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Pinellas history

Court decisions in whiskey cases handicap officers

By THERESA BLACKWELL
Published August 1, 2006

JULY 29, 1921

CLEARWATER - Court decisions favoring the men who handle whiskey have made it very difficult for prohibition enforcement officers to get convictions and have discouraged their efforts to catch the bootleggers, says Charley Sims, constable and deputy sheriff.

The courts have held that searches cannot be made without a warrant, and this leaves the officers badly handicapped, Sims said.

Reports are that liquor is being sold openly in Clearwater. A man from Clearwater told Mayor Mitchell this morning that whiskey can be purchased in many places in Clearwater.

At the same time, a well known citizen of St. Petersburg declared that there is plenty of whiskey to be had there. He said that those who want whiskey seem to be able to get it without any trouble.

"It is reported that whiskey is being sold openly in St. Petersburg, but the way the courts have been ruling it is very difficult to catch the bootleggers," Sims said. "The officers are discouraged and feel that there is not much use trying to break up the liquor selling. We have to prove sales, which is very hard, and we cannot search automobiles or houses without warrants, which means that we have to wait, when we think we have located contraband liquor, until the bootlegger has had a good chance to dispose of the stuff."

July 31, 1978 Sweep World War II bombs away from gulf, say town officials

BELLEAIR BEACH - Army and Navy mine-sweeping crews have been asked to rid gulf waters off Belleair Beach of old World War II bombs.

One bomb was found recently, and Mayor Charles Root said, "I've been told there are many others out there, including an especially large one."

Snorkelers and scuba divers have reported sighting many barnacle-encrusted bombs and what may be a large mine just 25 yards from shore.

During World War II, the northern tip of Belleair Beach which includes the area now called Sand Key was an Air Force strafing and bombing range. At the time, the area, now dotted with exclusive homes, and bustling with condominium construction, was uninhabited.

Pinellas County Historical Museum director Ralph Reed recalls that the area was fenced to prevent people from walking along the beach bombing range.

Nobody knows how many unexploded bombs the Air Force may have left behind, but Root wants to find out.

"This is about the fifth bomb that's been found recently," he said.

That bomb, a 35-pounder, washed up on the beach, and a mine-demolition crew from Homestead Air Force Base flew in to remove it.

Root said a crew officer told him that if the city would contact the Army and Navy they would send mine-sweeping teams to clear the area "at no cost to the city."

The mayor interpreted that as an offer he couldn't refuse. Deputy Mayor Benton Lowe wrote to the commander of the 547th Ordnance Detachment at For Gillam, Ga., requesting the Army's onshore and the Navy's offshore help in removing whatever explosives might be in the water. No answer has been received.

Root said the community would like to have the bombs removed as soon as possible.

"I've always wanted to see one of those mine-sweepers in action!" he said.

JULY 29, 1936 20 Cuban scouts visit Clearwater

CLEARWATER - Twenty Cuban Boy Scouts were welcomed to Clearwater yesterday noon by Mayor Ray E. Green. The reply was made by Manuel Aranda, scoutmaster of Troop 2 at Mantanzas, Cuba. In his reply Aranda thanked Clearwater and Pinellas Boy Scouts for courtesies extended to them.

The Cuban scouts were taken for a swim at Clearwater Beach after the luncheon and that afternoon left for St. Petersburg.

Theresa Blackwell compiles the history column. She can be reached at blackwell@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4170.

[Last modified August 1, 2006, 07:54:02]