Architects selected for new public library, near-record moonshine raid
Have you ever wondered what life was like in Jacksonville half a century ago? It may have been a different era of history, culture and politics but there are often parallels between the kind of stories that made headlines then and today. As interesting as the differences may be, so are the similarities. These are some of the top stories from the week of April 12-18, 1960. The items were compiled from the Jacksonville Public Library’s periodical archives by Staff Writer Max Marbut.
• First, some perspective on this week 50 years ago in terms of national events: The United States scored another triumph in space with the successful launch of a navigation-aid satellite that would help warships fire nuclear missiles with “pinpoint accuracy.” It was the first of a six-satellite system that would also help avert ship collisions and could be adapted to implement international air traffic control by 1963.
• The City Commission designated the local firm of Hardwick & Lee as architect for the new Downtown public library to be built on the old city hall site at southwest Ocean and Adams streets.
The designation was made on the motion of Commissioner Louis Ritter, who acted as chair of the meeting in the absence of Mayor-Commissioner Haydon Burns. Ritter said Burns, before leaving the city in the interest of his campaign for governor, had expressed his approval of the choice of architects.
The City agreed to pay a flat fee of $1,500 for preliminary studies and cost estimates. Details of drafting a contract with the designated architects were referred to City Attorney William H. Madison.
Asa B. Gardiner, representing the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library Inc., said designation of architects was “heartening news.”
• State Beverage Department agents and sheriff’s deputies “swooped down” on four buildings in the Normandy area and seized a near-record load of moonshine and tax-paid whisky.
Ralph N. Pickles, district director of the State Beverage Department, and Duval County Sheriff Dale Carson said eight persons were arrested and more than 50 gallons of a combination of wine and moonshine was confiscated. The raiding party also seized a large quantity of low-grade whisky mixed with moonshine, wine and high-grade whisky, Pickles said.
He also said three of the raided premises were owned by Abraham LaPrell, 46, of 5847 Stuart Ave., and the other was a house at 5699 Lenox Ave. occupied by a Dorothy Rafuse.
• A Criminal Court jury was sworn for the trial of Elizabeth Sams on a charge that she forged a check on an account in the Jax Police Credit Union, which formerly had employed her as a clerk.
Sams, 46, was the wife of Jacksonville Beach Mayor I.D. Sams and on trial for allegedly forging the endorsement of W.J. Powell on an $800 check on Feb. 11, 1958. The maximum sentence that Judge William T. Harvey could impose upon conviction would be five years in prison.
Selection of the jury took almost two days as County Solicitor Lacy Mahon Jr., the prosecutor, and defense attorney Walter G. Arnold screened each member of the panel carefully to be sure that there was no prejudice for or against the defendant.
As a special precaution to ensure the jury’s verdict would not be colored by outside influences, Harvey ordered that the jurors be kept together each night of the trial in a Downtown hotel under the guard of Deputies Mel Drane and E.B. Canaday Jr.
Arnold had asked that the trial be moved to another county. He claimed Sams could not get an impartial jury in Duval County due to extensive media coverage of the charges against her and the reported credit union shortages of more than $180,000, but Harvey denied the motion.
Two days after the trial began, Harvey declared a mistrial when the defendant was hospitalized due to what was described as dehydration arising from a severe stomach disorder. He discharged the jury after a surgeon, Dr. Edward Canipelli, said that her health would be impaired and her life endangered if she were forced to continue the trial. Canipelli also told Harvey he felt certain it would be several months before Sams would be well enough to stand trial.
As court opened the day before the mistrial was declared, Arnold moved for a mistrial on the grounds that Sams was too sick to carry on and stated, “Anyone forcing her to go to trial now would be inhuman and barbaric in nature.”
Lying on an ambulance cot, Sams was wheeled into the courtroom to testify under oath about her condition. She said she had spent a sleepless night due to nausea and other difficulties. Sams also said she had lost three pounds, from 80 to 77 pounds, since the trial began and that her usual weight was 125 pounds.
After her testimony, Sams was taken to Baptist Medical Center’s emergency room where she received intravenous injections and Canipelli was called to the courtroom for sworn testimony.
The doctor testified that he would recommend to Sams and her family that she be transported to an out-of-town hospital for treatment under the care of a gastroenterologist and with psychiatric consultation since her frame of mind would play a part in her recovery.
• Fire Chief Frank C. Kelly said Capt. Horace Smith, a 26-year veteran of the Jacksonville Fire Department, would be charged with responsibility for “undetermined shortages” in accounts at the Jacksonville Fireman’s Credit Union.
Kelly said Smith, who was secretary-treasurer of the union, was suspended indefinitely after auditors determined shortages existed in the accounts of many depositors. The shortages, principally in the accounts of retired firefighters, were brought to light in a routine audit of the credit union’s books, Kelly said.
County Solicitor Lacy Mahon Jr. entered the investigation, but said he was unable to take a statement from Smith, who was confined to his bed at home after suffering a heart attack March 14.
The credit union was completely independent of the Fire Department and the City and neither exercised any control over it.
• A sharp increase in the exchange of $2 bills was expected in Jacksonville as a result of the local observance of Life Insurance Week.
M. Howard Duty, chair of Life Insurance Week, said arrangements had been made with banks to cash insurance workers’ paychecks with the bills and the idea was to emphasize the economic impact the insurance industry made on the local scene.
• Attorney Herman Ulmer Jr. was elected chairman of the board of trustees at The Bolles School. He was a former student at the school and succeeded Robert H. Paul Jr.
Other new officers included Frederick H. Schultz, vice chair; Quinn R. Barton Jr., secretary; and Maj. C. Hobson Martin, treasurer. Trustees re-elected were Lester Varn Jr., Bryan Simpson, Fontaine LeMaistre, Dr. Frank G. Slaughter, Fred Kent and Schultz. Carl S. Swisher was elected as a new member of the board of trustees.
• Two groups of City officials were authorized to go to New York City in connection with the issuance of bonds for construction of the new municipal auditorium.
Mayor-Commissioner Haydon Burns, City Treasurer H.S. Albury and City Attorney William Madison would make the trip to close the sale of $2.5 million worth of revenue certificates. Burns would sign each of the 2,500 $1,000 certificates, while Albury and Madison were to participate in the actual transfer of the securities to the purchasers and accept a certified check in the amount of the face value of the securities.
The certificates had been purchased by the investment firm of Goldman Sachs and Company at an interest rate of 3.939 percent.
Madison would be back in New York City May 1 with Utilities Commissioner J. Dillon Kennedy and City Auditor John Hollister to meet with bankers and investment firms to discuss the scheduled offering of $30 million of revenue certificates to finance the expansion of the municipal electric system.