Coral Gables Riviera-Times

Wednesday, December 31, 1947, page 1 (of 10)

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CORAL GABLES Riviera TIMES

PUBLISHED MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOONS U.P. Leased Wire VOL. 21-No. 85 (D) CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1947 8 PAGES FIVE CENTS

MOLOTOV LAYS 'BIG FOUR' FAILURE TO U.S. POLICY OF IMPERIALISM IN REICH

MOSCOW, Dec. 31. (UP)-Foreign Minister V. M. Molotov charged today that the United States is responsible for failure of the Big Four to agree upon a peace for Germany because of desires to turn the Reich into "a bridgehead of American imperialism." He said the conference broke up because the United States sought to dictate terms for a German peace and actually did not desire an agreement in order to preserve complete freedom of action. His statement, he said, was necessary in order to answer the explanation made by Secretary of State George C. Marshall and Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin regarding the failure of the Big Four gathering. "Nothing has come out of the many attempts to place responsibility for the failure on the U.S.S.R.," he said. "The responsibility for the failure falls on the ruling circles of the United States. In this Mr. Bevin and also Foreign Minister Georges Bidault followed Mr. Marshall."

Relief Columns Near Fort Beseiged By Greek Guerrillas

ATHENS, Dec. 31. (UP)-Greek relief columns driving through guerrilla siege lines to relieve Konitsa speared across the Voidomati river, three and a half miles from the mountain fortress of northeast Greece. Messages to military authorities from the front said the army expected to relieve Jonitsa and reinforce its beleaguered garrison before nightfall. Another column was reported nearing the key bridge at Bourazani, which controls transport westward from Konitsa, It ran into strong guerrilla concentrations between Vasilikon and Bourazani.

Arab Snipers And Stabbers Kill Three, Wound Eight

JERUSALEM, Dec. 31. (UP)-Arab sniping and stabbing killed three Jews and wounded eight in Jerusalem today. Snipers fired on a group of Jews loading furniture into trucks in the Katamon district of Jerusalem, killing one and wounding another. In the Talpioth suburb a bus was riddled with bullets which killed one Jew and wounded six others. Another Jew was stabbed in the predominantly Arabic Sheikh Jarah quarter of Jerusalem. A Jewish distributor of the Palestine Post was shot to death on Mamillah street while he was delivering his papers. Still another Jew was slain in Tel Aviv. His body, stripped of all identification, was found in the heart of the Hadasah Garden area there.

President Sees No Wrong In Physician's Speculating

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31. (UP)-President Truman said today he did not consider that his personal physician, Brig. Gen. Wallace H. Graham, did wrong by speculating in the grain market. Graham was shown on Agriculture Department's list to have speculated in 50,000 bushels last September. Graham said that after the president denounced gambling in grain on Oct. 5, he asked his broker if he had any grain holdings. He told his broker to pull him out if he did. Reporters wanted to know today how the president drew a line between what he had denounced as greedy, inflationary speculation and legitimate trading in grain futures.

U. S. Schedules Tests Of Secret Atom Weapons

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31. (UP)-Secret tests of the newest weapons in this country's deadly atomic arsenal will get under way early next year, it was disclosed today. The disclosure came in the form of a grim "Keep-out" warning by the Atomic Energy Commission that 30,000 square miles of Pacific Ocean surrounding Eniwetok atoll will become a "danger area" on Jan. 31. This area is about the size of South Carolina. It extends 200 miles east and west and 150 miles north and south, with Eniwetok in the center. It will continue to be a region of atomic blast and radiation hazards through all of 1948.

'Shoot to Kill' Order Given in Convict Hunt

CANON CITY, Colo., Dec. 31. (UP)-National guardsmen under orders to shoot to kill joined a 150-man posse today to search for six desperate convicts still at large after 12 men broke out of the state prison and left a trail of terror during the night. One escapee, John Klinger, 43, was killed several hours after the break. Five others were recaptured, one through the courage of Mrs. Lawrence Oliver, a rancher's wife, who bashed him on the head with a hammer. One group of prisoners was holding a 17-year-old farm boy as a hostage. Two of the recaptured prisoners were wounded while resisting prison guards. A guard and a rancher were wounded by the convicts who terrorized two farm homes during the night.

Bad Weather Forces Michael To Postpone Exile Flight

BUCHAREST, Dec. 31. (UP)-Ex-king Michael of Romania abandoned plans to leave Bucharest by plane tonight but was expected to depart very shortly, possibly tomorrow, with his mother and members of the royal court. Bad weather forced Michael to give up his plan for flying out of Bucharest tonight. Official sources said Michael requested visas for himself Queen Helen and 60 courtiers for departure from Romania before nightfall, by plane if weather permits, and otherwise by special train.

Truman Confident Of Peace In New Year's Message

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31. (UP)-President Truman today looked forward to 1948 with confidence that all nations can agree on a world peace and that it will be a happy political year for the Democrats. But he refused to comment on Henry A. Wallace's decision to run for president as an independent. Mr. Truman also voiced "every faith" in "the final working of the United Nations as a means of general world peace." He said he still was "confidently looking forward to a world peace on which all the nations can agree."

A. B. CURRY SEEN CHOICE FOR PORT JOB | Ex-City Manager Won't Comment On $20,000 Post

A. B. CURRY It was generally understood in official circles today that the position of port director of Dade County will be offered to A. B. Curry, 1000 Hardee Road, former Coral Gables and Miami city manager. The position, which pays $20,000 a year, is now held by Col. Marcel Garsaud who took office two years ago. He came here from New Orleans where he was port director and chief engineer. Curry, who was contacted today as he supervised some new construction work at Hialeah Race Course, said he had no comment to make. After leaving the position of city manager for Coral Gables, Curry became city manager for Miami, resigning in September, 1946, because of ill health. Since that time he has been associated with E. N. Claughton, Miami builder, and more recently with the Hialeah Race Course construction program. The Currys, who were forced to move into Miami when he took the city managership there, recently became Gableites again when they purchased the Hardee Road residence.

16-Year-Old Youth Kills Peeping Tom | Trespasser Shot With Rifle Near Window

A man described by police as a peeping Tom was shot and killed early today by a 16-year-old youth as he peered into a bedroom window at 3084 SW Sixth Street. The dead man was identified as Everett Lee Tucker, 33, carpenter, who was living in a tourist cabin at 4320 Southwest Eighth Street. He was shot by Richard Strome, 16, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Strome about 12:30 this morning as he stood looking into the window of the house next door. The boy picked up a .22 rifle, fired, the shot going through Tucker's neck. Tucker ran 225 feet before he fell at the corner of SW 7th Street and 31st Avenue, where his body was discovered at 7:30 this morning by Miss Audrey Shaffer of 613 SW 31st Avenue, as she started to work. Young Strome said that the man had a handkerchief around the lower part of his face when he peeked into the window and according to Det. C. C. Papy of the Miami homicide squad, a similar handkerchief with a knot tied in one end was found in Tucker's pocket. The body was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital by a Flagler Funeral Home ambulance where identification was made by Tucker's brother, Ula. By a strange quirk of fate, both Tucker and Richard Strome celebrated their birthdays yesterday.

Back Home | Veva Jean Gets Her Doll Back

The alertness of a Riviera-Times reader today resulted today in a Christmas doll being returned to its four-year-old owner and immediately "nourished" with a bottle of warm water. The golden-haired doll was found two days ago in the bushes in the 1100 block of Avenue Obispo by Courier Bobby Hurst. The story of his discovery was published in the Riviera-Times and read by Mrs. Grover Rhode, 1212 Avenue Obispo, who telephoned immediately to claim it for her daughter Veva Jean. Veva Jean, who came to the office personally to claim her dolly, expressed concern that the "baby" might be hungry after two days spent among news-papermen. She said that she lost the doll when she handed it to her foster brother, David, to hold while she occupied herself with the very important business of chasing a cat. David, afraid that some of his friends might see him holding a baby-doll, tossed it into the weeds. Mrs. Rhode said that she had combed the neighborhood for the doll until its discovery was announced in the newspaper. And for Carrier Hurst, as a reward for his alertness, a beautiful, steel engraved, one dollar bill from grateful Veva Jean.

Zoning Changed By West Miami

Following a public hearing last night, the city of West Miami announced today two zoning changes, one on S.W. 9th St., and the other on S.W. 15th St. The north side of S.W. 9th St. between 57th and 59th was changed to commercial zoning and duplexes were allowed on certain portions of S.W. 13th St.

Plane Ticket Lost

The man who finds a leather card case lost by G. J. Robinson of 4153 S.W. 52nd Court will be all set for a South American journey. A Pan American Airways ticket to Brazil and a Brazilian driver's license were in the card case which Robinson reported lost from his automobile.

Buick Owner Loses 'Ring' Second Time

The pranksters who steal the ring-type ornament from the radiator of 1946 and 1947 Buicks have been twice as hard on Leo V. Sullivan of 522 Avenue Mallorca than they have on other Buick owners. Early this month the ring was torn off the Sullivan Buick. Sullivan, not a man to leave an empty space on his radiator, hied himself to the dealer and had it replaced. This morning Sullivan went to his car to find the ring gone again. It is believed that the rings are being required as admission tokens to a school fraternal organization. The thefts have been reported throughout the United States.

Riviera-Times Plans Early Edition Tomorrow

In order that employes may enjoy most of the New Year's holiday at home, the Riviera-Times will publish one early edition tomorrow. Press time has been scheduled for 11 a.m. with carrier delivery soon after that time.

5 Churches To Welcome New Year | Watch Night Services Are Planned Here

Gableites, South Miamians, and residents of Coconut Grove can see the old year out and welcome the New Year in tonight in five local churches. At the University Baptist Church, a watch-night service will be held from 11 p. m. until 12:05 a. m. A prayer and praise program, with special music, this service will be held by candle-light. The pastor, Dr. Ladislau Bire, will conduct a midnight meditation. Coffee and other refreshments will be served prior to and following the watch service. In charge of refreshments are Mrs. W. J. Young, Mrs. G. C. Kirkland Sr., and Mrs. Kenneth B. Walker. Beginning at 8 p. m., a special service will be held at the St. James Lutheran Church, Avenue Hispanola at East Ponce de Leon Blvd. Rev. C. J. Sutoruis will preach on the subject "Strength For Another Part of Life's Pilgrimage." Watch Night Rites The Shenadoah Riviera Presbyterian, and Baptist churches of South Miami will unite at 11 p. m. at the South Miami First Methodist church for a watch night service. Rev. Carroll Varner will be host pastor, and Rev. Bruce Cumming, of the Riviera Presbyterian church, will speak on "Rendezvous With Life." Rev. Frank Morgan will also have a part on the program. During a fellowship hour which will follow the service, the WSCS of the host church will serve refreshments. A watch-night, candlelight communion service will be held at the Bryan Memorial Methodist Church in Coconut Grove beginning at 11 p. m. tonight. Rev. Albert D. Hagler will be in charge of the service. Prior to the service, the new chimes, which the church just (Please Turn to Page Seven)

Master Approves Divorce For Gables Couple

Special Master Frank O. Spain today recommended in circuit court that a divorce decree be granted Mrs. Desda J. Beckley, 1813 Avenue Valencia, from Richard Samuel Beckley, Civil Aeronautics Administration instructor, on grounds of cruelty. The couple married in Blomsbury, Pa., on April 17, 1939 and have no children. They have made their home in Coral Gables for the past two years. Mrs. Beckley charged that her husband since last August had "treated her like a housekeeper" and stayed out at night. She claimed that he packed his bags and left the residence on December 7. In a separation agreement signed December 19, Beckley will pay to his wife $160 a month, give her $975 in government bonds and the Coral Gables residence.

Owners Face Bill for 100 Shares of Douglas Road Paving | Gableites To Join Area At Parade Sidelines Tonite | Thousands of Coral Gables residents will head for Miami tonight to join an expected crowd of 200,000 in witnessing the King Orange Jamboree Parade, the fantastic prelude to Tomorrow's Orange Bowl football game.

In order to take care of the many residents who wish to avoid traffic and car parking problems, the municipal transportation system will step up its schedule, beginning at 4:40 today and send buses to Miami every five minutes. After the 6 p.m. trip, the terminal will be shifted to Miami Avenue and First Street, where extra busses will be stationed to take care of the returning crowds at the end of the parade. Coral Gables will be represented in the mile long procession with a huge flower-trimmed float carrying this city's own "Orange Bowl Queens." Wearing pastel colored evening dresses and large hats, the queens will leave the Gables at 5:45 p.m. with a special police escort to take them to the parade's formation point. Riding on the float will be Jacqueline May, Joan Elizabeth Odell, Corrine Gustafson and Carol Rudolph. The float will also appear in the Miami Beach parade on January 2. The parade is scheduled to start moving at 7 p.m. and move from the Flagler Street bridge east on Flagler to Bis- (Please Turn to Page Seven)

Project Awaits Gables Decision On Payment

Owners of property abutting Douglas Road today faced sharing a $5,000 assessment for street paving as City Manager William T. McIlwain prepared a recommendation to be presented at the January 6 meeting of the city commission. The assessment would be half of the $10,000 paving project, which would be divided equally by the City of Miami, as the east half of the thoroughfare lies within the limits of that municipality. Jerry Williams, director of engineering for Miami, said today that he was prepared to go ahead with the work as soon as Coral Gables indicated that it is willing to share the expense. The plan calls for the paving of the street from Flagler Street to Avenue San Sebastian, which coincides with S.W. 28th St., in Miami. Owners of property in the Flagler section will probably be faced with a larger assessment than other owners, inasmuch as the lots run the long way abutting the street there. McIlwain said that the assessment will be necessary because the city cannot afford to pay for the paving out of the general fund. It will necessitate calling for a public hearing and creating a special improvement district. Present plans call for resurfacing the street with one-half inch asphalt, which is neither as costly nor as permanent as the inch and a half surfacing recently completed in Coral Gables' section B.

ROTARIANS TO SEE SNAKES ON FRIDAY

Rotarians, who may have avoided seeing snakes on the morning after New Year's Eve will probably be seeing them on Friday when reptile expert Marshall Bishop addresses the luncheon meeting of the club at the Country Club of Coral Gables. Bishop, who operates his own reptile institute on the Tamiami Trail, is expected to not only describe the habits of his subject, but, may also exhibit some live specimens to illustrate his lecture. The naturalist is also an expert on fish, and provided the government with some valuable data as a result of his study of the habits of the tarpon. E. O. Henderson will be in charge of the program.

City Okays 3 New Homes | Buildings to Cost $65,000

Coral Gables' residential construction total for December was boosted to a dozen today when Building Inspector Gilbert B. Campbell issued permits for the building of three homes at a total cost of $65,000. W. L. Cone was issued a permit for the construction of a $25,000 residence and boat house to be built on the Coral Gables canal at 930 Avenue Alfonso. It was designed by Manfred M. Ungaro and will be constructed by day labor. H. W. Adelberger will construct a $20,000 residence and boat house, also on the canal, at 1140 Avenue Alfonso. Ungaro was the architect. Charles Kavalir took out a permit for the construction of a $20,000 residence at 3801 Riviera Drive. It was designed by F. I. Sather and will be constructed with day labor. Plans for a $300,000, 52-unit apartment house to be built on Avenue Menores, received the approval of the board of supervising architects yesterday afternoon, and Campbell said that he planned to issue the permit for its construction today. It will be built by the Iba Realty Co., of Miami.

Shikany Reveals Plan for Polio Ward at Jackson

The cost of fighting polio and maintaining a ward for treatment at Jackson Memorial Hospital for those stricken has skyrocketed during the past year, Shaker Shikany, Coral Gables chairman of the annual March of Dimes campaign to battle the dread malady, said today. "Although the fund-raising drive does not officially begin until Jan. 15," Shikany added, "Jack Cleary, director of the campaign, has asked that every Dade resident send a generous contribution as a New Year's gift. Such contributions will be received by the proper officials if addressed merely to the March of Dimes, Miami. "Every resident of the county should give as much as he can spare to the maintenance of the polio ward as an insurance policy for their own children, in case they are stricken. It should be emphasized to parents in Dade that such a ward is maintained and that there is no red tape about entrance of those stricken, regardless of race, creed, color or financial status. The best medical treatment medical science can provide is offered everyone afflicted with polio, whether or not they are able to pay. The polio ward is operated with money contributed to the March of Dimes."

Fight Spectator Loses Bout With Stone Wall

Although the best punchers of the University of Syracuse and the University of Miami swapped punches inside the Coliseum last night, the man most seriously injured was a young veteran who tackled a stone wall for a locker on his way out and had to have four stitches taken in his knee. William Pearsall, of the 20th Street Veterans Housing was treated by Dr. Robert A. McVoy of the Coral Gables police station and the doctor said the laceration was severe as it extended through to the bone. Dr. McVoy had to attach the muscles together before taking the stitches. Pearsall told police he would pay the doctor bills, as the mishap was entirely his fault.

Mrs. Rodenbough Dies in Easton, Pa.

Mrs. Walter Rodenbough, formerly of 1112 Tangier Street, Coral Gables, passed away yesterday in Easton, Pa., after a brief illness. She was the wife of Walter Rodenbough, who until a year ago was a familiar figure on the Granada Golf Course and who once held the pole vaulting championship of the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Rodenbough moved to Coral Gables from Philadelphia in 1934. Rodenbough was taken to an Easton hospital and his wife, while on a visit, fell and sustained a fractured hip. Mrs. Rodenbough afterwards contracted pneumonia which led to her death.

S. MIAMI BUILDING PASSES $1,340,000 MARK FOR YEAR

Permits for building totaling $1,340,159.24 were issued in South Miami during 1947, City Clerk Sylvia G. Martin revealed today. The biggest share of the 293 permits went to construction of new homes, with 198 home permits issued. Three apartment house permits for 12 units were issued and 19 commercial permits were also made out. Among the biggest commercial buildings constructed in South Miami in 1947 were the Patricia Furniture Store on the South Dixie Highway, the shopping center at Sunset Road and Bird Road and the South Miami Coach Line terminal. The year 1947 marked the first time that building in South Miami climbed over the million mark. Last year only approximately $650,000 worth of permits were issued and the biggest prewar year saw about $125,000 in building done.

West Miami Okays Nine New Homes

West Miami City Clerk Harry S. Lord said permits to build nine houses on S.W. 13th St. at a cost of $63,000 were taken out today by the Alvin Builders.

Pool Spectator's Car Stripped

A. E. Ferry, of 3859 Devonshire Blvd., reported that his automobile was stripped as he watched the events at the Venetian pool last night. He said a tire, a wheel and four white plastic wheel discs with a total value of $35 were taken.

Don't Drive if You Drink, Police Warn As Noisy Welcome to 1948 Looms Tonight

With 12 hours left of 1947, Lt. F. P. Brasher, head of the city's traffic bureau, asked all Gables citizens who will use their cars tonight to drive with especial care and to avoid any use of liquor. The dwindling 1947 had seen 4 four persons killed in Coral Gables automobile accidents, the traffic head said, and he hoped 3 that the year's remaining hours would not see any addition to that total. "Every New Year's Eve we have a lot of automobile accidents and there's no real reason for them," Brasher said. "These crashes are usually caused by somebody being in a big hurry to get to a party at some night club or some friend's home," continued Brasher. "But the main reason for most of these holiday accidents is driving under the influence of alcohol," Brasher said. License Revocation In a stern warning to drivers, Brasher said, "If you're caught driving while drunk, your license will be revoked for one year." "Remember—if you drive, don't drink," said Brasher. The traffic chief said 1947's four auto deaths was only one below the highest death total ever racked up here. The greatest number of Coral Gables fatalities was five in 1938. Last year, 1946, saw only one die here. Brasher hoped for a perfect year, in which traffic accidents in Coral Gables claim not one life for 1948. The only previous perfect year was 1946.

On The Inside

GULFSTREAM PARK RESULTS

FIRST RACE- American Flyer | 10.80 | 5.70 | 3.70 Penetrator | 5.80 | 3.40 She's Home | 5.30 SECOND RACE- Sir Jinx | 17.00 | 6.40 | 4.20 Pene | 3.00 | 2.50 Phidias | 3.20 DAILY DOUBLE: 134.20 Tomorrow's Entries On Page Eight

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TODAY'S WEATHER

Partly cloudy and continued mild through Thursday. Widely scattered brief showers, mostly at night. Moderate to fresh south-easterly winds.