Orlando Evening Star from Orlando, Florida • 11

Sewerage Gam Financing Held Lax i lVJr if acKi sums By ED BERND Staff Writer I a ncial condition of 0 1 1 111 fc i 1 I 1 1 1 A pulled "Shall a gun and said I blow his head off now?" "Naturally I became nervous," smiled Fidder-man, "and I explained that they wanted only to get the money back and killing me wouldn't accomplish that." HE TESTIFIED the encounter happened after McCormick had taken him to meet Blackburn at the Mid-Florida Country Club near Orlando, where he said McCormick had business with Blackburn, which he did not know about. He said that Blackburn merely asked him if the check was good. After the gun threat, he Orlando evening star tfTtfai KM Page 3 A Wednesday, Aug. 19, 1970 show a widespread crimU nal operation Involving Shylock loans in connec tion with gambling opera tions. Fidderman also said that on two other occasions he called Blackburn when in need of money and one time obtained $750 from a man called "Joe the Boss," who ran a Collins Avenue fruit stand in Miami Beach and another time $150 which he told Blackburn he needed to get out of town to avoid prosecution by local authorities for passing bad checks.

Fidderman denied, however, that he had agreed with Blackburn to get out of town after a grand jury had indicted the Mafia associate on the current charges. He said that he was arrested in Houston, where he had been working for three months under an assumed name, and was jailed under a $250,000 bond. 4 Mil EXACT CHANGE ONLY Demands attendant Thomas Gas Station Tries Robber -Proofing I 'oym-iwmtvy 1 '4 I By PEGGY POOR Staff Writer JACK SONVILLE A squat man, wide as he was tali in an elegant pearl gray suit, waddled to the witness stand today to fill in details of the Texas real estate transaction which has made Mafia associate Iarlan Alexander Black burn a defendant in federal court. Monas Fidd erman, 1 of Titusville, blandly admitting to "taking action" as a bookmaker, told how he had lost $9,500 on football bets through alleged Blackburn employe Thomas Patrick McCormick. HE "FORGED" a ficti tious check on a Pennsylvania bank, hoping to re coup on more bets, he testified.

He said that McCormick, when the check bounced, met him with an unknown companion in a back seat in Titusville. The companion Gun Use Inquiry Pressed An Orlando police artment investigation continued Wednesday to determine if use of a gun by policeman Clarence Bass a sting two suspected women shoplifters was necessary. Capt. James Brown, of Orlando Police Depart-ment, said a final hearing date has not been set. Last Wednesday a hearing was held but no decision was made.

1 1 a a more witnesses will be called to testify in the probe. THIS IS the third time Bass has been investigated for using his gun. He was cleared the other two times. The investigations are automatic each time an officer uses his revolver. Bass stopped the wom en's car just west of Sum- merlin Avenue on Living ston Street by shooting the rear tire out during a chase.

The incident started at Colonial Plaza Shopping Center where Bass, work ing as a security guard on his day off, attempted to arrest the women for shoplifting. MEANWHILE, Brown said no action will be taken concerning off-duty police man Dave France who stopped and, charged an 18-year-old boy with reckless driving at Summerlin Avenue and Central Boule vard. France, who gave chase in his private car from his home on Ride ewood Avenue, was not in uniform and had a gun visible when he arrested the youth. Area residents com-plained to police that France frightened them because he was not recognizable as a police officer. Children's Film "And Now Miguel," a film about a New Mexico boy who longs to be a sheep raiser, will be shown Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

in the main auditorium of the Orlando Public Library, 10 N. Rosalind Ave. By RALPH PUGH Staff Writer It's another sign of our times. Posted just above the pumps at Imperial Oil Station on U. S.

17-92 in Winter Park, the sign reads: "Attendant Carries No Money." As it explains, all purchases between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. must be paid in exact change or with credit cards. THIS IS to discourage would-be robbers. The money received during these hours is placed in a steel-reinforced concrete safe attached to a pole.

It cannot be opened even by the attendant. I 1 in ll I I Orange County's sewer system operations was described as "precarious" today by Circuit Court Clerk Kenneth Kienth. Kienth cited $48,000 in bad debts, slow payment for service, a deficit of for construction, and an obligation of for engineering services for which funds are not available. KIENTH, auditor and fis cal officer for the countv commission, said he had written Commissioner Ben Benham, in charge of sewer operations, about the financial status. The county operates the sewer system and disposal plants through districts which can issue revenue bonds obligating customer service payments for construction.

Kienth said the Southwest sewer district showed a $3,177 net operating profit for June and July. BUT, HE SAID, of ser vice charges of $43,000, only $30,000 was collected, indicating a "considerable lag in customer pay ments." He added some of the accounts are more than 120 days past due. Kienth said $28,000 for 1 a 1 1 a ion of sewer facilities in Central Florl da Industrial Park is past due. He also cited $20,000 due from Stackhouse Construe tion Co. for lines to serve a new apartment complex on Holden Avenue.

The de veloperRoy Stackhouse Titusville stopped work on the project after a mortgage commitment was withdrawn. KIENTH SAID the county owes $173,561 to contractors or a i construction projects but has only $105, 176 on hand for payment More than $50,000 al ready has been obligated for engineering on the Big Inch connector line in West Orange, and another $125, 000 is anticipated, Kienth said. So far the proposed $3.5 million line has not been approved by state authorities and area planning councils. Osceola County also is threatening legal action to block any increase in effluent from the southwest disposal plant. THE COUNTY received bids today for a $595,000 bond issue but $485,000 will go to pay off a bank loan.

After fees to fiscal agents, the county will net only $65,000 which can be used to pay off contractors, Kienth noted. Additionally, he said, there is a balance of only $4,329 in the renewal and replacement fund which does not i any large reservoir of money to take care of emergencies." Auto Plate Deadline Tomorrow Thursday is the final day to purchase 1970 automobile license tags before the midnight Thursday deadline for displaying the new blue and white plates. Long lines have formed at the county's seven locations. Tax Collector Earl Wood said the lines are anticipated each year, but the operation was made smoother this year by increasing the number of tag sale locations. THE AVERAGE waiting time at county tag agencies has been 45 minutes.

Wood predicted tag sales would exceed 200,000. The seven sales locations and hours are: North Orange Avenue office, 8:30 a.m. 5 p.m.; Commercial Bank in Apopka, 9 a.m.-4 through Thursday; First National Bank of Maitland, 9 a.m.-4 p.m through Thursday; Colonial Plaza and Winter Park Mall booths, both open 10 a.m. -8 p.m.; Dillard Street office in Winter Garden, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; and 1222 Orange Ave. in Winter Park, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

met McCormick at the parking lot of Monte's Pub in Winter Park and went to the Fern Park law office of Gene Stephenson, where they were met by Blackburn and attorney Paul Kelly, III, then practising in Cocoa Beach. Kelly made the phone calls to Sierra Blanca, to check tax matters on the property which figures in the federal indictment against Blackburn on charges of using interstate commerce for illegal gambling. At that meeting, Fid-derman testified he signed over and gave to Blackburn a note for $3,200, which he held from Jack Harris, then owner of the Imperial Towers Lounge in Titusville, where he himself was at the time employed. THIS IS the first mention of the note in the court and adds ammunition to the prosecution's opening statements that they would Star Photo Arrow, presented a powwow dance. The ancient Council Oak, struck by lightning in the early 1890s, remained as a gauit skeleton until 1910, then crumbled away.

Downtown Penney Store Hit A Downtown Orlando department store which police say had no burglar alarm system was struck by burglars who stole eight television sets after smashing a show window with a large rock Tuesday night. Patrolman Robert G. Faurot said the portable television sets, which had a total value of $1,733, were taken out a large plate glass window on the Jefferson Street side of J. C. Penney Co.

department store, 138 N. Orange Ave. IT WAS at least the third time in the last month the store had been burglarized, Faurot reported. He said store officials were thinking of installing a closed circuit television burglar detection system although the store is not now burglar proof. Faurot said a piece of white paper towel covered with blood was found inside the store.

The burglars were probably scared away because they left a portable color television set near the broken window, police reported. HISTORIC MARKER UNVEILED With an average of four gas station and open air market robberies weekly in Orange County, this might be a good idea, says Sheriff Dave Starr. "I think it will work," Starr said. "We have a lot of station robberies but you just can't watch them all." STARR SAID most of the robberies occur late at night or in early hours. However, Starr warned, the gimmick might backfire if an armed robber does not believe the attendant cannot open the safe as the sign states.

"He just might decide to shoot and ask questions later," he said. towards the Isle of Cata- Una. Deputies said a blue hat with the words "Cat Fish" written on it was found later on a street under the Interstate 4 overpass. One of the bandits reportedly had been wearing the hat during the robbery. site of 'Council Oak1 County Places Plaque At Site Of Council Oak lis III REGULA Star Photo Fefton Orlando Police Depart ment Capt.

James Brown, also likes the idea. He said Orlando has always had a problem with gas stations and all-night drive-in markets because they "are so easy to rob." "THERE'S ONLY one person in the store usually and a bandit can get away fast," Brown said. "But when you rob a big store of something during the day you usually have to hold up a lot of customers." Brown said most gas customers carry credit cards and the a system would work at stations much better than markets. "You'll always have to have some change on hand at a market," he said. "And usually they don't keep more than Yet they are constantly robbed." WINTER PARK Police Chief Melvin Colman thinks the system is not justified.

"I don't see why it's necessary," he said. "We only had two armed robberies in Winter Park this year. But I guess it's up to the management if it wants to." They do. And they call their station theft proof. "It may be," said one all-night station attendant.

"I just hope the bandits can read." he died of a brain hemorrhage, Hegert said. He said he found bruises on the infant's head and face. Hegert speculated the child died between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Tuesday.

THE INFANT was born in Maryland and brought to Winter Park three months ago. His family listed no brothers or sisters as survivors. Burglars Loot Tire Company Theft of a check writing machine and $225 worth of recapped tires from East Coast Tire Service, 8000 Overland Road, Tuesday, was under investigation today by Orange County sheriff's deputies. Oscar McDonald, plant manager at the company told deputies burglars climbed over a six-foot chain-link fence and broke several doors to gain entry to the building. ft it Gas Station Robbed Four young men who cleaned out a cash register reportedly robbed an an undisclosed amount Orange County service sta- of 4 The bandits also stole the tion at gunpoint late Tues- attendant's $40 watch be- day night were being fore fleeing north on foot Power Rates Increase Orlando Utilities Commission rates were higher this month than last but officials are not certain what will happen next month.

It will depend on the official price of fuel oil at Port Tampa, Curtis Stan ton, vice president and general manager of OUC, said today. HE EXPLAINED that the August billing rates are one cent per eight kilowatts higher than in July-meaning $1.10 a month hike for the average residential user. This is based on an average home use of 10,530 kilowatt hours per resident per year, according to the OUC's rate schedule. Stanton said for every eight cents per million BTU (British Thermal Unit) increase in fuel price, or major fraction of eight cents, over 33 cents per million BTU, the consumer price per kilowatt hour increases one-eighth of a cent. It is a month-to-month variable.

THE PRICE increase was dictated by the June listing of fuel oil prices at Port Tampa, Stanton said. Prior to June, the official listing was 33 cents per million BTU but it jumped 25 cents that month. Orlando Utility Commission's price for fuel oil used in generating electricity was not affected by this, Stanton said, because a contract with Belcher Oil Co. mandates a firm $2.30 per barrel cost. HOWEVER, 75 per cent of the firm's generating is done by gas firing and gas prices are set according to official fuel oil prices.

"The gas we used in June cost 37.5 cents per million BTU," Stanton said, "And that was over the major fraction of an eight cent increase in price, according to our fuel adjustment clause in the rate schedule." The current price for gas is 38.5 cents per million BTU, Stanton added. If and when it becomes 41 cents per million, rates will go up again, he said. STANTON SAID the drastic increase in official fuel oil costs at Tampa was caused by a number of factors, including pollution control. "Many new and existing plants are switching from coal firing to oil firing to reduce pollution emissions in the air," be said. "Consequently low sulphur oil which we buy is more in demand and utilities arc caught in the supply and demand squeeze," he said.

Poce Probing Death Of Winter Park Baby The site of the old Council Oak, where Indian chieftains met to plan strategies in the second Seminole War, was marked with a stone plaque Wednesday by the Orange County Historical Commission. The plaque was unveiled on South Fern Creek Avenue north of Gatlin Avenue, a mile from Fort Gatlin, a paleface stronghold during the fierce battles between 1835 and 1842. "THE WAR never endea' officially," D. A. Cheney, i ion chairman, said.

"There was never a treaty with the Seminoles who now live in the Everglades where they retreated after their defeat. Robert Mitchell, an Orlando nurseryman of part Indian descent, was introduced as "friend of the Indian," Boy Scouts of Tipisa Lodge, Order of the COMMISSIONERS said they figured the lower interest bid would mean a savings of at least $10,000. Leedy, Wheeler and Al-leman today submitted the high bid 7.434 per cent. William R. Hough and Co.

was in the middle with 7.314 percent. THE BOND issue will be used to pay off a bank loan of which has already been spent for sewer construction. After that and other fees the county will have left $85,000 for sewer projects. sought today by sheriffs deputies. The quartet held up William L.

McKenzie, 28, an attendant at the Texaco Station, 2900 33rd at 11:22 p.m. McKenzie told deputies two of the young men stood guard outside ile their companions Orlando Site For Reunion Of 101 st Orlando has been chosen by the 101st' Airborne Division as the location for its 1972 reunion. The city was selected at a recent convention in Nashville from a list of competing sites inchding Dallas, Denver, St. York City. Houston, Louis and New REPRESENTING Orlando at the convention were Mrs.

Doris Cook, sales director of the Robert Meyer Motor Inn, and Gene Hassett, director of the convention department of the Orlando Area Chamber of Commerce. More than 800 delegates from the United States and 150 from Holland are expected to att'end the annual reunion of the WWII, Korean and Vietnam veterans. The Robert Meyer Motor Inn will be convention headquarters for the August, 1972 meeting. County Bond Saving Justifies Sale By Bid The sudden death Tuesday of a four-month-old Winter Park boy who reportedly died following a fall on a marble floor in his home was under investigation today by Winter Park detectives. Melvin G.

Colman, Winter Park chief of police, would not comment today other than to confirm the circumstances surrounding the baby's death were being probed. Dr. Thomas Hegert, Orange County medical examiner, said John James Martin, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Martin, 1127 Oaks was found dead by his parents at about 5 a.m.

HEGERT said the infant's parents told him the baby fell from a davenport and hit his head on the floor at about 6:30 p.m. Monday. The baby was "fussy for a little while," Hegert said his He fell alsccp about 10 p.m. An autopsy on the baby Tuesday morning disclosed Orange County saved about $10,000 through bidding today on a $595,000 sewer revenue bond issue. The low bid of a 7.243 per cent coupon was submitted by Stone and Youngberg.

Several months ago Leedy, Wheeler and Al-leman had offered to buy the bonds at 7.499 per cent, a fraction under the state legal limit of 7.50 per cent. But countv commissioners I declined, deciding to take a chance on getting a lower interest rate through.