davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-11-11
Bezanilla Cleared OF Charge
OF Fraud In Federal Court
ACCOUNTING ERRORS
PROVED TO BE UNIN-
TERRITORIAL; OPINION
GIVEN BY HOLLAND

Gonzalo Bezanilla, manager OF
the Palace theatre. was yester-
day exoneratcd of alleged fraud
in an opinion-c order from United
State District Judge John w.
Holland.
He was cleared completely of
the charge made by the Column
bia Pictures Corporation, Uni
ted Artists Corporation, and the
Universal Film Exchanges, In
corporated.
Bezanilla was required to pay
an undisclosed small sum to the
plaintiffs on five pictures
shown in Key West during the
year 1914. The errors involved
were of accounting and were
proved non-intentional.
The oral arguments in these
cases took place at Key West
on November 4. l947. and were
concluded at Miami on Novem-
Der 5.
Bezanilla was defended by
attorneys j. Lancelot Lester
and Henry Taylor of Miami.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-11-11
ONCE MORE GIVEN
DISCUSSION in OPEN
MEETING
BUILDING ISL

City Commissioners Yesterday
afternoon discussed the ques-
ton of revocable permit for dec
Grafton features under the
Building Code with reference to
the Navarro Building, corner of
Duval and Southland streets.
Commissioner l.. Carbonell:
"This construction encroaches
into street property. and is life
gal"
Commissioner Harden: "Who
gave Mr.. Sirugo the permit"
Building Inspector Sawyer:
Il didn't issue it, but my superb
or officer did issue it..
Public Service Director Dopp:
Il issued it, but all permits are
issued subject to signed state
ment that no provisions of the
building code are being disobey-
ed.
Building Inspector Sawyer: Il
told Mr.. Sirugo that he was VIC
lating the law and that it could
not be done"
Contractor Sirugo: Il submit
ted my sketch and after work
ing five days on the job. | wa;
stopped. | could continue on {
revocable permit. Mr. Navarro
i'll addition to improving the
building now will in the future
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-11-11
Entertaining Bill
ForCubanVi Visitors
Totals $l,39S.66

City Commissioners yesterday
afternoon approved unanimous
ly an emergency ordinance
amending the budget by 81 $3.50.
66 to pay costs of entertaining
official Cuban delegates. The
81. 339 Sc bill from the Hotel La
Concha was for rooms. food.
etc.
Commissioner Louis Carbon
ell: I'VE all voted to entertain
the Cuban officials, but | con-
slider the amount of nearly
81 400. to be cxorbiant | think
that | SHOULD have been con
suited on the matter as all COM
missioncrS were appointed on
the entertainment committee.
One banquet only should have
been given, not three. | will
vote for the resolution as the
bill has to be paid
A resolution was also approx
ed correcting assessed valuation
on personal property of Harry
Brown from $4,000 to $4.250, The
latter amount was the one as
sesscd by the Monroe County
Tax Assessor.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-11-11
City Election
Costs Totaled
At $l,7l0.OO

To hold the general election
Tuesday. November 4th cost the
city $1,71000 of which $1,18O
was for clerks, inspectors. In
the $1,710. was trip expenses
paid to Supervisor of Registra-
ton Roy Hamlin, and an amount
of 5000 for work done in con-
nection with the past general
election.
l.. Carbonell: "The charter
states that the election work is
TO be done without extra COM
pensation. / will not vote to pay
Hamlin this 5000. l make mo-
ton to amend the resolution de-
letting the 5000"
The amending motion failed
by a 80 vote with l.. Carbonell
and Hunter Harden approving
and Mayor Demeritt. John Car
bonell and Albert Cooper op-
posing.
Original resolution was then
passed Al with Louis Carbonell
registering the lone negative
vote.
Hamlin had told the commits
sioners that he was submitting
the amount of 5000 extra pay
ment for their approval or re-
lection, but informed the com
mission that in years past the
Supervisor of Registration re-
ceived $500 with an Assistant
Supervisor getting $3.50 and
three Inspectors receiving SIPS
apiece. All this, Hamlin said, he
did for 5000.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-11-11
County Board
ToDecide Tonight
On Beach Bids

Monroe County Commission
at its meeting tonight at 7:30
O'Clock. may decide to call for
bids for the construction of the
beach and other facilities at
West Martello Tower.
Some time ago bids were re-
ceived for the project, but were
declared too high. The lowest
bid received called for the ex
penditure of about 5000 more
than the approximately $4,000
the county has on hand to carry
on the work.
The bord went on record as
being opposed to second call
for bids until January.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-11-11
Men Iuuited
TOP.-T. A. Meet

All men Of the Jr.-&r. High
School F. r. a. are urged to
meet in the High School audi
forum tomoorw at TAO p. m.
Mrs. Sam Hiees, president said
today.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-11-11
Jack Ellingson Resigns; Accepts
Compromise Commission Offer
RESOLUTION COMMEND-S
ING KEY VESTS SEC
OND CITY MANAGER
UNANIMOUSLY"OKED !

City Manager Jack Ellingson
resigned yesterday afternoon al
$50. Ellingson accepted $500 as
a compromise offer in lieu of
salary for three months. Filing
son also received 1888 in UNI
paid salary and $233.33 in vaca-
ton pay salary, totaling in all
$966.63.
Though never ruled on legally,
the charter specified that the
City Manager if dismissed be
paid three months salary. which
in Ellingson'S case would have
totaled $500.
This compromise agreement
was made by Ellingson. present
commission and commissioned
ect, Ellingson said in his resig-
nation.
The resolution to pay Filing
son the $966.63 was passed Al
with Commissioner Harden OPP
posing.
Commissioner Harden: Il can
not vote for giving away $500 of
city money at this time. Who
Continued On Page Eight
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-11-11
New City Board
TOHold Its First
Meeting Tonight

Inaugural meeting of the
new city commission will be
held tonight at city hall at 8
o'clock.
New members of the commits
sion will reorganize tonight. 1t
is believed they will elect
Adams as the new mayor to
succeed Mayor Demeritt, and
may act to select a city mana
ger to succeed o. j. S. Filing
son whose resignation was ac-
cepted by the old commission
yesterday afternoon.
What other economy moves
or other action may be taken
tonight was not revealed by the
commissioners today.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-11-11
Maitland Adams Protests
City's Paying $1,398.66
For Entertaining Cubans
"WASTE OF PUBLIC.
FUNDS; EXPENSES
INCLUDED COCKTAIL
PARTIES

Paying $1,39S66 by the city
commission, at its final meeting
yesterday. for entertaining Gu
ban officials who came here re-
Gently, consider wilful waste
of the public's money, A. Matt
land Adams. commissioner elect,
declared today.
The bill which the commits
sioners paid showed that some
of the many expenses were for
a cocktail party, banquets and
long distance telephone calls.
Il think the big shot" atti-
tude was the reason for some of
the commissioners to have the
city defray the expenses. But
II the commissioners felt that
way about it, why did not they
pay the money out of their own
pockets, not make the taxpayers
and rentpayers of the city foot
the bill", Adams asserted.
Another waste of the public'S
funds was in paying the city
clerk 5000 and his secretary $50
for work they did in connection
with the election. They attended
Z. to election matters on the city's
time, for which they have been
or will be paid, so why charge
the city extra because the ma
ture of their work was differ
ent?
II made no pledge before ell
ection, but now that | have
been elected and will assume
office tonight, this pledge is in
order, because I can. not be
charged with any Interior mo-
tive: l promise the people of
Key West that as long as | am
in office and have a majority
with me, there will be no squan-
dering of public funds, and that
every penny that is spent by the
city will be for it's legitimate op-
Grafton and maintenance"
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-11-11
Christmas Tree Fund "
Committee Will Be
:.- .* Reorganized Here

Sweeting, who is trying to re-
organize the group for this
years Christmas celebration, the
committee should be kept alive.
Last year a Community
Christmas tree was placed in
BayvieW Park under the super
vision of the city recreation de-
partment. Each poor family is Ell
titled to a Christmas dinner.
Toys will be given other worthy
families. Toys are to be collect
ed and taken to the USO- YMCA
or the city fire department for
repairs.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-11-11
Contractor Sirugo Not
Given Reyocable Permit

move his garage to a new loca-
ton. He then plans to build
three more floors to his present
building at a cost of about $751;
OOO."
Public Service Director Dopp:
Figures, don't lie. The Navarro
property is now a inches over
the property line, by adding a
S "a inch block, the property
will then be 9 and ga" over the
property line. Surveys are made
only one way.
Building Inspector Sawyer: II
told Sirugo that it couldn't be
done. He went over my head,
and pressure was applied"
The controversial subject was
quietly aired with no tempers
flaying and it was finally de-
cided to allow the City Mana
ger to further investigate the
matter.
Attorney Lester had informed
the commission that they could
only issue the permit on a revoc-
able basis which would be sub
ject to change a week or a day
after issuance. and even that il
the permit was issued, by the
commission that it would be
, done in violation of the charter
! Joe Sirugo plans to have {
licensed surveyor determine the
exact difference, and if favor
able report is received to. bring
the findings once more before
the commission for their deci
sion. .. b.. .... ..s
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-11-11
Says Russians
Have. Secret OF
Atomic Bombs
PARIS PAPER PUBLISHES RE-
PORT FROM PRAGUE WRIT
Ell To- THAT EFFECT: TEST
BOMB IN SIBERIA, HE SAYS

PARIS, November l1-A local
paper today published an article,
purported to have come from a
writer in Prague, that said the
Soviets already eknow the Sc
cret of the atom bomb.
He declared that the Soviets
tested an atom bomb in faraWay
Siberia at 10 o'clock in the
morning on June Is, and that
the test was successful.
The bomb, he added, weighed
IL pounds. and conclusion from
it's explosion was felt IL miles
away.
(Officials in Washington made
no comment on the report,
though it was pointed out that
Russian scientists. only a few
months ago, admitted that they
were five years behind the pl\
gress that had been attained in
the United States in the prod
uct of atomic bombs).
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-11-11
Whistles :And2Bells
Usher In ArmiStice
Observation I'm City
kCAPT. WILLARD A. SAUN-
DERS CHIEF SPEAKER
AT AMERICAN LEGION
CEREMONIES

Sounding of every harbor
whistle and the ringing of bells
ushered in the Armistice Day ce-
LIBERATION at IL a. m. today.
Warning against any reduc-
ton of the Armed Forces, Cap
tain Willard A. Saunders, USN,
commanding officer of Key West
Submarine Base, gave the Ar
mistice Day address in the
Stock Island home of Arthur
Sawyer Post %, the American
Legion.
I'm order to maintain peace
in the world, the Armed forces
Of this country should be kept
strong, said Capt. Saunders.
His address was short but to
the point.
At 1890 a. M. the post was
called to order by c. 3. Har-
vey, post commander. Follow
ing advancement of the colors
by the Guard of Honor. there
was a musical selection by Miss
Claudina LaFe, accompanied by
Miss Sylvia Baker.
Then promptly at IL a. m,
there was firing of salutes by
the Guard of Honor, taps, by
Aren't T. Sjursen, Jr., post bu-
gler, and an echo by Brian
Lloyd.
After the Armistice Day c. :
monies Sawyer Post then dedi-
Gated its new home. There were
speeches by Mayor w. w. De-
merritt, Introductory remarks by
| Vance c. Stirrup, 10th district
executive committeeman of the
Department of Florida, Ameri-
can Legion.
| The home was formally dedi-
Gated in a talk by Commander
Harvey. Mrs. John Dillon gave
a harp solo, benediction was by
! Albert l.. DiNegro, Jr.. chaplain
of the post From noon until 6
p. m. there was to be an open
house by the post unit %, Amer
lean Legion Auxiliary.
At l p. m. there was installa-
ton ceremonies for the Sons of
Legion Squadron under the di-
rection of Iva Watson. Games
and races for children, under
direction of James F. Hanrahan,
assisted by Kermit Richardson.
and a concert by the Key West
High School Band under the di-
rection of Earl Dillon, were to
mark the afternoon program
At $50 .. m, Commander
Harvey was scheduled to deliver
an address, of welcome and at
8:45 p. m. there will be dancing.
Music will be by the "Three
Sharps''. A floor show will be
put on by the USO Little The
ater Group intermissions.
The annual Military Ball of
the Veterans of Foreign Wars
was to be held tonight at their
clubhouse at Flagler avenue and
Second street as its part in the
Armistice Day observance. The
dancing will begin at II p. m,
Immediately after the presenta-
ton of the colors.
Jimmy Galloway will act as
master of ceremonies for the
prOpram
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-11-11
MEETING SCHEDULED
FOR 8 O'CLOCK To-
MORROW NIGHT AT
CITY HALL
SCHEDULED 4

With nearly $500 on hand
from last years campaign the
committee that was in charge of
the Community Christmas Tree
in 1916 will meet Wednesday at
8 p. M, at city hall to act on a
plan to carry on the work this
year
The committee will reorganize
and elect a chairman and a vice
chairman. The secretary was
Mrs. Ruth Higgs and the treas
urer was Mrs. Wilhelmina Har-
vey. Both white and colored
persons are invited to the meet
ing tomorrow night.
AS pointed out by J. Glenwood
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-11-11
Exempt Homestead
On Catherine St.

Mary J. Sands estate was
granted homestead exemption
for the year 1947, for the home
at 1903 Catherine Street. The
property is part of lot 20,
square 2. tract 10.
The vote for exemption was
Al with Commissioner Hunter
Harden in dissent.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-11-11

hey West. Florida, has the
moss equable climate in the
country. with an average
range of only Ia Fahrenheit
The Valley settler., 1947-05-29

Every worker in industry an d commerce sou1d have a SOC ial security card. <' If he doe not have one, a worker should obtain a SOC ia1 security card Vh en he is about to take a job. in industry or con- merce. The workers soc ial security card repre- sents his wage credit account with the Federal o1d-age and survivors insur- anne program.
The Valley settler., 1947-05-29
CALLfM0 AL SINGERS

The Palmer Community Chorus under the direction of Mrs. Tim Henne ssy had it's first singing prac tice last Tuesday mite at 3 p.m. in the Valley The atre Auditorium but only feU showed up for practice. It i hoped to have at least 100 voices, but this ri Il be irpo ssible unles you people Of the Valley cooperate.
 You need not be Bing Crosby or Lily Pons to belong to your community chorus. There are forty-tuo voices in the local school chorus, and with the cooperat ion of the entire choirs of the local churches and any others who wish to join, the de- sired 100 vo ic es should be easy to organ ize. There is a definite purpose of the Palmer. Community Chorus and this purpose is for the ue1l-being Of the entire Valley, namely; to financ tally aid our local Hos pita1.
 If the chorus is successful in gaining manbers, a conc ert will be planned for later on in the sumner. The proc eeds will go to- our 1oc al Hosp ital.
 Anyone who loves to sing is urgently asked to meet with the choral group next Hes- day night p.m.) at the Valley Theatre.
 Contributed.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-22
CONVENTION SITE
TO BE SELECTED
In RALEIGH TODAY

Whether the annual summer con
vention of the North Carolina AS
sociation of Plumbing and Heating
Contractors will be held at
|Wrightsville Beach, Ca r i n a
Beach or Asheville will be decided
in Raleigh today.
The associations board of direct
ors will meet at 2 p. m. at the
Carolina hotel to decide upon a
location for the June meeting,
which has been held at Wrights-
vile Beach for the past three
summers, according to Repre-
sentative Robert M. Kermon of
Wilmington, executive secretary
and attorney for the association.
All three resorts have filed bids
for the convention, Mr.. Kermon
said last night from Raleigh. He
explained that he would remain
in the capital for the board meet
ing. He plans to be in Wilmington
tomorrow.
C. C. Davis, of Wilmington, is
a member of the board, and YER
non G.. Moser, Of Asheville, is
president of the association.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-22
Promotion To Head OF Po-
lice Department Told
By Benson

The promise to see that the Will
mington police force functions to
the highest degree of efficiency was
sounded by Sergeant P. j. Parish
following his appointment TO the
position of police chief by the city
council yesterday.
"It is a big job and 1 fully in
tend to do everything in my power
to see that I make a success of
it," he said in a statement last
night.
Parish praised retiring Chief
Charles H. Casteen for his work
with the department and asserted
that he would try to fill the spot
vacated by Casteen an dpromised
to carry on his ideals"
The appointment of Parish to
head the department was announc.
ed early yesterday afternoon by
J. r. Benson, City Manager, after
an hour and a half session which
saw all members of the council
voting unanimously tc name Parish
as the successor to Casteen.
Parish is a veteran law enforce
ment officer with II years eX-
p~erience, having served as as
sistant chief of police at Carolina
Beach for five years and deputy
cheriff of New Hanover county
for two years before joining the
local force on February 8, 1887.
Born in Maxton, Decembe" TO-,
1905, he attended Trinity High
school in Kingsbury, South Caro-
lima. and Motifs Business school
in Wilmington.
Parish came to Wilmington in
1928 and was associated with
United Cigars Stores company
prior to joining the police force
at Carolina Beach.
During the past ten years he
has attended the Federal Bureau
of Investigation Academy, the
FBI Defense school at the Institute
of Government in Chapel Hill and
other courses in law enforcement
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-22
MEASURE PLANNED
TO CURB SEEMING
Representative K ERIN o n
May Offer Bill Affecting
WrightsviIle

The introduction of a legisla-
tive measure aimed at prohibi-
ting seining operations in certain
areas off Wrightsville Beach is
under consideration by Represent
alive Robert M. Kermon, of New
Hanover county, the legislator
said yesterday.
The draft of the bill mas not
been completed, Kermon said, adj
ding that he is waiting a full
oninion or it's proposed provisions
from Attorney General Harry
Mcmillan.
In its tentative form, Kermon
said, his proposed measure would
bar seining in Banks chained,
between Masonboro and Moore's
inlet, and in waters of the Atlantic
within two miles of Wrightsville
Beach.
The New Hanover representative
conceded that there might be
some objections to such a law
from mullet fishermen who oper'
ate after September l.
He noted, however, that many
persons have suggested the wis
dom OF some conservation act for
this area.
Kermon said he had not yet
discussed the proposal with Sen
ator Alton A. Lennon. of Whining
ton.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-22
CIVIL SERVICE
ACTION AWAITED
Commission Member De-
clines Comment on Chief
Appointment

Speculation over the possible re-
action of the Civil Service Com
mission to the appointment of Sgt.
P. J. Parish as chief of the Will
police department was
rampant last night but members
Of the commission declined to COM
ment on the. city councils action
toward filling the post to be va
Gated by Charles H. Casteen.
Norwood S. Westbrook, a mem
Der of the Civil Service board,
had no comment on the appoint
ment and when asked when the
commission expected to act on the
matter he replied that as yet no
official notification of the naming
of Parish had been made.
The appointment was announced
yesterday afternoon by City Man
ager j. R. Benson following a
special session of the city council,
with Parish slated to take over
the duties of the post March l.
The naming of Parish came close
ly on the heels of an election held
among the members of the police
department to determine which
member of the force was favored
as chief. He polled than
seventy-seven per cent of the vote,
with 1t. Coy Etheridge, who was
figured to be among the leading
contenders for the post marking up
slightly over u per cent of the
total votes cast. Etheridge receiv-
ed eight votes.
Figuring prominently in the spec
ulation regarding the position fol
lowing the announcement that
Charles H. Casteen was retiring
was whether or not the governing
body of the city was seeking to
have the Civil Service Commission
Act amended.
AS the law now stands the position
must be filled from among the
of the department and it
was felt by many that an effort
would be made to have the regu-
lations changed so that a police
head could be selected from out
side the city.
So far, however, no city official
has affirmed this rumor.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-22

PRELIMINARIES OVER - All
the background has been pre-
sented. So now we r ready for
the major event - The Battle OF
Moores Creek.
We feel that we better recount
the battle in quick order before
some accuse us of becoming a part
time chamber of commerce for
Moores Creek National Mill
tary Park located Is miles from
the Port City.
But before we begin, we should
say that this all started when Os-
valid E. Camp, custodian of the
park for the U. S. Department OF
The Interior, was kind enough to
send us a picture of the monument
honoring the heroic women OF the
Lower Cape Fear section.
COUNCIL OF WAR - You may
recall from yesterdays column
that a messenger from the Tory
camp spotted Caswell's position
and returned to his camp with the
news that a band of the Patriots
was located on their side of the
bridge and in a position exposed
to attack.
At a council of war, it was de-
cided to move forward at once
with a party of rs picked broad
swordsmen in the lead.
At one o'clock in the morning OF