The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-03-03
quickest way was TO develop them
in The Citizens darkroom,

| quickest way was 70 develop fhem
in The Citizens darkroom.
1t. Gibbs accompanied Finch and
me to The Citizen office.
At The Citizen office Finch ask
ed 1t. Gibbs if he wanted to come
into the darkroom while the mega
tives were developed.
1t. Gibbs said mo, that he would
wait outside.
While Finch developed the films,
1t. Gibbs made several phone calls.
Finch came out of the darkroom
carrying a wet print. He showed
it TO 1t. Gibbs before he put IL on
the dryer.
This print was the one that show
ed part of a body.
eve can't use that" Gibbs said.
"Do you want me to destroy this
negative?" Finch asked.
'I'l trust you not to use it," 1t.
Gibbs replied.
''I'd rather tear it up in your
presence" Finch said. Then there
will never be any question about
it,"
While 1t. Gibbs watched, Finch
tore the negative and the print.
1t. Gibbs okayed the other three
prints.
Finch had one of the prints on the
engraving machine. The Associated
Press in Miami then called and
asked Finch if he had prints.
Finch told the APP yes and that
they had been cleared.
Shortly after, II. Gibbs talked
with someone on the phone and
then said fhe whole detail was
off; that fhe Navy was demand
ing fhe prints and negatives; and
that the Navy would take legal
action to get them If The Citizen
refused to release them.
1t. Gibbs and Finch took the
prints and negatives to the Admin
Iistration Building on the Navy Sta
ton.
1t. Gibbs then took the negative
into an office, Finch said.
Meanwhile. had phoned fhe
story to the APP in Miami. 1t.
Gibbs asked me TO kill the story
and change it.
l told him 1 could not, that it
was already on the wire.
He later told me it was okay to
use the story as | had written it.
The next time Finch saw 1t.
Gibbs at the Administration Build
ing. 1t. Gibbs was carrying the
empty negative hangers. He had
no prints.
WHO is responsible for this?"
Finch asked, indicating the empty
negative hangers.
'The prints and negatives are in |
Capt. Murphy's office" 1t. Gibbs
told Finch.
We presume the Navy still has
the prints and negatives.
Today, Capt. Murphy said the
Navy had begun an. intensive in
vestigation into the breakdown Of
its security machinery. Capt. Muir.
ply says the photos should not
have been taken.
Apparently it was okay for me
to go through the gate on the Navy
Annex.
Ledr. Donald G. Horsnfan, Sc.
CURLY officer Of the Naval Sta. |
fion, told me by phone this MORN
ing that my photo was posted at |
hte gate and that ! had permits.
sion to enter fhe Annex.
A photo of Finch is not posted
at the Annex gate. However, the
sentry passed both of us.
Capt. Murphy-and l agree with
hlm-Sald the Navy was seriously
concerned with its security.
1t is my guess that the Navy is
investigating how and why Finch
and ! were permitted into the
area and why no one made anv
objections TO Finch taking photos,
| told Capt. Murphy that we had
talked with the officers at the hell
copter squadron.
He said:
i don't mean to be critical.
but evidently they forgot that on
any story of that masnitvde-of
NATIONAL interest-aII publicity
should be handled through nv
PUBLIC information office. | don't
mink they realized that d HS.l"
But to get back to the confiscated
photos.
| DO not agree with Capt. Murphy
mat the photos were not in good
taste. They showed a messy crash
scene-Just what you would expect
such news photo to show.
Anyway, as | understand il. iii
IS not the content of the photos that
is at question.
1t IS that the Nays security