The Key West citizen., 1953-05-14
DANCER ASKS TO
(Continued From Page One)

kNOutlnueQ from rage One)
how much clothing Miss Martin
had on when she was arrested dur
ing her act. A Citizen photograph
er, who accompanied the police on
their rounds Saturday identified
her costume as in a photograph
made then. 1t was extremely scan
ty.
Miss Martin amused herself in
court by making faces and stick.
ing her tongue out at Ii. cesezo
and at one point declared i'm.
patiently: ~ don't care what the
court says. my dance Is not in.
decent. I'm an exotic dancer"
She described her act as a "Bal-
inese Mambo" and attorney Wat
kins said it is an exhibition of
graceful movement and artistic
perfection"
Under questioning, 1t. Cerezo
averred: 81 don't know what you'd
call that dance but it wasn't de-
cent. She was wiggling and shak-
ing all over"
1t. Hernandez, with blush, said
the same. At this time attorney
Watkins asked: ''Do you know
what a Mambo is?"
"Sure / know what Mambo is,
was the officers rejoinder.
SIS it possible to do a Mambo
without wiggling?" cried Watkins
triumphantly.
Hernandez paused reflectively
and agreed: "Nope, guess you've
just got to wiggle during a Nam
bo."
In an effort to prove her inno-
cence, Miss Martin asked for an op-
portunity to demonstrate her dance
before the crowded courtroom.
"I'd rather not have any demon
stration here" Judge Esquinaldo
said quickly.
Two others showgirls testified on
her behalf, saying that in their
opinion, the dance was perfectly
proper. One of the girls, Carmen
Pearce, admitted that she was
just an amateur showgirl." She
was in the Preview at the time of
the raids auditioning before Cor
don Wolfson, owner of the club.
Ibid you get the job?" City At
torney M. Ignatius Lester asked
interestedly in an effort to deter
mine whether she was an employee
of the club.
"No, don't think Mr.. Wolfson
thinks much of my singing---I seem
to need more training. But can do
the Mambo."
All of this repartee went for
naught though, when Judge Es-
quinaldo ruled that Miss Martins
costume was outside the bounds Of
propriety and in accordance with
the city ordinance he found her
guilty.
"After ALL" he pointed out,
"there is a distinction between
shorts and panties. He was speak
ing of a city ordinance which states
that females above the age of is
must be attired in shorts and top.
He then assessed the $50 fine.
Earlier, In the case Of Miss Tan.
ia Houser, Mardi Gras dancer. the
two officers said that they went
into the club and watched the show
for ten minutes at which time they
arrested Miss Houser for dancing
nude and indecently in public.
Her costume was presented In
court yesterday and again the Cit
izen photographer testified that It
was her sole attire at the time OF
the raid.
Cerezo held up the costume,
which consisted of, among other
things, a pair Of gloves. "This Is
all she had on" Cerezo averred.
But Miss Houser claimed that
she had more on at the time but
| lost il during a struggle with Ger
ezo. Tania, who has been perform.
Ing for two years In Key West,
said simply that "hcr costume be-
came disarrayed during a struggle
with the officer" She was also
charged with resisting arrest In
connection with this incident. She
explained her action by saying that
| she was surprised" when she was
arrested.
at was the firthest thing from
my mind to get caught" she
clared in court.
The Judge dismissed the resist
Ing arrest charge saying that Tan
| ia was understandably ashamed
| to 90 to Jail in such . scanty cos.
tune" He found her guilty on the
indency charge. however, and
fined her 500.
Another Mardi Gras entertain
er. Miss Terry Morgan. was found
9uilty Of B-drinking and fined $50.
The officers testified that they
heard her ask 4 male companion
II he would buy her q drink. "She
was mingling and pushing drinks,
50 we arrested her" CereIo charg-
ed.
Miss Morgan denied being . B.
siri. II have never asked anyone
for q drink. I'm q singer" she
said.
Charges Of operating disorderly
houses were dismissed against Ar.