Coral Gables Riviera-Times

Monday, December 29, 1947, page 1 (of 8)

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CORAL GABLES RIVIERA

PUBLISHED MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOONS VOL. 21—No. 83 (D) U.P. LEASED WIRE CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1947 8 PAGES FIVE CENTS

GENERAL GRAHAM BARED AS COMMODITY TRADER IN NEW SPECULATOR LIST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29. (UP) — President Truman's personal physician—Brig. Gen. Wallace H. Graham of the army—was revealed today to have been speculating in 50,000 bushels of wheat on the Chicago market last September. Gov. H. B. Maw of Utah also was among those disclosed to have been in the wheat market. Their names were the most prominent in a list of 100 Federal, state and municipal government employes—including three Agriculture Department employes—who speculated or traded in wheat on the Chicago wheat market last September. Secretary of Agriculture Clinton P. Anderson said that of the 100 persons, 99 were speculating in wheat and one was a so-called "hedger." Hedging is a non-speculative type of trading.

Probe Union Strike Methods As Blast Rocks Steel Plant

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 28. (UP)—Dist. Atty. Gen. J. Carlton Loser said today he is investigating a letter written by the striking Steelworkers' Union (CIO) to "determine if it was a part of a conspiracy to shut down by violence" the plant of the Nashville Corporation here. Loser's statement came after three explosions rocked the vicinity of the plant early this morning and after a man was arrested inside the plant with 25 sticks of dynamite and dynamite caps. The letter being investigated, Loser said, was one sent to all union members last Friday saying that the plant "must be closed down Monday" in the eighth week of the strike. A Union official said the letter ywas merely "a routine one" sent to urge all union members to turn out for picket duty today.

Truck Plunges into Bay As Gotham Battles Snow

NEW YORK, Dec. 29. (UP)—Police reported that a Department of Sanitation truck plunged into Gowanus Bay in Brooklyn today with the driver trapped in the cab and drowned as 19,000 city workers struggled to clear the city of an estimated 99,000,000-ton snowfall. Clear skies with the temperature in the 20's gave the workers a boost, but strong northwest winds continued to create drifts in the suburbs. Transportation returned to normal except on Long Island. The G. B. Ashcraft Manufacturing Company, a camera and motion picture assembling factory, was destroyed by fire in Jackson Heights early today as firemen and neighborhood youths struggled to drag hose through the snow. Operations at LaGuardia Field were reported 50 per cent normal.

17 Hurt In Dawn Crash Of Miami-Bound Bus

VERO BEACH, Fla., Dec. 29. (UP)—A Miami-bound Florida Motor Lines bus and a parked truck just before dawn this morning, and 17 persons were injured, two of them critically. Eight hours later, a second bus accident occurred south of Orlando—to-Miami bus caught fire and burned eight miles south of here. The 35 passengers escaped without injury but the vehicle was declared a total loss. The bus driver was unhurt, but nearly all passengers in the vehicle were injured. The owner of the truck said he was asleep at the time, and that a Negro helper had just gotten out of the cab to check on his failing headlights when the bus crashed. The accident occurred on the heavily-traveled U.S. Highway No. 1, about two miles north of Vero Beach.

Britain Warns Against Greek Guerrilla Government

LONDON, Dec. 29. (UP)—A foreign office spokesman said today that recognition of the guerrilla government of Greece by any nation would be regarded by the British government as "a grave deterioration in the international situation." The statement was interpreted as a warning to Albania and Bulgaria, which were reported considering recognition of the Communist setup headed by Gen. Markos Vafthiades. The spokesman said British monitoring showed that the Belgrade radio broadcast extensive propaganda favorable to Vafthiades. But he added that he could not confirm Athens charges that the "free Greece" broadcasts were put out by Belgrade. The foreign office was reported watching with grave concern for any indication of any official recognition of the new government. Albania and Bulgaria were regarded here as the most likely to accord recognition, in view of the fact that neither has diplomatic relations with the Athens government.

$20-Billion Defense Bill Seen If Aid Plan Fails

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29. (UP)—An administration source said today that if the European recovery program fails or is rejected by Congress, and Europe goes Communist, the United States may have to spend as much as $20,000,000,000 a year on defense. The recovery program—entailing $17,000,000,000 in aid for 16 Europena countries over four years—is worth trying as a cheaper way out even though results cannot be guaranteed, this source contended. That is about the theme administration leaders will take to Congress when the fight is launched for the recovery program. In the administration's view a drastic reduction of the four-year program by Congress ultimately would require a longer program to put Europe back on its feet.

Jews Bomb Market Place, Launch Battle Killing 13

JERUSALEM, Dec. 29. (UP) — A barrel of explosives shoved by Jews from a speeding taxi in the crowded market place near Damascus gate killed eleven Arabs and wounded 32. British constables died in a wild battle which followed the blast. An official announcement setting the deaths at 13 said 32 Arabs were wounded. It said the bombers escaped, failing to confirm earlier reports by officials that 12 Arabs as well as one of the Jewish attackers were killed. Three women and one child were reported to be among the slain Arabs. The bomb attack was attributed by officials to the Jewish underground organization Irgun Zvai Leumi's "Black Squad," pledged to exact reprisals for slayings of Jews by Arabs. The investigation of the bombing was hampered by the gun battle which broke out between infuriated Arabs and police in the thronged market place.

FARMER HOME WINS FIRST IN CHRISTMAS DECORATION CONTEST BROOKS, NEILL AWARDED SECOND AND THIRD PLACES

The first prize in the Chamber of Commerce annual Home Christmas Decoration Contest was awarded today to J. Leroy Farmer, 6209 Granada Boulevard. Second place went to Franklin F. Brooks, 4545 Riviera Drive with Dr. C. H. Neill, 2820 Segovia Circle taking the third place honors. The Bernard Good residence at 3401 Granada Boulevard was selected for fourth place with the Frank Kern home, 3610 Alhambra Court placing fifth. Bernard A. Czekaj, 234 Avenue Calabria, was named for sixth place and the H. H. Burkhart residence at 1208 Avenue Astruria, seventh. The Judges, who made the rounds of inspection on Friday night, were Denman Fink, William H. Merriman and George Faber. The trio also served as judges for the store decoration contest, held prior to Christmas, won by Howard Awards. The winners will be privileged to select their awards from a list of prizes offered by local business firms. First place winner will select first, with the other winners given choices in the order of their placing in the contest. The prizes and donors include 1947-48 directory, Daniels; pressure cooker, Rogers Electric; 500 printed letterheads and envelopes, Riviera-Times; bottle of Ballantine's Scotch, Carl's Liquors; $15 gift certificate, Allen Abess, Ltd.; $15 merchandise credit, E. N. Holley Stores; $10 bottle of Louise Laird perfume in cigarette box, four-record album, Gables Appliance Co. In commenting on the contest, the three judges expressed the hope that next year more residents will enter the competition so that Coral Gables may eventually become known as South Florida's "Christmas City."

Heavy Safe Stolen from Sundry Store Thieves Visit Pressley's Third Time This Year

While a robbery at the Pressley's Sundries store at 5106 SW 8th Street last week resulted in only the theft of several bottles of heady perfume, thieves who broke into the same shop last night carried out a 300 pound safe containing several hundred dollars in cash. Last night's robbery was the third at Pressley's this year, but the first in which anything of more than trifling value was taken. The looting last night appeared to be the work of an experienced gang of hoodlums, said Detective Lt. A. M. Bishop. He doubted if the theft of the safe had any connection with the two earlier breaks at Pressley's. Entry was made by yanking the front off the hinges with a crow bar. And the ponderous safe was trundled out through the rear door, which opens onto the alley. Pushed on Rollers As there were no marks on the floor to indicate that the safe had been rolled on the floor itself, the (Please turn to Page Three)

Trust Is Subject to Tax, Court Rules in Gables Suit

The corpus of a trust, although in another state, is subject to intangible personal property taxes in Dade County if the beneficiary residing here has control of it, Circuit Court has ruled in a local case. The order, recorded today, was signed by Judge Ross Williams who granted a motion to dismiss the suit filed by Mrs. Renata L. Mahan, 1027 Avenue An. dalusia against J. Gordon Lummus Jr., county tax assessor and Earnest Overstreet, tax collector. Mrs. Mahan contended in her suit that the trust fund, valued at $126,276.62, is held by the Hackley Union National Bank of Muskegon, Mich., and that she has no control over it unless she becomes totally incapacitated. She owns her own home and her husband is employed according to the suit. She sought to have Lummus enjoined from making the assessment which totaled $175 with $17.50 in delinquent penalties for 1946. Lummus said the court, in dismissing the suit, followed previous court rulings which have been upheld by the state supreme court.

Musical Program Set by Kiwanis

A musical theme has been adopted for the meeting of the Coral Gables Kiwanis Club at 12:15 on Tuesday at the Country Club of Coral Gables. A program will be staged by the Miami Opera Guild and directed by Dr. Arturo Di Filippi, who will bring a group of Guild members to the club for the program. The Kiwanians have selected Wednesday, January 21 for the annual installation of officers. A chicken dinner has been selected, to be served at 6 p.m., followed by the turning over of the gavel by O. E. Sutton to president-elect Denis Rennart. Following the installation ceremonies, dancing will be held in the Country Club patio. Sutton is assisted by Andrew Houston and Byron A. Sperow in making arrangements for the affair.

Haskell Faces 3 Driving Counts

Albert B. Haskell, 19, of 3613 Royal Palm Avenue, is under $100 bond today, charged with reckless driving, causing an accident and passing a stop sign. His car was in a collision with a vehicle driven by Houston Marshall, 35, of 3420 Charles Avenue at Bird Road and Segovia Street this weekend. Officers E. A. Tipton and D. M. Retting, who investigated the crash, said Haskell admitted he had not seen the stop sign.

Report Patterson Home Entered

A case of breaking and entering was reported to police today by George E. Patterson of 520 Alhambra Circle, who said the home of his son William F. Patterson at 622 Riviera Drive had been entered. The younger Patterson is away and a complete check of the contents of the house can't be made until he returns, but his father said it did not appear the place had been ransacked.

Held Under Bond

George Ash, 23, of 223 Avenue Phonetia, was held in $50 bond by Coral Gables police today on disorderly conduct charges.

On the Inside

Commission to Hear Perrine Phone Plea

The Florida Railroad Commission today announced a hearing for 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 5 in the Coral Gables city hall, to consider complaints from residents of Perrine about service rendered by the Southern Bell Telephone Company. The Perrine subscribers have reported that they be included in the Greater Miami exchange, instead of having an independent exchange.

TODAY'S WEATHER

Partly cloudy with slowly rising temperature today, tonight and Tuesday. Gentle to moderate winds, mostly northerly.

New Phone Deal Sought By Mcllwain Free City Service, 1 Percent Levy Is Requested

The City of Coral Gables moved today to effect an immediate amendment of the franchise held by the Southern Bell Telephone Company which will require payment to the city of one percent of the company's gross receipts and give the city free local telephone service. City Manager William T. McIlwain, in a letter to C. J. Tucker, district manager of the phone company, asked that the franchise, which expires in 1956, either be amended or a new one negotiated immediately. McIlwain based his demand on concessions recently allowed to the city of Miami and Miami Beach, in which the one percent payment was allowed as well as free local service for official city phones. "It is my personal opinion that if the city is not granted these advantages immediately, that your company will not have uniform rates and service," he told Tucker. "There is no reason why other cities in the area should have any advantages that are not available to our city," he added. McIlwain said that the city's local phone bill averaged about $300 monthly, but that he could not estimate how much the city would derive from the one percent levy on gross receipts. The levy would be in addition to a tax now paid on the utility by local consumers.

Miami Terminal For Gables Buses Shifted for Fete

The Miami terminal of the Coral Gables transportation system will be shifted after 6 p.m. on New Year's Eve to avoid traffic congestion incident to the Orange Bowl parade, it was announced today by Earl M. Reeder, Miami traffic engineer. After six p.m., the Gables buses will discharge and take on passengers at South Miami Avenue and First Street instead of SE Third Avenue and First Street. Service at the regular terminal will be resumed on New Year's Day.

FPL Renews Plea Against Heaters

A week-end drop in mercury that caused Gables residents to resort to electric heaters put a heavy load on local power circuits and resulted in the turning off of the Christmas street lights Saturday. The Florida Power and Light Company renewed appeals to consumers to avoid overloading circuits. Increased use of power resulted in a power failure of a few moments duration in the northwest section of Miami last night. The Gables Christmas lights were on again Sunday night. Power officials asked Gableites not to use electric heaters; not to try to heat homes by opening the door of an electric oven and to turn off all outside lights. Slowly rising temperatures predicted for this afternoon, tonight and Tuesday were expected to alleviate the situation

GULFSTREAM PARK RESULTS

First Race— Golden Scotch 4.40 2.70 2.30 Miss Sceptre 3.80 3.00 Pep 4.10 Second Race— Special Lee 4.40 3.00 2.40 Elated 5.60 3.90 Beauzy 3.30 Daily Double—12.40 Tomorrow's Entries On Page Three

Pool Show Brings Bowl Week To Climax Sell-Out Seen For Tonight's Aquatic Follies

A sell-out crowd is expected to overflow the 2,500 temporary seats erected at the Venetian Pool tonight when the Orange Bowl Festival takes a flier into the field of water carnival with an Aqua Follies show and the coronation of Jeanne Biegger as the 1948 bowl queen. Only a few tickets are left for a second presentation at 8 o'clock tomorrow night. Exhibitions of diving and swimming by a dozen star performers and 50 ballet girls, to the music of two bands and under specially - installed lights, will form an accompaniment to the coronation as the New Year's fiesta moves into the third day of its eight-day run. Heraldry appropriate to the occasion will take the form of swimming ballet numbers, with the queen's court and her gift-bearing subjects all in bathing attire, the queen likewise borne by a swimmer, and the sovereign making her entrance on a royal barge drawn by swimming "slaves" and the coronation cere- (Please turn to Page 6)

2 Thefts in Homes Send Police A'Hunting for $325

Coral Gables detectives were today investigating two puzzling cases in which a total of $325 disappeared, in both instances while the owner of the money had stepped into the bathroom of his home this weekend. Edmund A. Hughes, 1261 North Greenway Drive, said he was changing into a warmer suit on Saturday, left $275 in bills on the dresser while he stepped into the bathroom and came back five minutes later to find the money gone. Hughes is a trustee of the University of Miami and the father of one million dollars to the institution's expansion fund. Mrs. Pauline Robertson, who lives at 2707 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, left a purse containing $50 in the bathroom. A solicitous fellow-roomer returned the purse, hanging it on the door to her room. But when Mrs. Robertson got the purse back, the $50 wasn't in it. Handyman Released George Angeline, 21, a handy-man employed at the Hughes residence who had gone to the store for a pack of cigarettes shortly after the $275 vanished, was held by police here but on questioning by Lt. A. M. Bishop satisfied the detective that Angeline had not taken the money and he was released. The front screen door of the Hughes home was locked on Friday. Hughes also noted that "a little dog that will not let a stranger enter without barking did not bark." The only other person in the Hughes home at the time was a maid, who Mrs. Hughes said is above suspicion. In the disappearance of Mrs. Robertson's $50, police questioned two others who had also had the purse in their possession. Still Unsolved A. B. Bates was the first to see the purse in the bathroom, he told the investigators. He opened it looking for identification and saw the $50. Then Miss Sylvia Feagans, another lodger, was consulted and she said she would return the purse to Mrs. Robertson. Miss Feagans said she hung the purse on Mrs. Robertson's doorknob after calling out that she was leaving it there. Police searched the rooms of both Bates and Miss Feagans, at their own request, but the mystery of the missing fifty was not solved.

Turnabout Gouveia Reaps Ticket in Miami

Officer Charles Gouveia, who hands out tickets to motorists who've overstayed the nickel they put in the parking meter, had a parking ticket himself last week and it was for eight minutes overtime. Charlie lent his Chevrolet to a friend, who went shopping in Miami. When the friend returned to Charlie's car, he handed Charlie a parking ticket. "That's two Gables cop three bucks, and he's currently trying to get it out of the alleged friend.

HOMELESS DOLL AWAITS MOMMY

Somewhere in Coral Gables a little girl is probably mourning the loss of a golden-haired dolly that greeted her from beneath a Christmas tree on December 25. The dolly is resting comfortably in the Riviera-Times office awaiting her "mommy", thanks to Carrier Bobby Hurst. Bobby found the doll lying on the sidewalk in the 100 block of Avenue Obispo as he delivered his papers on Friday afternoon. Although he inquired at the houses in the vicinity, he was unable to locate its owner. So the baby-doll is waiting patiently in the city room for the little girl to claim her and take her home again.

Miss Your PAPER?

If for any reason your Riviera-Times is not delivered, please CALL 4-1634 Before 7 p.m. and your paper will be rushed to your home by special messenger.

Masons to Seat New Officers at Birthday Rite

Coral Gables Masons will observe the 20th anniversary of the Gables lodge with installation of officers at 8 o'clock this evening in the Douglas Entrance Lodge Hall. Outgoing officers include RW Alvin D. Simpson, RW Gordon F. Walter and W. C. Edwin Roberts. Taking office this evening will be E. M. Grant, worshipful master; Charles F. Atwater, senior warden; Charles H. Greaves, junior warden; Warren M. Homier, senior deacon; J. Dale Armstrong, junior deacon; Gordon J. Springmeyer, senior steward; Boyd Q. Shaffer, junior steward. Leonard A. Widawski, marshall; Walter Laisgouth, chaplain; William M. Coachman, tiler and Dr. W. Worth Schomberg, organist. All Master Masons have been invited to attend the ceremonies.

Mrs. Bate Dies; Rites Tomorrow

Mrs. Edith Bate, 85, mother of Mrs. Earl M. DeNoon of 2500 San Domingo Street, died Sunday at her residence, 228 S.W. 22nd street, following a lingering illness. A resident here for the past 31 years Mrs. Bate was a native of Bristol, England, coming to this country 36 years ago. She was a member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Daughters of the British Empire and the Miami Garden Club. Funeral services will take place at 2 p.m. tomorrow at St. Stephen's Church with the Rev. F. Rex Wilkes officiating. Burial will take place in Graceland Memorial Park under the direction of the Miami Philbrick Funeral Home. In addition to the daughter, three sons, A. H. Bate and G. C. Bate of Miami and Charles W. Bate of Palo Alto, Calif.; seven grandchildren; a sister and brother in England, survive.

HOLDUP FALLS FLAT AS BANDIT'S GUN ONLY CLICKS EMPTY

The trigger of a pistol pointed at him by a Negro bent on a holdup was pulled, but as he waited for the shot to fire he heard instead an empty click, J. M. Sessler of 6814 Barquera Street told police today. Sessler said he returned with his wife from an afternoon at Gulfstream Park, pulled into his driveway and spotted the Negro by a tree. As the car stopped, according to Sessler, the Negro stepped out and pointed the revolver at him. Then, said Sessler, the Negro pulled the trigger, the gun failed to fire and the Negro pulled the trigger several times without being able to fire a shot. The Negro then leaped into a green coupe and drove off, Sessler reported. Police know of several Negroes answering the description given by Sessler; and they are being questioned.

City Pushes Building Permits To Reach Goal

Employes of the city's building inspection department launched a telephone campaign today in an effort to move at least $300,000 in approved but unissued building permits, thereby giving Coral Gables a $12,000,000 construction total for 1947. Building Inspector Gilbert B. Campbell said that there were far more than enough permits ready for issuance to end the goal but that material shortages and high construction costs were causing builders to hold back. The department workers were busy contacting applicants by telephone to urge them to pick up their permits prior to Dec. 31. Week-end business totaling $82,000 brought them nearer their goal with $300,000 gap still remained today. Permits were issued to the Bee Holding Company for the construction of a 22-unit, $75,000 store building at 3806 SW Eighth Street. It was designed by Albert Ario. Albert Thomas will build a $17,000 residence at 810 Avenue Catalonia. It was designed by Gerard Pitt and will be constructed with day labor.

Funeral Rites Held For M. L. Cooper

Funeral services were held at noon today at the Gordon Funeral Home for Morris Louis Cooper, who died yesterday after a sudden illness. Cooper lives at 1308 Avenue Milan and was the proprietor of the M. and M. Light Fixture Company at 2515 SW 8th Street. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Bertha Cooper. Cooper came here about a year ago from New York City.

YOUR CARRIER

Editor's Note: This is the 17th in a series of articles introducing the young men who deliver the daily Riviera-Times to your door. Thomas Ventulet is a Riviera-Times carrier salesman for art's sake. Tom needs money to buy oils and canvass for his painting. "I got the easel already," he says. Tom has been painting over since he was in the fourth grade. He's now in the seventh grade (at Coral Gables Elementary School) and wants to make art his life work. He lives at 320 Romano Avenue and his dad is a Dade County tax assessor.