Have you ever wondered what life was like in Jacksonville half a century ago? It was 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 this week in 1963. The items were compiled from the Jacksonville Public Library's periodical archives by Staff Writer Max Marbut.
• A Jacksonville attorney who was identified by IRS agents as the "fixer" for drunk-driving cases in Municipal Court was sentenced to one year and one day in jail and fined $2,500 for evading income-tax payments.
Fred Koester, 69, on March 21 had pleaded no contest to federal charges that he failed to pay more than $20,000 of his income taxes due for 1956-58.
IRS agent Ellis Pope testified Koester, during interrogation, admitted receiving fees usually amounting to $150 from people accused of driving while intoxicated and had paid $100 of each fee to former Municipal Judge Charles Miller and an unnamed police officer to have the cases dismissed.
Koester was not immediately sent to jail after he was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Bryan Simpson, but was ordered by the judge to surrender to U.S. Marshals by noon May 27.
Simpson noted in delaying the commitment that Koester was scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge William McRae Jr. in Miami to show cause why he should not be held in contempt of a federal grand jury for refusing to answer questions relative to the Municipal Court fix racket.
Koester refused to answer questions about the disposition of the $150 fee by invoking his rights under the Fifth Amendment.
Simpson said another reason he delayed Koester's commitment was so the attorney could obtain a complete physical examination by his own physicians.
The results of the examination, along with a recommended schedule of medication and treatment, could be transmitted to prison officials where Koester would be incarcerated.
Giles P. Lewis, Koester's attorney, asked for leniency on the grounds that Koester was a cancer victim in poor health.
Lewis, in his plea, also said Koester had a reputation for being "truthful and helpful" in the courts where he practiced and had rendered a great service to the courts by voluntarily representing indigent defendants.
Asking that "justice be tempered with mercy," Lewis said to Simpson, "Whatever Mr. Koester did, I believe he felt he did it for the good of his client."
Simpson said the imposition of sentence on Koester was an unpleasant duty, but one that had to be done.
"He has been a friend and a brother lawyer at the Bar for many years, and I have found him to be most helpful, particularly in the matter of representing indigents.
"But there is no basis, in my judgment, to withhold sentence in this case," Simpson said.
• A study to determine the need for a deeper harbor in Jacksonville was scheduled to be completed in the fall, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
In a letter to U.S. Rep Charles Bennett of Jacksonville, the Corps said it had been surveying the harbor since 1957 and already had spent $142,000 for the work.
The depth of the harbor was 34 feet. It was being suggested that the channel be deepened to 42 feet to accommodate larger cargo vessels.
Bennett said if the Corps' report was favorable, he would introduce legislation to receive authorization for dredging the harbor and funds to complete the work.
• The Board of County Commissioners appointed a committee to develop measures to reduce theft of county road equipment and destruction of road
signs.
Levin Ellis, supervisor of road signs, said vandals were annually costing the county $4,000-$5,000 to replace signs that were torn down or damaged. He said besides the cost factor in removal of stop signs, there was a safety factor that had resulted in several accidents.
"Fortunately, there has been no loss of life – yet," said Ellis.
Superintendent of Highway Equipment John Sparkman reported to the board that more than $5,000 worth of equipment was stolen each year, either from machines parked along roads or from the Highway Department yard at Commonwealth Avenue and Superior Street.
Sparkman said thieves each year stole $1,300 worth of batteries and $1,500 of miscellaneous equipment from county road machines.
He also said $2,000 worth of items such as tires, radios, upholstery and transmissions from automobiles confiscated for hauling moonshine whiskey were
lost.
County Patrol Chief W.F. Johnston suggested the committee study the advisability of hiring a plainclothes watchman. He said the offer of a reward for arrest and conviction of thieves and vandals also might help.
County Engineer John Crosby suggested the formation of the committee. He was named to serve, along with Ellis, Sparkman, County Attorney J. Henry Blount and County Commissioner Bob Harris.
In other business, the board authorized a study on devising a zoning classification for borrow pits, places where dirt was removed for road construction. Commissioner Julian Warren said the pits filled with water "might be ideal recreation
spots."
• A Circuit Court jury set a $280,000 value on waterfront property the county needed for a 700-car parking lot at the County Courthouse along East Bay Street.
Realtor and appraiser J. Glover Taylor was called to the witness stand and testified the $280,000 was just compensation for the tract, which was owned by Gibbs Shipyards Inc.
That figure was acceptable to Gibbs' attorney, John W. Ball of Ulmer, Murchison, Kent, Ashby and Ball firm and the sum the jury fixed in its verdict before Judge Charles Scott.
Cost of the parking lot and a bulkhead to protect the courthouse from erosion was estimated at $2.5 million
• The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad donated a tugboat to Community Television Inc. to be sold in WJCT's annual auction June 5-8.
The Neptune, a 117-ton veteran of Florida coastal waters was appropriate for that auction because of its rarity and its value, said an ACL spokesman.
Prime F. Osborn III, vice president and general counsel of the railroad, presented a framed photograph of the vessel to Mrs. Mark L. Bramlett, coordinator of the woman's division of that auction; William Bion Barnett Jr., auction chairman; and John D. Corse, board chairman of Community Television.