The Key West Citizen Newspaper, December 20, 1954, Page 1

Warmest City In Nation Today Was KEY WEST 62° VOL, LXXV No. 301 Dion Foresees | Early Approval | Of Land Deal , Realtor Says Meet \ Will Be Held Soon | By Company Officials ‘An early decision on an offer made by the city com- mission to buy land at Sim- ‘onion and Angela Streets for use as an off-street park- fng area, was indicated to- day. ' Realtor Fred Dion, who repre- gents Brown Estates, owners of the land, said that a meeting of the board of directors of the company owning the land will be necessary. Favorable Action Seen 1 Dion added that he “‘is confident that favorable action will be taken Wn due time.” The city made an offer of $70,000 for the land at a special meeting Friday. They had been negotiating for several months for purchase of the land, Original price asked was $100,000. The eity, after an appraisal by a igroup of Key West realtors, set the value of the tract at $73,150, made their counter offer. Information Forwarded Dion said that the information fhas been passed on to the attor- meye of the owners. THE SOUTHERNMOST NEWSPAPER IN T KEY WEST, FLORIDA, MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1954 YOUTH ENTERTAINS AGE—Cub Scout Pack 251 entered into the Christmas spirit last Friday night when they held their annual Christmas party at the First Presbyterian Church. Guests were the oldsters who live at the Old Folks Home on Stock Island. The boys presented the Na- tivity story in pageant form.—Photo by Spillman. Two Men Are Held In Rape Murder Of 16-Year-Old Girl Miami Youth Is Killed In Bridge Accident Sunday Harry Mike Cochran, 16, of Miami, was killed at 7:10 p. m. “Under corporation laws, the of- fer must be voted on by the stock- holders,” said Dion, He added that the meeting will probably be held early in January. The city commission was criticiz- ed Saturday by the retail mer- chants division of the Chamber of Commerce for slowness in nego- tiating for purchase of the land. ‘Medical Man Comments On Hogpital Here Dr. Ralph Herz, chairman of the public relations com- mittee of the Monroe Coun- ty Medical Society today re- leased a statement in con- nection with reports that the city’s medical men have asked for courtesy reduc- tions on their bills at Mon- roe General Hospital. The physicians were reported to have asked the Monroe County Commission for the discount at their last meeting. Dr. Hertz said that the society did pass a motion to send a letter to the di- rector of the hospital requesting the discounts, Herz’ Statement Dr, Herz said today: “In my dealings with hospitals, my exper- jence has been the following: Whenever I have been hospitalized in a hospital in which I was a mem- ber of the staff, I have never re- ceived a bill, My dependents were also treated, varying from cour- tesy of the entire bill in the Uni- versity Hospitals in Cleveland, to a substantial reduction as receiv- ed from Mercy Hospital in Miami — even though I was not on the staff of Mercy Hospital and with- out asking and certainly without previous knowledge of the reduc- tion,” Physicians Serve It was also stated teday that Mon- roe County physicians earch give a month of free service every year for county charity medical cases and that physicians on the staff of the Monroe General take turns, a week at a time without compensa- tion or cost to the county in fur, nishing emergency medical service at the hospital. Earlier, newspaper reports had said that the county pays the phy- sicians. Dr. Herz added that the ‘“medi- eal men of this county strive to. ward the ideal of treating the sick, irrespective of the financial return to themselves.” yesterday when hit by a car while fishing on Channel Five bridge, about six miles south of Islamorada. Florida Highway Patrolman Robert G. Young said the car was driven by Juan Jose Ro- mano, 52, of North Miami. According to Young, Cochran had just caught a fish and was trying to take the hook from the fish's mouth. The fish jumped, Cochran jumped after the fish and leap- ed head-on into Romano's car. The top of the boy’s head hit hit the headlight of the car, fracturing his skull. No:charges were filed against Romano, who was driving north. Two other boys were fishing on the bridge with Cochran, Cochran’s death was the twenty - first traffic fatality in Monroe County this year. Roberts Case Witness Faces Perjury Probe MIAMI (®—An investigator for the state attorney office said today the testimony of a key witness in the Judith Ann Roberts slaying will be checked “for possible per- jury.” The seven-year-old victim’s fa- ther, Baltimore attorney James ‘T. Roberts, is under $10,000 dond while waiting to be tried Feb. 28 on a first degree murder charge. C, Clark Wood, a Miami private detective, testified at a habeas corpus proceeding in October that he saw Roberts and an unidenti- fied woman near the death scene the night the child was kidnaped from her grandparents’ home, Questioned by State Atty. George Brautigam, he said he saw Rob- erts “at approximately 12 to 12:30 a.m. on the morning of July 6, 1954.” Wood said he could fix the time because he was trailing a man who “‘was paying his check at the Ciover Club inside a few minutes before midnight.” Fred Jones, an investigator for the state attorney's office, said records showed the club was closed the night Wood referred to it be- cause its .license had been tem- porarily suspended. Wood said Sunday he assumed the man he was following “was in the club because his car was {in one of the center parking lanes directly in front of the night spot.” “I was watching this man’s ear,” Wood said. “He might not have been in the Clover Club. He could have been around the corner some place. “After I left there, I saw Roberts at the scene of the crime. I have been an investigator for 35 years and I’m too old to commit per- jury.” E Jones said “this is a serious business because we had a man indicted for first degree murder on Wood’s testimony. Brautigam will return to Miami on Dec. 23rd and MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (®—Pretty Margaret Louise Blanchette, 16- year-old Sunday school teacher, was raped and strangled in the rear seat of a moving automobile yesterday — a deed for which two| sailors were held today. Frederick B. Zimmer, 25, of Rochester, N.Y., a metalsmith 1C., was charged with murder. Seaman Clyde D. Brunfield, 18, also of Rochester, N.Y., was charged with being accessory be- fore the fact of murder. State Police Capt. Andrew Casey said Zimmer admitted he struck and strangled the Portsmouth, R.I. girl “when. she began to scream” during the attack. Casey said the two sailors had volunteered to drive the girl home from a pre-Christmas dance at the enlisted men’s club at the big naval base in Newport. He quoted Zimmer as saying that after driving a short distance he and Margaret got in the back seat while Brunfield continued to drive. Throttle Her The police captain said that at the Mount Hope bridge, Zimmer “assaulted the girl and throttled her when she attempted to scream. Then they drove back toward Newport.” * 2 He quoted the sailors as saying they did not halt the car during the attack. Zimmer and Brunfield were ar- rested after a chase by Middletown police, who were unaware that anything was amiss in the car. Sgt. Francis Vierra and Patrol- man Lewis Perry chased the car into Newport because. the sailors failed to stop at their signal as they passed at high speed. When the police cruiser caught up to the car, Vierra said, the sailors informed him they were taking “a sick girl to the naval hospital.” Cops Followed Vierra and Perry followed in the cruiser and when it failed to Pope Works On Message To Be Given Christmas VATICAN CITY #—Ailing Pope Pius XII is working on a brief radio at noon Friday. appear in the window of his study and bless a throng gathered below in St. Peter’s Square. vatore Romano announced the ar- rangements today. Despite the planned briefness of his Christmas message, Vatican as a new evidence of the Pupe’s gradual improvement from the illness that threatened his life 18 cays ago. It will be the pontiff’s third radio message since his col- lapse Dec. 2. The Vatican Press Office said the Pope passed “‘a fairly tranquil night.” LATH and LUMBER for CRAWFISH TRAPS at will take immediate action in checking Wood's statements for a possible perjury charge.” Strunk Lumber 120 SIMONTON, near Docks Christmas message he will broad-| cast to the world over the Vatican | On Christmas Day he plans to i The Vatican newspaper L’Osser- | observers took the announcement | turn into the hospital driveway |they halted it near the Navy's |fleet landing. The girl was then taken into | the hospital and pronounced dead. | Dr. John A. Picozzi, deputy state | medical examiner, said an autopsy | Showed the girl had been raped jand strangled manually. He said torn and disarranged and that there was other evidence she put up a struggle, Miss Blanchette was one of 12 children of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Blanchette. The father is a mill worker in nearby Fall River, Mass. The victim occasionally taught catechism at St. Anthony’s Catho- lic Church and was described by neighbors as “respected and well- liked.” Equipment Used On Fatal Dive Cleared In Probe All equipment, except the tele- Phone cable, used“ by Paul M. Sweat, 28, Navy diver, on his last dive was in proper working order, a board of investigation said to- day. Sweat died in the recompression chamber of the submarine rescue vessel Penguin Dec. 14 after a routine dive. The investigating board inspect- ed Sweat’s equipment Saturday. The air and gas lines were free of any defect. The telephone cable was brok- en near the point where it is at- tached to the driver’s breatplate. The cable also was broken and badly abraded at points between 210 and 240 feet from the diver. If possible the board will estab- lish how these breaks occurred. The investigation is continuing. Two Navy doctors who performed the autopsy are expected to testi- fy as to their findings Wednesday. polfce told him her clothing was| today when a drainage line exploded. The ordnance unit is at A spokesman there sai seriously. cause of the explosion. in Newport. Better Get That Mail Off Right Now! Postmaster Advises Haste In 11th Hour Christmas Mailing Postal employes are bracing themselves for what may be the busiest week in Yuletide history. Explaining the urgency of their problem, Acting Postmaster Clyde P. Stickney today said: “TI have frequently asked that all Christmas mail be posted before December 15. Now that time has past, and I know from previous ex- perience that the volume of Christ- mas mail hasn’t reached its peak.” What to do? The Postmaster’s advice is: “Use ‘air parcel post’ for your gift packages going to other states. Air mail postage is the best idea for any remaining Christmas cards with out-of-town addresses. “There’s still time to complete all local deliveries by Christmas. Mail carriers are scheduled to make as many daily trips as are necessary. So don’t delay, and risk disappointing your loved ones.” “I hope,” Postmaster Stickney concluded, “that this is one year every mail bag will be empty, and every postal employe at home, on Christmas Eve. Then we can all jrelax — at least, until it’s time |for New Year’s cards and ‘thank you’ notes.” Opening For The Season Tonight at the CASA MARINA JOE CANDULLO and His Famous Orchestra LOUIS and LEE VALENTO ‘Dance Stylists Young Tenor *MA. CANDULLO and PHIL DOUGHTY His Orchestra Will Play Every Day In Our Patio for Luncheon, Dinner, and Late Dancing Never A Cover or Minimum Charge! KEY WESTERS and VISITORS ARE CORDIALLY WELCOMED FOR LUNCHEON, DINNER, OR DANCING IN THE PATIO! | BETTY MADIGAN FAMOUS M.G.M. RECORDING STAR WILL OPEN A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT IN OUR PATIO, MONDAY, DEC. 27 Antonio Bouchard, 39, of 1014 Seminary Street, and George A. Tasso, no age given, of 716 Fleming Street, are being treated at the Naval Hospital. the legs by flying debris. Neither of them was injured The men are employes of the Naval Underwater Ordnance Station Annex at Newport, R. I. They are here on temporary duty from that station. A building near the drainage. line was damaged slightly. An investigation will be made to determine the Bouchard’s home is in Fall River, Mass., and Tasso’s |Elizabeth, 39, | struggle, possibly in their sleep. |“deeply religious.” Beside him in| Che Kev West Citisen HE U.S.A. 2 Are. Injured In Blast Today Two men were injured by flying debris at 7:47 a. m. at the Naval Ordnance Unit the Naval Station Annex. d both men were cut about Sheppard Jury Still Ponders Cleveland, Dec. 20 (AP) — For the fourth consecutive day, the jurors in the Sheppard Mru- der trial went back inte con- ference this morning. They were still deadlocked when they adjourned for lunch today. Judge Edward Blytnin told newsmen he does not consider it unusual that the jury is tak- ing so much time. He added that he has not had a single *|year-old Alabama youth who has * Use C reach tenant AL Other Parts Of Face Freezing Weather For Quick Communication, LASSIFIED Ads! You'l! buyers and sellers— Ss or-workers .. . Jus! 2-5661 onBpe ‘ 62 Today Cold Snap Poses Threat To Citrus In Some Spots By The Associated Press Frost and freezing weather the state is forecast for ton and the cold even poses a th More of the same prospe O. Johnson, meteorologist of the Warning Service, said farme are should protect” their crops. Alabama Youth Admits Slaying’ Of Ark. Woman Experts Check Sanity Of Man After Confession By RAY STEPHENS BRINKLEY, Ark. — A 19. admitted he swung the club which crushed the skull of pretty Mrs, Milton Fuller is in an undisclosed Arkansas jail today, waiting to be charged with first-degree murder, Prosecutor J. B. Reed told news- men yesterday he would file the information against Billy Ray Willingham here today. The youth, who left a 16-year- old wife in Alabama, said hunger drove him into the unpretentious Fuller home, and that a weird sex urge spurred him into killing the young mother. Found Dying Mrs. Fuller was found dying early Dec. 12 in her blood-spat- tered bedroom. She had been hit once with a four-foot stick of fire- | question or communication from the jurors. Dr. Sam Sheppard is charged with beating his wife to death last July 4. Father Tries Suicide After Slaying: Four PASADENA, Calif. (®—Harold R. Oilar’s wife and three children sang Christmas carols and went to bed. A few hours later, say | police, Oilar killed them — with a Boy Scout hatchet. Police and a neighbor early yes- terday found the 39-year-old rug merchant unconscious from gas fumes, in an apparent suicide at- tempt, in a bathroom of his | $25,000 home. | He was booked on suspicion of murder in the prison ward at the County General Hospital, where at- tendants said he is expected to sur- vive. Detectives said that during questioning he muttered: “It can’t be real. I’ve had a bad dream.” Neighbor Child Safe A neighbor’s child who spent the night with the Oilars was spared. So was their cocker spaniel, found | Playing near the family swimming | pool. Police Lt. Wayne Bornhoft said | |Oilar apparently carried sleeping Bronwyn Rayburh, 7, from the| |room where she was staying with his daughters Janet, 10, and Mar- tha, 7, a cripple, before he killed | them. { They were found with blankets over their heads, as was the son| | Randolph, 12, who was killed in| his own room. Oilar’s wife Grace a Sunday school teacher at Pasadena Presbyterian Church, was found dead in the| master bedroom. Police said all! had apparently died without a| Neighbors - déscribed Oilar as the fume-filled bathroom were pic- tures of his family, taped to the| walls, and a mostly illegible note saying, in part: i « Only God understands. Another note said: ‘‘Sell out ev- wood. The blow crushed her skull. She died nearly five hours later at a hospital without regaining con- sciousness. Prosecutor Reed told newsmen that Willingham Friday admitted striking Mrs, Fuller. However, he said, he and officers first suspected the man might be mentally un- balanced, rather than guilty. Will- ingham underwent a 12-hour psy- chiatric examination in Little’ Rock which convinced Reed he was sane. When the youth told officers that he took two of five biscuits from the Fuller kitchen — and a| hurried check revealed only three | biscuits remaining — Reed said he accepted Willingham’s story as| true. | Says He’s Sorry “Why did you kill Mrs. Fuller?” Willingham was asked by news- | “I don’t know why; I just hit} her,” he replied. “She was asleep | when I hit her. I’m sorry.” He flatly denied that he at tempted to rape Mrs. Fuller, mo- ther of two little girls, but said, | “I did a few things.” “What things?’ “Different things, just different things.” Willingham was picked up for questioning at Forrest City while loitering on the streets, and brought to Brinkley, where he said he was the killer. | jelly for all farming areas in ight and tomorrow morning reat to citrus in low spots. ct for Tuesday night. Warren Federal-State Frost “regardless of where they He expected heating of citrus groves north north of the main citrus belt to take i rs | Place tonight. While there is a slackening of crop activities in the Everglades, lots of corn, beans and potatoes ree main. Even sugar cane and hardier vegetables like celery and cabbage could be nipped in some spots in the glades. For the multi-million dollar cit Tus crop things don’t look too bad. Johnson said the prolonged cold this month has made the trees a little tougher and Prepared them for the low chill tonight and to- morrow. Danger To Vehicles Owners of tractors and automo- biles left in the open were urged to take precautions against radiae tor freezing. Johnson suggested that north Florida motorists taking their cars out early Tuesday morning should warm auto engines well before starting off. Johnson also explained that tem- Peratures will drop rapidly after sunset tonight and continue slowly dropping with long periods of critical temperatures. Florida was colder than many a west areas today. 1s another phase of a longed chill the state has Piet enced since Oct. 15. Johnson ex- plained that while there have been lower temperatures in other years his records do not disclose more continued cold for the correspon ing period in ai ee ny previous year, Frost In North Frost was confined pri principal] today to north and central Florids with light sprinklings in the Ever- slades. But north Florida had lows between 23 and 28 with some 223 in low spots. Orlando and had 28-32 deg: he west ing with the ridge districts ree lows with a few ‘ const escaped freez- ows of 33-38. slades had lows ranging ee, 36 and 45 near Lake Okeechobee and 33 to 38 away from the lake with scattered frost. These critically low tempera- tures are predicted for Tuesday Prediction North Florida: Pockets might Set to 18 degrees with lows gener | rnning between 24 and 28, Central Florida ean expect pockets to be chilled with lows between 22 and 26 thermometers Benerally set. 4 between 26-30. e west coast will di of 29-33 with lows of pooped at spots. For Indian River there is Predicted 28 to 32 degree low ex- cept 26 in interior low spots, For the Everglades, minimums Eski’s Back F Again For Christmas |, All the children and all the grownups with children in their }/ hearts and minds at this time of year will remember Eski, the Eskimo gamin who is a great friend of Santa Claus. Eski appeared last Christmas season in this newspaper in a series of adventures in which the problem was presented of curing Santa’s Winter Weari- ness. Eski did it by proving once again the love that all children bear the red-coated old gentleman with the flowing white beard. Now writer William brought Eski back to for the annual Christmas visit. The first two parts of a series of six God ean forgive.” erything to pay debts.” Dr. Robert Rayburn, the neighbor whose} daughter escaped death, said Oilar was “greatly in debt.” strips of “ONCE UPON A CHRISMAS EVE” appear to- day on Page 4 of The Citizen. running between 30 ‘and 35 were forecast near Lake Okeechobee and 40 away from the big body of water with considerable frost. Even scattered frost was expect- ed in the lower east coast’s mucke lands near the coast. Low tem- peratures in prospect for this re- Bion range in the 29-34 area, KAISER CO. IDLE FON vA, Calif. @ — The big Kaiser Corp. mill has been idled by a dispute over the dis- charge of a workman. Dairy Freeze WILL AWARD SOME LUCKY PERSON FREE PRIZES Tomorrow at 8 P.M. r SANTA CLAUS will ss oma P.M. for the Kids Thursday at —at— DAIRY FREEZE 1704 ROOSEVELT BLVD.