The Key West Citizen Newspaper, December 30, 1954, Page 1

Warmest City In Nation Today Was KEY WEST 69° VOL, LXXV No. 309 k Mail” After Ma rch 31 French Assembly Approves Issue PARIS # — The French Na- tional Assembly tonight reluc- tantly and narrowly approved West German rearmament. The vote was 287-260. ied the treaty estab- Western European Union as the coalition in which 12 West German divisions will join Bri , French, Belgian, Dutch, Luxembourg and Italian troops in defense of Europe. Ti as the key point of the recent London-Paris ac- cords. Deputies already had approved other portions of the accords. Tonight's vote also kept Premier Mendes-France in of- fi le had made adoption of WEU a matter of confidence in his Cabinet. Roaring Fire Sweeps Area Tn Pa. Town Lumberyard Blaze Starts In Midst Of Pouring Rain BOYERTOWN, Pa. (#—A roar- ing fire which neighbors said seemed to start from a “ball of fire” during a pouring rainstorm swept alumberyard and damaged at least nine adjoining structures in this southeastern Pennsylvania | town of 5,000 early today. Firemen from 10 communities, some of them as much as 15 miles away, still fought the blaze six hours after it began at 3:30 a. m. Fire Chief Jack Stauffer said, how- ever, that it had been controlled against further spreading since about 6:15 a. m. : Stauffer said a preliminary esti- mate indicated damage would reach “easily to a million dollars.” Former Disaster Boyertown is 18 miles south of the city of Reading, and was the scene of a major fire disaster Jan. 33, 1908 when 169 adults and chil- dren died in a fire and panic at the Boyertown Opera House. The scene of today’s blaze was directly across East Philadelphia Ave. from the former site of the opera house. . At least two nearby residents told reporters of seeing a “ball of fire’ in the approximate center of the lumber yard when the fire j broke out. Mrs. Aaron LeFevre, 80, and Mrs. Russell CRoll, said they saw it from their homes and the fire spread quickly from that int. ae was fed by large stocks of lumber and other building mater- jals. and by coal stored in the yard for retail distribution. P Six firemen suffered slight in- juries in fighting the blaze and some 50 persons fled to safety from homes that were damaged or threatened. NO DEC. 31 FAST Father Maring S. J., of St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church announced this morning that he had received confirmation of the news item from Rome stating that tumorrow, New Year’s eve, there would be no fasting or abstinence for Roman Catholics. ————— STEEL REINFORCING at Strunk Lumber 120 SIMONTON STREET Near Weather Bureau Postmaster Gen. Orders Stoppage Of ‘Experiment’ WASHINGTON (AP) — Postmaster General Summer- field announced today that city and town deliveries of “junk mail” will be discon- tinued after March 31, 1955. Such deliveries of what the Post Office Department cails “simpli- fied address mail” were estab- lished on an experimental basis 15 months ago, The system allowed distribution on selected routes of advertising material addressed simply to “householder,” ‘‘pa- tron,” or “boxholder,” without spe- cific street address. Protests Made The experiment, which had been tried previously by the Democratic administration, resulted in numer- ous protests that the result clogged the postal system. Rep. Murray (D-Tenn), who is slated to become chairman of the House Post Office Committee in the new Congress assembling next week, said recently he had told Summerfield that unless “‘junk mail” deliveries were stopped, his committee would take steps to out- law it. Sen. Carlson (R-Kan), retiring chairman of the Senate Post Of- fice Committee, only a few days ago issued a public statement call- ing for discontinuance. Ne RFD Change The dropping of the simplified addressed mail,\which is handled at_a third-class tate of 1% cents per piece, applies only to city. and village delivery routes. Such mail | will still be handled on rural routes and to boxholders at post offices where no city or village delivery service is available. This type of patron has had the service since October 1934. Summerfield in a statement said simplified address mail was ex- tended to city and village routes in August, 1953, in an effort to re- duce large third-class mail losses “and to provide an additional serv- ice to the public.” One hope was that elimination of the job of sort- ing large bulk mailings would pro- duce big savings. “The results have not satisfac- torily met these objectives and ,the only possible solution is increased postage rates which will be sought in the next session of the Con- gress,” Summerfield said. Under a practice established 20 years ago, the mailers of circulars or other similar material may still obtain city or village delivery of 1% cent items addressed simply to “‘occupant’’—but each item must include an exact street address. Separation Of Stokowskis Is Reported Today NEW YORK (#—Mrs. Leopold Stokowski, the former Gloria Van- derbilt, was reported today to have separated from her husband, the internationally famous conductor. The report was published by the New York Post. At the Ambas- sador hotel, where Mrs. Stokowski was said to have taken up resi- dence, phone calls went unanswer- ed at her suite The Post quoted Mrs. Stokowski, who is 30 and her husband 67, as saying in an exclusive interview: “For personal reasons, I have decided to live at the Ambassador hotel with my children. When I can amplify the situation, I will. “But I don’t think I can say any- thing more than that my husoand| ard I have separated. That is the only fair comment to be made at the moment.” appy New Year To All - Make This Gala Weekend Complete by Dining at LEE'S ORIENT THE zen Staff Photo, Don Pinder. The county court house and city hall will be closed Friday for the New Year holiday. Both buildings will re-open Monday. Improvements Made By Local FSES Office Several important chang- es have been made in the Florida State Employment Service office here to make for better service to the pub- lic, J. H. Knight, Jr., said today. Another worker has been added to the staff to handle counseling and testing, Marathon is getting service every other week, and a labor pool for construction work- ers will be set up after Jan. 1. Aid To Employers Knight urged emnloyers to use|} the counseling and testing service to obtain more qualified workers. Every other Wednesday two per- sons from the officer here visit Marathon to handle employment problems in that area. When the labor pool goes into ef- | fect, the office at 314 Simonton Street will be open at 7 a. m. daily. RESTAURANT Full Course Dinner . . . . $2.25 Child’s Plate $1.50 OPEN 41:00 A.M. TO 9:00 P.M. Orders Put Up To Take Out 506 Fleming Street Telephone 2-7932 All persons interested in construc- tion work, Knight said, should come to the office as well as con- tractors who are looking for work- ers. Knight urged both employers and | workers to use the services of the Florida State Employment Ser- vice. The phone is 2-7743. Post Office Gives Weekend Schedule Acting Postmaster Clyde P.! Stickeny announced today that the | following schedule will be observ- ed by the local post office tomor- row, December 31: At the main office the money or- der and postal savings windows will close at 12 noon. All other windows will remain open until 6 p. m. Mail will be delivered as usual. ' The stations at the Naval Sta-| tion, Boca Chica and Poinciana will close at noon. On New Year’s Day all windows at the main office and stations will} be closed all day There will be no| delivery service but mail will be! collected from city boxes and dis- patched at the regular hours. ROBERTS Office Machines Will Be Closed All Day Friday WILL REOPEN MONDAY, JANUARY 3 SOUTHERNMOST NEWSPAPER IN T KEY WEST, FLORIDA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1954 WHO?—That's the question. Who will be the lucky baby that will replace this model Jan. 1? The model is pictured in a crib surrounded by some of the gifts which Key West merchants have giv- en for the first baby born here in 1955. Gifts also have been given for the baby’s parents.—Citi- Holiday Closing _|Sheppard Case Judge Studies Defense Motion For New Trial CLEVELAND (®—Judge Edward Blythin today took under advise- ment a motion for a new trial by Dr. Sampel Sheppard convicted of second degree murder last week in the July 4 bludgeoning of his pregnant wife, Marilyn. The motion cited 41 errors which Ransom Note Received By | Girl’s Parents NEW YORK (#—The parents of a 16-year-old schoolgirl who dis- appeared last Oct. 4 claiming she was eloping have reported receiv- ing a note asking $25,000 in return for the girl’s life. ‘ Mr. and Mrs. Frank Berg, of the Bronx, told police the note arrived yesterday in an envelope bearing a Shanks Village, N.Y., postmark, It read in part: “Of the whereabouts of Jacque- line Berg, I would advise whoever cares about this girl that they cooperate with the sender of this letter. She is safe now, but not for long ...” The note asked that $25,000 be sent to “Mr. Frank MacDonald, care of General Post Office, Shanks Village, N.Y.”—in Rock- land County. «... If you value her life you'll do as you’re told and do it prompt: | ly ... As soon as I receive the ransom money I'l] release her.” The girl, described by the par- ents as “conservative and quiet,” disappeared after leaving a note saying she had married a neigh- borhood boy and wanted to live with him. Police said the boy was Daniel Braccioditta, of the Bronx, 17-year- old apprentice printer. He disap- peared on the same day. defense attorneys said were made during the trial of the Bay Village osteopath. Another part of the same motion was filed today, a week after the original petition. In the new re- quest, Sheppard’s attorneys said they have ‘newly discovered evi- dence now known and not avail- able to the defendant at the time of his trial.” “ Hearing Jan. 2 Judge Blythin said he would hold a separate hearing Jan. 8 on that part of the motion. The attorneys did not specify what new evidence was discovered. Sheppard has been sentenced to life in prison. Unless the jury ver- dict is upset, it will be 10 years before he is eligible for parole. Sheppard appeared sleepy but confident as he was led into the courtroom, handcuffed to a deputy 4 sheriff. For the hearing today Shep- pard’s attorneys subpoenaed five witnesses. They were J. Spencer Houk, mayor of Bay Village and a close friend of the Sheppard fami- ly; George Dallas, a Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter who was one of the first newsmen to reach the scene of the slaying; and three members of the jury that convicted Sheppard. Juror Questioned One of the jurors, Mrs. Luella Williams, was asked by defense attorney William J. Corrigan whether she had received a letter during the trial. She said she had turned the let- ter over to a bailiff. The hearing was recessed briefly while court attaches searched for the letter. Presumably the letter was simi- lar to the crank letters which were received by many of the prospec- tive jurors before the trial began. Corrigan also asked Mrs. Wil- liams whether she ever told a wom- an friend that “you would fry Sheppard?”’ She emphatically de- nied making any such statement. Make Your Reservations Now for the Gala New Year's Eve Party at the CASA MARINA HOTEL $7.50 PER PERSON Includes 3% COMPLETE 7-Course FILET MIGNON Dinner! 3% ALL-STAR ENTERTAINMENT featuring BETTY MADIGAN, famous songstress LUIS and LEE VALENTI, society dancers JOE CANDULLO, and his wonderful band DINNER SERVED 7:30 TO 10 P.M. IN OUR MAIN DINING ROOM Dancing from 7:30 P.M. ‘til 3 A.M. (P.S.—There is a $3.00 minimum beverage charge for persons arriving after 10:00 P.M. who do not wish dinner.) HE For Quick Communication, Use CLASSIFIED Ads! You'll reach tenants or workers . . buyers and sellers— + Just DIAL 2-5661 or 2.5662 Today Bids A PRICE FIVE CENTS re Sought For Construction ‘Of New State Ban Noise Abatement Campaign Draws Interest, Cooperation The Key West Chamber of Commerce’s noise abate- ment campaign gained impetus today with the offer of complete cooperation from the Key West Angels Motor- Worst Storm Of Winter Hits Wide Section 22 Deaths Are Attributed To Snow And Sleet By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS A blast of arctic air which had been spreading across most of the Midwest and the snow-covered areas of the Rockies stalled today in an area stretching from Lake Ontario through northern Illinois to southern Nebraska. At least 22 deaths were attrib- uted to the winter’s worst storm. The Weather Bureau at Chicago said current cold, blustery condi- ticns would continue moving east- ward across the nation, but at a very slow pace. One cold air mass out of Canada already was almost stationary on a line from Billings, Mont., toward Chadron, Neb., and Rapid City, S.D. It barely edged into Wyoming to lower the temper- ature at Sheridan, Wyo., to 8 above zero early Thursday. There was no pressure behind this cold front and it was expected to linger a couple of days. Low Temperatures Predawn temperatures Thursday in Colorado included 23 below zero at Fraser and 21 below at Eagle, both in the mountains. Sleet, rain and snow pelted north- eastern sections of the nation, while colder air dipped along the eastern coast to northern Florida and into the lower Mississippi Valley. The intense storm center which Wednesday dumped snow, sleet and freezing rain over wide areas of the midcontinent, paralyzing travel in many areas, was cen- tered in the Lake Ontario region Thursday. The storm was blamed for at |least seven deaths in Oklahoma. Six deaths were attributed to the snow and sleet in Michigan and five in Illinois. One death each was reported in Kansas, Texas, |Iowa and Indiana. BLASTING OPERATIONS SET ON STOCK ISLAND ducted Friday at the Key West Gun Club range on Stock Island, it was announced today by Mrs. Evelyn Freer, president of the club. The blasting will start at 8 a. m., she said, and continue throughout the day. The club is constructing a back- stop for the range, she added. | THEY NEED SNOW SALT LAKE CITY @™ — The Utah mountain village of Mam- moth, population 150, is in trouble because it hasn’t had enough snow. State Sanitary Engineer L. M. |Thatcher said that due to lack lof snow coverage the ground has frozen down past the 17-mile pipe- line that supplies the village with water, also freezing the line. James H. Mendel Jr., M.D. Ear - Nose - Throat Specialist WILL,BE HERE FOR CONSULTATION Dr. J. A. Valdes ‘TELEPHONE 2.7821 Blasting operations will be con-| eycle Club. Chamber president Edwin F. Trevor said the Angels, with a membership of nearly 50, have| cracked down on their own mem-| bers and have threatened expulsion | from the club for those who vio- late the legal muffler rule. Paul Newhouse, Jr., president of the motorcycle group, said today that at each meeting, members of the club take an oath which in- cludes their agreement to use muf- flers that comply with the law. Action Praised Trevor was high in his praise for the action taken by the Mot- orcycle club and said he hoped all motorcycle and motor scooter op- erators would extend their coop- eration as well Last week the Chamber mailed letters to the 900 régistered scoot- er and motorcycle owners urging them to operate their vehicles as quietly as possible over city streets especially during the early morn- ing and late evening hours, ‘The response, according to Cham- ber officials has been good, Cooperation Offered A number of individuals have telephoned their offer of coopera- tion. Any criticism of the program by scooter or motorcycle owners has come back to the Chamber only in the form of unsigned letters. “T believe this project has a good chance of success,” Trevor stated, “and if the — scooter-motorcycle problem can be straightened out, it is the Chamber’s plan to attempt a noise-abatement program in oth- er fields.” Judge Caro Hears Guilty Pleas In Session Today Judge Thomas Caro heard guilty pleas in Criminal Court this morn- ing. Records in the office of Harry Dongo, Criminal Court Clerk, show- edf the following dispositions of the cases: Maggie Mae Conts, speeding, $20 bond forfeited, | W. E. Brooks, E. F. Kinchen, |and J. E. Dixon pleaded guilty to reckless driving and each was | fined $15 or 15 days. C. A. West, drunkenness, $15 or 15 days. V. D. Roger, no driver’s license }and reckless driving, $25 or 30 i | days. H. A. Squires, reckless driving, $50 or 60 days. E. L. Barbier, drunk driving, $100 or 90 days. E. L. Beach, vagrancy, five days. John Yanakim, illegal passing, $50 or 60 days. E. E. Lindell, reckless driving, $15 or 15 days. James S. Y. Ivins, illegal pass- ing, $10 or 10 days. TONY'S RESTAURANT 808 SIMONTON STREET | Will Be Open Thursday, December 30 Closed New Year's Day Plans Okayed For Simonton Street Bldg. By JIM COBB A call for bids on con- struction of a building to house the new state bank here has been issued, Proponents of the new bank met Tuesday with the architect, Stefan H. Zacher, of Miami Beach, and approv- ed plans for the two-story structure after which they announced that bids will be opened at 11 a. m., Jan. 19 at 423 Caroline Street. The ultra - modern building will be of native stone construction with a granite interior, terrazzo floors in the lobby and cork floors throughout the balance of the build- ing. Location Chosen The building will be constructed on Simonton St., covering the en- tire block between Catherine and Louisa Sts. Space for parking 68 automobiles, two drive - in banke ing windows and a “quick depo- sit” window will be provided. Bids are being called for on the entire job including equipment, built - in furnishings, elevator, air- conditioning and landscaping. Plans of the ‘structure will be available to contractors on Friday in the office of the architect, 1630 Lenox Ave., Miami Beach and at the office of Ross*C. Sawyer, 1221 Pearl St., Key West. A $15 deposit is required on the plans. Plans On File In addition, a set of plans will be on file in the office of the Mia- mi Builder’s Exchange for the con- venience of sub-contractors. Announcement of the formation of the new bank was made here Sept. 15 when its proponents met with officials of the State Comp- troller’s office and the Federal De- posit Insurance Corporation. Ninety-five per cent of the stock the bank has been sold to Key Westers, There are 250 stockhold- ers A total of 18,520 shares of stock have been sold. making the overall capitalization $500,000 divided as follows: Capital, $370,400- Surplus, $100,000; and undivided profits, $29,- 640. Southernmost Home Is Robbed Jewelry with an estimated value of $250 was stolen last night from the Southernmost Home in the United States by an intruder who gained entrance by cutting a screen on a bedroom window. | Attorney Julius Stone, owner of |the home at 400 South Street, said |that the robbery took place some- | time last night while his daughter, | Julie, was entertaning friends in another part of the house. Listed as missing was a gold watch and two bracelets. The rob- bery was discovered when Miss Stone noticed that the window in her bedroom was open. Police said that they have had several other reports of prowlers and robberies in the area. Serving the Public To Day and Night, Service Starting 714 SIMONTON STREET ARMORED CAR SERVICE and From Your Bank, Except Sunday REASONABLE RATES—including 100 Percent Insurance and Bond Coverage—Certificates Furnished January 3, 1955 For Further Information, Call 2-6311 KEY WEST, FLORIDA