The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1951-11-06
Navy Sends
Legal Talent
To City Court
Is NAVY MEN,
MARCH IN
PRECISION
TO COURT
BY al PALMER

1t was Navy Day in Judge Hill
airy Albury's City Court yesterday
afternoon.
In blues and whites they parad-
ed before His Honor to answer
variety of charges all directly or
indirectly connected with various
methods of letting off steam over
the weekend.
Some Is of the middies marched
with parade square precision (as
compared to a slightly different
cadence much in evidence Satur-
day night to the City Hall to Join
various and sundry buddies who
were already present in the court.
!, The Navy sent battery of legal
talent to extricate their personnel
from the tolls of the law and one
enterprising tar even engaged
civilian lawyer to explain to Judge
Albury that he hadn't hit his wife
she fell.
From the Halls of Montezuma to
the Court House in Key West came
also US Marine accused of
striking city policeman during a
braWl outside the Tropics.
First before the court we're two
blue-clad mariners who we're ac-
cused of taking vital part of the
plumbing from the rest room of
the Tropics.
You needed rowhoat TO get
in there" said Officer Santana
in his testimoneY.
The officer further stated that
he saw the two sailors walking
down Duval street carrying the
copper sphere II thought it was
an alligator pear" he said, then
| got a close look and saw it was
this. He held the sphere at arm S
length and gazed at it like Hamlet
contemplating the skull of Yorick.
The sailors told the court they
had entered the club just in time
for the last act, had a solitary beer
and left. The copper sphere was
found under their table and they
decided to take it with them.
Judge Albury dismissed the case
and waded through a few others
before coming to the case of the
Marine
The leatherneck stood smartiy
at ease during the entire testi-
money. The Navy lawyer explain
ed that the Marine was an inno-
cent bystander and got enmeshed
in struggle with police officers
who were taking a few marines
out of the Tropics doorway.
After weighing evidence care.
fully judge. Albury dismissed the
case and The Marine walked
snnsrfiy from the court room.
His mass of decorations inelud.
ed Purple Heart.
Two buddies-one in blue and
one in near-white-explained To
the court that one was in a fight
with an officer and the other tried
to get him loose. During the alter
cation Officer Caraballo was struck
on the side of the head by fist.
The one in near-white told the
court that there was a fight going
on and he just swung. 1t apparent
ly wasn't aimed at Officer Cara
ballo, it was one of those left hooks
labeled to whom ii may concern.
And Officer Caraballo was con-
cerned.
When the next case came up ii
began to look like a Cecil B. de-
Mile mob scene. Some ten sailors
in assorted blues and whites
crowded the dock barely leaving
room for the Navy's legal talent
and five of Key Vests Finest.
After evidence, technicalitieS
and testimoney was batted back |
and forth the crowd in the dock
dwindled to two.
A charged OF being drunk and |
1isorderly was dismissed but Judge |
Albury found them guilty of using
profanity and, apart from filming |
S. and costs, removed all doubts |
as to the future disposal of cases |
where persons are found guilty of |
using profanity on the streets of |
Key West.
II was one of the severest repri- 1
mands heard in City Court in some |
ime. Judge Albury pulled out all |
he stops and told the men, when |
'ou are ashore you are subject to /
he control of the City of Key West /
Continued On Page EIgnt /