davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-08-06
PUTS
ALIENISTS ON
AS WITNESSES
That Watson Was Insane
AT Time He Killed Ship.
mate Expected To Be
Their Testimony

Defense attorneys in the trial
of David Joseph Watson, negro
Navy cook, for the murder of a
Shlpmate, made a desperate eff
fort this afternoon to save their
client from the death sentence
by indicating he was insane at
the time he killed Benjamin Lee
roy Hobbs.
At the 2 p. m. session of Fed
eral court here today, the de-
Tense offered the testimony of
two alienists who were report
led ready to state that Watson
was insane at the time he killed
the young seaman aboard the
USS Stribling when it was tied
lup in the Navy Base here, July
rs, 1916.
Court was ordered adjourned
until 2 p. M, by Federal Judge
John w. Holland after defense
attorneys, John w. Sawyer, Key
West. and A. c. Dressler. Miami,
requested time to confer with
their witnesses to be put on the
stand this afternoon.
1--WE will have doctors on the
stand during the afternoon, but
of course, l can't tell you the ma
ture of their testimony" said
Sawyer.
rs the defense going to be on
the grounds the defendant was
insane at the time the murder
was committed?" Sawyer was
asked.
He merely smiled.
The government closed its
case at Ills a. IN. today. The
governments case lasted from
Monday afternoon when it first
began the presentation of testi-
Imony. u: S. AttorneysHefbeft,- S.
Phillips announced the closing
of the governments case.
1--WE will call no more wit
nesses," said Phillips. I'VE will
excuse all witnesses, unless the
defense wishes to call them
again"
Sawyer said that he did not
wish to call the witnesses again.
Phillips Immediately went into
conference with his witnesses,
nearly all of them sailors of the
U. S. Navy, who had been call
ed here from many sections of
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-08-06
EWERT PREDICTED HE WOULD BE
X
LAST MAN HANGED In MONROE co.

Il remember very well coming
down here in 1902 to carry on my
campaign for states attorney.
came all the way by steamboat
and got here early in the morn
ing.
"Then l came back here again
in 1903 to prosecute EWert. He
was hanged on July 4, 1903. I
understand EWert was the last
Monroe man to pay with his life
for murder in Monroe"
There is a similarity between
the Watson case, with Phillip.
trying hard to get death penalt,
for the defendant, and the Ever
case in that in each case Their
was question of confession.
Yesterday Phillips was SUCCESS
full in an effort to have the con-
fession of Watson admitted as evil
dence. In 1903 he was not sue
cessful in having the confession
of Ewert admitted as evidence.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-08-06
Specifications For County
Beach Can Be Prepared In
Ten Days, Engineer States
QUESTION OF SAND FOR,
BEACH AND TITLE TO
PROPERTY STILL DE.
LAYING ACTION

Engineers for the County
Beach to be built on the site of
West Martello Tower will be
ready in ten days to submit
specifications of the work, and
contractors could be started in
about 30 days from now.
This is the report submitted
last night to Monroe County
Commission by Capt. r. D. Spal1-
ing, chief engineer, who told the
commissioners that the sand for
the beach would have to be pro-
vided by the county.
I'VE can't say anything about
it right now, but we understand
that the Navy has approved a
county offer for getting the sand
from Drcdger's Key said Chair
man Frank Bentley.
well, we will have to estimate
the cost of about 5000 cubic
yards of sand for the beach and
we will have to place something
Continued On Page Four)
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-08-06
Ford Issues
Statement On
Labor Law

CHESTER, Pa, Aug. 6.-Henry
Ford II. president, Ford Motor
Company, carly Tuesday issued
the following statement:
"The agreement to refer to q
joint study group the question OF
the liability of the union for dam
ages by suit for breach of con-
tract, seems to us an eminently
fair solution to particularly
thorny problem. Any new labor
legislation raises problems of hui
man relationship. 1t has become
apparent to us that all of the
ramifications of such problems
cannot be ironed out Immediately
around the bargaining table. Un-
der today's settlement, opportun-
ity has now been provided for
finding in less hectic surroundings
a solution within the spirit of the
Taft-Haruey Law acceptable to
both the union and the company"
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-08-06
Meyer Recurs
To Testimony .
About Parties
CHy Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6.-John
w. Meyer, Howard Hughes pub
licity agent, was grilled further
this morning by members of the
senate investigating committee
about the parties he had given
in entertaining Elliott Roosevelt
and others during the time Hughes
was trying to get contract to
build planes for the government.
Meyer said that, in giving the
parties, he was only following in
structions he had received from
Hughes. Meyer added that he
had no knowledge of whether or
not the parties had contributed to
Hughes obtaining the contracts.
It was disclosed that two of the
three Photographic accommodating
planes that Hughes had built had
been accepted by the army, but
the giant seaplane, costing $l8
million, has not yet been accepted.
Hughes arrived here this morn
ing from California in his private
plane, and was due to appear be-
fore the committee this afternoon.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-08-06
TOPPING BIDS
$4,000 FOR
COUNTYHOME
Firm Awarded Contract TO1
Build Old Folks Home
On Stock Island AT Scs.
sion Last Night

Monroe county's new old folks
home on Stock Island will be
finished in three to four months,
a representative of Charles Top
pino & Sons, low bidder for the
work at the meeting last night,
told the gathering.
Toppino's bid was flat $780,
900 for the 20-room home for in
mates, all old people without
adequate means of support. Top
pino announced that the work
would start within one week, as
soon as the firm orders ma
tcrials.
The Cothron Company of Key
West bid $43,201. less 1922 for
different materials in the cell
ings. Taylor & Sirugo also sub
mitted bid of $49,848, or $780,
248 for the cheaper materials.
Clarence Higgs, chairman of
the commissions building com
mittee, moved the contract be
awarded to TOPPING. The motion
was seconded by Gerald Saunders
and carried unanimously.
Chairman Frank Bentley eX-
planned tht the $4,000 for con-
structing the building and APP
proximately $4,000 for finishing
it would come partly from a
$4,000 fund included in this
years budget and the remainder
to be raised in next years bud
get.
The building will be of con-
crete block construction. built in
the form of a u. The inside of
the u will be fitted up as veran-
das, we'll screened. Inside the
structure there will be 20 rooms,
which will accommodate 40 in
mates, and other rooms for the
matron, kitchen and dining room.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-08-06

Herbert S. Phillips, u. S. attor-
|ney prosecuting David Joseph
Watson in Federal Court here,
prosecuted Fred Ewert, last man
to be hanged in Monroe county,
when he was d young states at
torney, he said here yesterday.
Ewert is said to have turned to
the hangman as he stood on the
gallowS erected on the Court
House grounds and uttered these
words:
Il am about to pay for all flu
ture murders in Key West. There
Twill never be another hanging
here"
swell, I understood that Ewert
went calmly to his DEATH" said
Phillips. "The funny thing about
it was that his statement came
true. It was the last hanging in
Monroe, for the state later took
over the job of clcctrocuting per-
isons condemned to death at Raj
ford.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-08-06
Golf
Green Outlay
Is Considered
cARBONELL FOR PUTTING
EXPENSE ON ls4s BUDGET:
SAYS ARRANGEMENT WAS
OKAY WITH HAYES

An ordinance authorizing the
city to pay $4,000 for renovating
the green's of the municipal golf
course was ordered drawn up by
the City Commission last night.
Commissioner Louis Carbonell
served notice that he will oppose
amending the budget for this
purpose but that he will favor
including the amount in the 1913
budget.
The matter was brought up in
letter read by City Manager
o. j. S. Ellingson and written
by DR.. John B. Hayes, president
of the Key West Golf Club.
Hayes requested $4,000 for green
maintenance and said that A. w.
Frohock, greenskeeper expert of
the Miami Springs golf course,
has been hired to supervise the
reworking of the green's.
Carbonell objected to amending
the budget for the $4,000. He
said that Hayes had contacted
him some time ago and asked
him to breach the matter to the
Commission, but when Carbonell
found it would mean amending
the budget he went to Hayes
and told him his position on the
matter.
Ffayes Sthsif agreed; the conf
missioner said, to secure the
money himself on Carbonelrs as
surance that the $4,000 would be
included in the l948 budget.
Charlie Smith, member of the
board of directors of the golf
club, spoke of the need of doing
the green's over. He said that the
golf club had purchased a new
tractor to NOW the fairWay and
rough, but that the greens are
in bad shape and need 60 days
labor to be satisfactory for the
tourist season.
IF the city doesn't appropriate
this money" he said, "the so
club members would have to
bear the entire expense"
The commission decided to
draw up the ordinance in the
event that it is needed. Mayor
Demeritt said he hoped. that DR..
Hayes could be at the next COM
mission meeting to explain his
stand on the matter. 1t was
learned today, however, that DR..
Hayes is out of the city until
about September l and Horace
O'Bryant, high school principal,
is acting president.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-08-06
Youth Pays $3.50
Fine; Says, "To
He'll With Meters"

Breaking parking meters is
q pretty expensive pastime.
r. T. Boore. young sailor from
San Francisco. discovered. yes
terdaY as he paid $3.50 fine
to City Clerk Roy Hamlin.
Boore was sentenced to pay
the fine or spend so days in
Jail by Municipal Judge En-
rique Esauinaldo. The fine is
mandatory under city law.
The youth quickly wired
his home in San Francisco
and paid his fine onlv a short
time after having been con-
victed.
On paying the money. he
asked Officer Paul Stofer.
Where are there some more
meters?" "Over on Duval
street" replied Stofer.
ITO hell with them" Boore
exclaimed. waving his hands
as though through with me-
ter-breaking for life.
Under a previous ordinance.
Harry Dongo. court clerk at
the county courthouse who
saw Boore break the meters.
chased him and had him ar.
rested by Officer Frank Jolly.
would have received 500 but
this provision was repealed a
short time ago.
City Clerk Hamlin said that
to the best of his knowledge.
Boore was the first of at least
q dozen servicemen convicted
Of breaking meters to pay the
$3.50 fine.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-08-06
Wilson Named
Dist. Chairman
OF Boy Scouts
ELECTED TO FILL UNEXPIR-
ED TERM OF REV. E. S. DOH
ERTY: CAMP BANK FUND IS
SET UP

Howard Wilson was elected to
fill the uneXpired term of the
Rev. E. S. Dohcrty as District
Chairman of the Monroe County
Boy Scout Committee at spe-
cial meeting held Monday eve
ming at the Stone Church Annex
Wilson will serve as chairman
for all Scouting in this district
until the next election OF Of
ficers, to be held in December.
District Commissioner David E.
McCurdy, acting in in the ca
pacity of chairman of the meet
ing, made d proposal that d bank
account be established locally to
take care of the expenses of
building Boy Scout Camp Sawyer
on West Summerland Key. The
proposal was adopted by unani
nous vote.
The Monroe County Commits
sion recently contributed the
sum of $1,000 to assist in the cree
ton of the camp. City Commits
sion is expected to contribute 4
like sum to the cause when its
next budget is prepared.
It was announced that the
next regular meeting of the Dis
trict Committee will take place
on August Is with Joseph BOA
in charge of the arrangements.
This meeting will be the annual
supper affair held by Monroe
ScouterS.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-08-06
Rattlesnake Was
Double Menace

LOGAN. w. Va.-(AP).-Harold
Williams went raspberry picking
with his sister. heard an ominous
rafting in the grass and recoiled
from foot-long snake with two
heads--both of them well-formed
and poised to strike.
Despite pleadings from his Sis
ter. Williams captured the queer
reptile with a forked stick. The
rattler died some days later in
captivity.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-08-06
Property Sales

Land worth $4,000 at Marathon
was sold by Mr. and Mrs. {. T..
Steinhauser to Lena p. Wheeler.
according to warranty deed
filed yesterday with Circuit
Court Clerk Ross G. Sawyer.
George E. Ohler sold to Mar
B. Ikerd, Islamorada. property
on Upper Matecumbe Key for
So, 900; Ohler sold another lot 10
Mr.. and Mrs. John w. Hopper
for $4,000. and sold a third lot
TO Mr.. and Mrs. James B. Smith
for $4,000.
For nominal sum Joel W
Hopkins sold to Ira c. Haycock.
Miami, a lot on Key Largo.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-08-06
Demurrer Entered
BY Bus Company
In 100000 Suit

Judge Aquilino Lopez OF
the Circuit Court took under
advisement this afternoon a
demurrer of Florida Grey
hounds. Inc. to the 100000
suit filed against the bus COM
panY by Mary Evelyn Kaelin
of Tavernier. Mrs. Kaelin is
suing for 100000 damages for
the death of her husband.
Harold Kaelin. killed May l.
l947. when the truck he was
driving struck a Greyhound
bus on the Overseas High
way.
representing the bus COM
pany were Attorney Dewey
Knight of Miami and Attor-
neY ]. Lancelot Lester of Key
West, Attorneys Allan B.
Cleare and c. Harris repre-
scnted Mrs. Kaelin.
Judge Lopez. sitting in
chambers. heard the argu-
ments of the opposing coun-
sci on the demurrer.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-08-06
Truman TOGO
To Brazil For
3-Day Visit
,By The Associated Prexo

WASHINGTON. Aug. 6.-The
White House announced today
that President Truman will spend
three days in Brazil either the
latter part of this month or early
in September.
: His going there results from his
accepting an invitation from the
Brazilian government to visit that
country. 1t was said that he
probably will be in Brazil in time
to make an address at a confer
ence of representatives of South
American countries.
The President will fly to Brazil
and will return to this country
aboard of the United States bat
tleship Missouri, the White House
statement said.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-08-06

the country to testify, and ex-
cused them.
The only witness the govern
ment had this morning was
Homer Hcrrick, a local surveyor,
who was called to identify sew
eral maps showing that the u. S.
government had jurisdiction in
the case, on the ground that the
USS Stribling was moored to
the docks of the u. S. Navy.
There was no cross-examina-
ton of Herrick.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-08-06
Funeral For
Knowles Infant

Funeral services for the infant
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Allison
Knowles, who died yesterday at
the Municipal Hospital, will be
held this afternoon at 5 o'clock in
the Lopez Funeral Home chapel.
Rev. Fl. F. Saumenig, of St.
Paurs Episcopal Church, will Of
ficiate. Interment will be in the
family plot, City Cemetery.
Survivors are the parents.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-08-06
Lou CarbOnell And
Joe Sirugo Engage
I'm Verbal Battle
COMMISSIONER Shows
PETITION OF POLITIC-
AL CLUB LEADER NOT
PROPER FOR REPEAL |

Politics reared its controversial
head at last nights City Com
mission meeting.
Commissioner Louis Carbonell
and Joe Sirugo, founder of an
organization which he calls the
Key West Democratic Club, went
at each other hammer and tongs
after Sirugo attempted to intro
duce petition.
The petition was ostensibly to
have the commission repeal the
city ordinance requiring $3.50
fine for persons breaking parking
meters but there was more to it
than that, as was evident from
the preamble.
After asking repeal of the $3.50
ordinance and establishment of
fine from $40 to 5000, the petit
tioI. asked that certain members.
OF the City Commission stop play
ing politics and stop the dramat-
les and get practical and thus
serve the interests of the COM
munity."
Just what members the petition
referred to is not known but Sir
ugo gave strong indication whom
he personally had in mind when
he yelled at Louis Carbonell, Just
wait till November"
CarbOnell was perturbed about
the petition but showed little APP
prehension over the restaurant
mans admonition. Eyes, LII wait
iii November" he replied vigor-
ously to his opponent.
The commissioner said he had
ground in opposing the petition
being 'enteredSon the record as an
official step to repeal of the ordi-
nance. In the first place, the pc
tition contained only about 400
names, half of them without adj
dresses, whereas one-fifth of all
the registered voters, or about L.
900 names and addresses, would
be necessary to repeal the ordi-
nance by petition.
Also, Carbonell brought out,
quoting Section |, Article III,
Chapter A, of the city charter,
"All petitions circulated with re-
spcct to any proposed ordinance
shall be uniform in character,
shall contain the proposed ordi-
nance in full and shall have print
cd or written thereon the name
and address of at least five cleo
tors who shall be officially reg
istercd as filing the petition" The
petition did not contain the ordi-
nance nor electors officially reg
istered as filing the petition.
City Attorney j. Lancelot Les
ter agreed that the petition was
useless as an instrument for re-
pealinp the ordinance but said it
could be accepted as an express
sion OF opinion. Carbonell OBJ
jected TO acceptance even on this
ground but Mayor w. w. Demer-
III ruled that it be filed by the
city clerk.
Incidentally, it was Louis Car
bonell who offered an ordinance
eliminating the mandatory $3.50
fine but il was defeated about a
month ago on % vote, Com
missioner Albert Cooper joining
Carboncll in favor but Mayor
Demcritt and Commissioner Hun
ter Harden opposed it at that time
Commissioner John Carbonell,
who was in favor of the act, said
last night he regretted he had
been unable to be present to cast
his vote but indicated he might
have the ordinance reintroduced.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-08-06
County Budget Cut;
$4,000 Balance
Enables Reduction
WILL LEVY z
MILLS ON SIS, 700, 900
Personal AND REAL
ESTATE VALUES

County budget for the fiscal
year beginning Oct. will be one
half mill less than it was for the
current year. Monroe County
Commission decided last night.
Giving effect to the proposed
school budget calling for one
half mill reduction in the tax
rate, the combined county bud
get next year will be exactly
one mill less than it was Tor
this.
Taxable property i'm the county
IS carried at $l5.70O.0OO in per
;onal property and real estate
axable property. SO that the
even mills that will be levied
,ext year will total sos. 300.
To this the County Cominis-
ion added cash on hand. or
balance of 100000. from this
ears operations; $4,000 in state
gasoline taxes; $4,000 to be real
lied from the u. S. Navy for the
purchase of county lands at Boca
Chica Air Field;
$4,000 to be realized from;
Civil Aeronautic Authority for
improvements TO Meacham Air
Field; $20,600 from county Ii
censes; $4,000 from state rocing
tracks; $4,000 in payment of lieu
of taxes by the City Electric
Company; $4,000 from the rental
of the airport; $4,000 in surplus
Gasoline taxes.
u The total of all these sums is
ss406.500. That represent. the@sD-
tai the county will spend for all
purposes next year. less 5 per
cent which the state requires
shall be kept on hand as sur
plus.
The $406.500 contrasts with
$276.900 that will be spent in
the fiscal year that will be spent
in the fiscal year that ends DC
tober l..
But during the next fiscal year
the county will pay $4,000 to the
government for the purchase OF
the Municipal Hospital: $4,000 to-
ward the purchase of the Monroe
County Clinic; about $4,000 for
Meacham Field, and approx
mately $76,095 for the construc-
ton of county roads.
In the budget adopted last
night the commission decided to
raise 2 mills for the general rev
enue fund; 3 mills for road
work; mill for the payment of
the cost of the hospital and
clinic, and ! mill to pay the
principal and interest of the
beach bonds. total of 7 mills.
The school budget, which has
now gone to the state superin-
tendent OF schools, will total ll.5
mills, or one-half mill less than
it was for last year. However.
the tax assessor cannot begin
on the tax rolls for the
next year until the school bud
get is approved by the state.
One reason for the reduction
Of one-half mill in the county's
rate last night was the large cash
balance that will be left from
this years operations, it was
pointed out by county officials
TODAY.
Milford chronicle., 1947-08-29
CEDAR NECK

ITO appreciate is to be happy,
and happiness is the real aim in
life"
Milford chronicle., 1947-08-29
MILTON

The funeral services for Irwin
G. King, who died in the Beebe Hos
pital, Lewes, on Wednesday of last
week were held at his late home
on Saturday afternoon, conducted
by Rev. Richard Green of Dover,
and Rev. Harold Davis, pastor of
Goshen Methodist Church, Milton.
Interment was made in Odd Fell
lows cemetery, this town. He is
survived by his wife, Mrs. Bertha
Lotiand King; one daughter, Mrs.
Mary King Morgan; three sons, Ir-
vim C., Jr., and David King, all Of
Milton, and ]. Harold King of VIII
mington; a sister, Mrs. George H.
NAPLES of Milton. Mr.. King was
one of the oldest members of En-
deavor Lodge, No. II, A. F. and
A. NJ, and a member of the official
hoard of Goshen Methodist Church,
Milton.
Nancy, the eight-year-old daugh-
ter of Mr.. and Mrs. j. Vernon Reed,
was taken to a Wilmington hospi-
tai on Saturday suffering from po-
liO (infantile paralysis). This is the
first case of this dread disease re-
ported from Milton and vicinity
during the summer. 1t is thought
the disease was contracted while
the child was on a three weeks
visit to Slaughter Beach. Her con-
dition is listed as serious by the
hospital authorities. There is
some talk of postponing the open
ing OF Milton Public Schools, but
no action has been taken by the
local school board.
The fiye Eppley Sisters. instru-
mental and vocal artists. had
charge of the worship service al
Grace Methodist Church on Sun
day morning. Their singing of COS
. pei hymns was inspiring and their
instrumental renditions were in
teresting to a packed auditorium
They took part in the services al
the Delmarva Camp in the after.
noon and evening.
After two weeks of services in
LaVinia Woods, near Milton, the
Pilgrim Holiness camp meeting
closed on Sunday evening. Rev. Ell
mer j. Hooking, pastor of MiltoT
Holiness Church, was in charge o.
the. camp and was assisted. by al
engaged evangelist and group o
gospel singers.
Charles Niebert has resigned al
town policeman and has been sue
ceeded by William Belts. Office
Belts announces that speedster
will be prosecuted and that stree
rowdyism will not be tolerated
More power to officer Belts.
The American Legion of Miltoi
will hold their annual carnival ant
fair from September 4 to Is, in
elusive, on the carnival grounds il
North Milton. There will be plent
of amusements, thrilling rides an
food stands. A parade will be he'll
on the 8th and on the 18th Buicl
car will be given away.
Miss Edith Johnson of Whining
ton spent the weekend with he
uncle and aunt, Mr.. and Mrs. Will
liam Maull.