The number of traffic deaths is equal to last year, with two per- |sons having lost their lives in auto crashes. Butler added, however, that a jsharp increase has been shown in jthe amount of damage caused in traffic accidents and that the num- ber of persons injured has already surpassed 1953. Total damage caused in collisions has mounted to $115,090 a 23 per cent increase over last year. Insurance May Mount | Butler cautioned Key Westers, |that unless there is a sharp drop in auto dents, the city’s insur- yance rates may well show a sub- | Stantial ineredse. And the fact that most accidents can be avoided was emphasifed by Butler when he said that “95 per cent of the accidents in Key West are caused by violation of one or more traffic laws.” Listed as the three major causes of traffie accidents were failure |to heed stop signs, following too clo: or failure to grant the right- | of-way. | Truman Avenue and Duval Street ; were listed as the areas where the greatest number of accidents have \occurred. The most dangerous in- jtersection, according to accident figures, is Truman Avenue and | White Street. | Deaths Desribed Both traffic deaths have occurred on Roosevelt Boulevard, east of |13th Street, Butler said. | Both deaths were caused | speeding, he added | Butler, who is in charge of the |city’s traffie safety program, also |pointed out that two of the three Jaccidents which occurred on $-D Day were the result of failure to stop signs. | "It's not only a matter of safety | S a matter of common court- said Butler, by POCKETBOOK THEFT NETS $364 THURSDAY A Douglass High School student was taken into custody Thursday for stealing his teacher’s pocket- book containing $364, police said today. According to the police report, the money was stolen from Mrs, Carrie Minor, a teacher at the school. Police, working in cooper+ ation Juvenile Judge Eva Warner Gibson quizzed a youth suspected of the theft and recover- 9 from him, g held for juvenile action, court joptimistic reports following X-ray | | examinations yesterday the pope’s | condition remains serious The Vatican sources said his con- jdition is aggravated by a recur. rence of hiccups The Pope’s ailment, d | after the X-rays as a small hernia jdence must be considered care-j of the esophagus and gastritis, also is accompanied by hemorrhaging resulting in a slow loss of blood This, it was said, is partly re sponsible for the weakened con- dition and anemia of the 78-year- old head of the Roman Catholic ! Church. gnosed | Elks’ Annual Charity Ball Saturday Night ADMISSION Dress Optional—All 3 Profess ELKS’ CLUB ANNEX $2.50 PER PERSON Men Must Wear Coats ional Acts TICKETS AND RESERVATIONS AVAILABLE AT THE ELKS CLUB GIFT HOUSE OPEN ‘TIL 9 P.M. ACROSS FROM U.S. POST OFFICE