The Conshohocken Recorder, November 21, 1961

              901
HO^C* T.OMS BOOK BINDERY
SPRINCPORT. M1CH1JAN
COMPLIMENTARY
02 Years of
Continuous
Publication
TA 8-4600 Vol. 9224
Plymouth Man
Pleads Guilty
To 11 Thefts
5 Area Burglaries
Admitted, Judge
Jailri Defendant
Five recent burglaries In the Con..
■hohocken — Upper Merlon Town- :
ship area were among 11 theft* ad- \
milted Friday In Criminal Court by
a Plymouth Meeting man who i.s
being held In the County Prison to :
await sentence.
Neal Donohue, ot 2 Church Rd..
pleaded guilty before Judge E. Am- .
old Forrest to crimes in Conshohock-en.
Plymouth Township, Upper Mer-lon
Township, Norristown and West
Norrlton Townslilp.
After hearing the evidence, Judge
Forrest remanded Donoliue to coun-ty
Jail while authorities conduct a
p re-sentence investigation.
Burglaries in this area admitted
by Donohue were:
September 26 — Hemsley's Dairy
Bar, Plymouth Township, $57; Sep-tember
27 — Snack Bur, Plymouth
Valley, $15; October 9, Carl's Diner,
Fayette St., Conshohockcn, $128;
October 18 — Murray and Moore
service station, DeKalb Pike. King
ot Prussia, $150; Johnny's Service
station, Swedesburg, $20.
Arrested by Detective
He was arrested Oct. 25 by Nor-ristown
Dectectlve John McKernan
lor questioning in connection with
a burglary on Oct. 13 at the service
Mat ion of Rocco Plgnlll, DeKalb
i*i id Washington Sts.
McKeman Informed Judge For-rest
that during the Interrogation,
Donahue also confessed to the other
burglaries.
Robert H. Qulllen, of N. Hancock
St, Philadelphia, who pleaded
kiulty to the theft of an automobile
and two burglaries in Whitemarsh
Township, was given six to 10
months in the County Prison by
Judge Forrest .
Qulllen. who was arrested Nov. 5
In Horsham Township, said he broke
into the homes of Thomas C. Bright,
Jr., Lantern Lane, Lafayette Hill,
and John W. Howard, Hart's Lone,
Mlquon, Oct. 28.
Car Parked on Lot
He stole the car from the park-ing
lot of the Hamilton Paper Com-
(Continued on Page Three)
$I)C Consljoljockcn Ikcorbcc
Conshohocken. Pa.. Tueeday. Nov. 21. 1961—10c BR 9-0950
Borough Sets Sights on Future;
Comprehensive Plan Is Ordered
. Court Decrees
Father of Six
To Lose Equity
A father of six children who de-serted
his wife and family In 1954
today lost his equity In a Plymouth
Townahlp property.
Judge E. Arnold Forrest, In a
nine-page ruling, ordered the tract
on Gravers Lane sold and the pro-ceeds
turned over to the wife, Mrs. |
Anna C. Reld.
Her husband, Sherman L. Reld,
resides at Cadillac. Mich.
The case was brought before the
Court through an equity complaint
llled by Mrs. Reld on June 8.
The couple, married in 1930. re-sided
together until Reld disappear-ed
March 10. 1954. according to the
petition.
Prom that date on. Mrs. Reld
claimed, he failed to pay her nny
support, "although he was financial-ly
able to do so."
Approximately 12 years before the
separation, Reld and his wife bought
the Gravers Lane property.
Paid AU Taies
Since his disappearance. Mrs.
Reld has paid all taxes and other
charges against the place, the total
amount being $3500. In addition,
she has paid the 1961 taxes, which
amounted to $254.
Mrs. Reid's average weekly In-come
over the past several years has
been *50, most of which has gone
toward the support of herself and
UM minor children.
In his discussion of the case. Judge
Forrest pointed out that Mrs. Reid
lied to an order iiRiilnst the
defendant (Reld) for her peal and
futon outlays for support of her'
self and the children."
He said, "the plaintiff is entitled
to reimbursement out of the pro-ceeds
of the sale of real estate."
In view of the huslwnd's refusal
to pay. Judge Forrest stated that
piymcnts should "be entorced by
sale of the real estate by a trustee
to be appointed by the Court."
In a final decree. Judge Forrest
appointed Attorney Walton Coates
as trustee and ordered him to fur-nish
bond in the amount of $18,000
2-Year
Study
Sought
Contract Signing
h Expected Soon;
Application OK'd
While its industry has been
booming and Its population rlsm.T.
Conshohocken's skyline and general
physical appearance have changed
little since the turn ot the century.
The downtown area In particular,
according to some, is withering
away through neglect.
But a new day Is fast approach-ing
Through the cooperation of far-sighted
borcigh officials and pub-lic
spirited businessmen, the bor-ough,
it seems, is about to receive
an overall face-lifting.
Borough Council and the local
Planning Commission filed with
the Montgomery County Planning
Commission an application for a
two-year study to establish a com-prehensive
planning program for
the community.
Sent to Washington
The application already has the
approval of Council and the Com-monwealth,
and has been sent to
the Housing and Home Finance
Agency, Washington. D. C.
"We are looking forward to the
j'lpnlng of a contract between the
Borough and the County soon,"
said Howard Grossman, chief of
the planning division of the Coun-ty
unit.
The study, Grossman stated, will
cost approximately $10,400, two-thirds
of which will come from the
Federal Government. Of the re-mainder,
one-sixth will be con-tributed
by the Borough and the
remainder by the County In the
form of technical assistance ** ao-pioved
by the County Commis-sioners,
The compreheaslve study, ac-cording
to Grossman and Arthur
P Loeben, director of the County
Planning Commission, Is Just the
beginning.
.Utter Phase Plannrd
If funds are available, they dls-
County
To Help
Locally
Director Termt
Hontco Leader
In This Field
Con.s hohocken'a decision to obtain
i comprehensive plan to aid In
'Final' Route
Of Expressway
Still in Doubt
Slat** Officiali Eye
Public's Reaction,
Protests Krronlril
; dcounty Expressway, brlng-in;
a new SchuyUdll River bridge
for UK Consnohoekeri urea, must
weather ■ storm oi public n
, ., i - . red
■
i ■ tl-mile nip
planned frani Ridley To
Delaware County, to conno
the Pennsylvania Turnpike In pry-mouth
Township,
the subject of heated controversy,
Of m Delaware County,
p.irk H. Marl
of highwi
that public protesl oould evt I
I Mottling of ph.iis.
S. C. Weikcrt, district engineer lor
the State Hlgfa ray D pertinent,
said protests by groups and indi-chartlng
the community's future rtduala Meoud affect the final route."
has been encouraged by the Mont- Hn.il Pluses liiselosrd
gomery County Planning Commls-I The nee route, with final
blon. for Montgomery and Del
The county unit takes an aethn I mm disclosed last Thurs-role
in providing technical assist
ance and advice to local municipal-ities
seeking comprehensive plans
In this area of the county. White-marsh
Township recently con-tracted
for a comprehensive plan.
Ir. Wn.'.pain Township, a compre-hensive
plan is under way.
A plan already has been com-pleted
for Lower Gwyncdd Town-
Du"ector Arthur F. Loeben. Coun-ty
Planning Commission, said thai
this county is "the leader" in pro-viding
assistance to muncipallties
in obtaining comprehensive plans
day.
A quick decision to go ahead on
the $30 million project could mean
■ Ion of the •■ ::■
river bridge within 36 monthr.
The expressway will enter afottt-gninery
County In Lower
The publ'C will be able to
inspect detailed local map
Nov. 30 at two State Highway
Department offices In this area.
The times will be M
through Friday. 8 A. M to 4:30
P. M at the district office. 44U
Montgomery Ave., Have
n^d the maintenance office,
llarkley Bt. and Johnson High-way,
East Norrlton.
TARGET FOR TOMORROW — The Conshohocken
business district plays a key role in considerations of
borough officials to seek a comprehensive plan. The
of representatives of these agen-cies
Is preparing facts and figures
t*» determine the best place, accord-ing
to Grossman.
He described the parking situa-tion
in the borough's main com-mercial
zone as "very bad."
<}iicstionaire Mailed
general appearance and well-being of tho business dis-trict
will be weighed carefully in planning for the future
of the borough.
ciosed, this will be followed by re-newal
and redevelopment programs,
the latter phase earmarked for
1965
Although the comprehensive
planning contract Is not yet signed,
work already has been started on
a program to give the town's mer-
"shot in.the arm"
With the cooperation of Borough
officials, the local Chamber of
Commerce, Junior Chamber of
Commerce, Borough Planning
Commission and the County Plan-ning
Commission, efforts ore be-ing
made to find a suitable loca-tion
for a downtown parking lot.
A working committee consisting
study of our community.
"Enclosed is a questlonalre for
the purpose of gathering prelimin-ary
Information. This information
Is vital for the future planning of
Conshohocken.
"We ask your cooperation."
pie letter Is signed by William
In order t§> gather vital Informa-f i?nvjs. Jr., Chamber president.
tion. the Conshohocken Chamber
ol Commerce Is sending: out a ques-tlonalre
with the following letter
to local commercial houses:
"The Chamber of Commerce, in
cooperation with the Conshohocken
Planning Commission, Is aiding
the Montgomery County Planning
Commission with its comprehensive
The accompanying questlonalre.
entitled "commercial Inventory sur-vey,"
seeks such information as the
size of each establishment, hours
o. operation, suggestions for Im-proving
the business area, what
the requirements are for off-street
parking, number of employes and
customers and whether or not the
(Photo by Anthony)
firm has its own parking facilities.
Authority Recommended
In order that the proposed munl-
BaeM f'miniir.*. Different
In some counties, Loeben said.
the county itself at temps to work
out a comprehensive plun. The lo-, ^——
eel communities then must adopt near Gulph Mills. Upper Merlon.
what has been incorporated In under the new plans
the county's comprehensive plan. A p||bll(. h(M,1!;i; l5 scheduled
The director said Montgomery I tentatively for 7:20 P M, Friday,
County has adopted the opposite Dec. 8. at the Plymouth-Whiteinarsb
view—that planning must begin
from the local level.
The County Planning Commls-cipal
parking lot may take form as slon has urged the local communi-soon
as possible, the Chamber of
Commerce has recommended to
Borough Council that It appoint a
parking authority which would
hjvp th»> right 'o Jwiie bonds to
finance it. This proposal Is now be-ing
studied.
"This would set up the me-chanism,
and the authority could
go ahead once the site is selected,"
Grossman pointed out.
He said that on October 18, a
public meeting was held in Con-tContinued
on Page Three)
ties to get comprehensive plans.
The importance of local planning
has been highlighted by the State
Supreme Court's decision in a case
orltfinntln; ;u Montgomery Coun-ty
In Eves vs. Lower Gwynedd, the
high DOUTl reversed a lower court
ruling which permitted the down-grading
of property to permit in-dustrial
development.
Cave Was Appealed
The state Supreme Court re-
(Continued on Page Three)
Junk Yard Operator
Discharged by Judge
The fact that a Junk yard has
no resemblance whatever to a rose
garden Is not sufficient grounds to
arrest and prosecute the owner.
This was the argument made in
Quarter Sessions Court. Friday,
by Attorney James R. Caiola in be-half
of his client Charles F. Mon-tague.
Montague has been operating a
Junk business ut 139 E. Ninth Ave.
Conshohocken for the past 40 years.
On July 13, he was fined $100 by
Justice of the Peace Francis Bob-cnreilh
after being arrested on a
charge that his Junk yard was a
"nuisance."
The Information was signed by
Mayor James J. "Pal" Mellon.
Returns 5100 Fine
Visiting Judge Herman Rodgcrs.
of Mercer County, agreed with Cal-ola's
argument at the appeal hear-ing.
He discharged Montague and
ordered his $100 returned.
"The mere fact that people don't
like the looks of a Junk yard Is not
enough evidence to say that It is
a nuisunce." Caiola conlended.
Appeurlng as witnesses for the
Commonwealth were Mayor Mellon
nnd former borough secretary Jos-eph
Qulnn.
Mellon testified that Montague
was warned on March 7 to "clean
up" the place in 15 days, but had
neglected to do so.
Caiola said there was nothing to
"clean up. "He maintained thai the
scrnp collected by Montague con-sisted
mainly of light sheet metal
which Is graded and placed in dif-ferent
parts of the yard.
No Complaints Received
He brought out also that there
never were any complaints about
rodents and vermin.
In his petition for an appeal,
Caiola advised the Court that Mellon
was the only witness to testify
against Montague at the hearing
before Bobenrellh.
"His testimony." the lawyer al-leged,
"was entirely in the nature of
heresay evidence.
"Further, he staled as a conclus-ion
tii.it the different piles of scrap
metal count cause a breeding place
for rodents and there were recep-
(Continued on Page Three)
Seven Injured
On Highways
An overturned truck Injured the
driver and slowed traffic to a
crawl on the Schuylkill Expressway,
two miles east of the Valley Forge
Interchange. Saturday.
The driver. John Williams. 40
of 212 E. Rittenhouse St. Phila-delphia,
was taken to Sacred
Heart Hospital in the George Clay
ambulance, of West Conshohocken
He was discharged after receiving
treatment for an elbow injury.
iVotr in The Recorder
Editorials -Timely comment
affairs.
on local and national
Page 4
Strictly Politics—The staff writes about things political
locally and county-wide. Page 4
Hometown Profile—An article and picture each week
about a local personality. Page 4
Fashions—By Tracy Adrian and Sue Bardcn. These
fashion experts bring you the latest from
the world of women's clothes. Page 5
Mary Martin Dies Pattern! New and up-to-date pat-terns
weekly. I'»t-'e 5
Hints for the Home—Joan O'Siillivan's famous feature
will bring you news on decorating, furni-ture,
menus and the like. Pare 5
Elmo's Appeal
To Be Heard
By High Court
The State Supreme Court will
hear tomorrow that Elmo Smith
does not deserve to die for killing
Maryann Mitchell, 16-year-old
Manayunk school girl.
The Upper Merlon Townahlp han-dyman,
the Justices will be told,
was unjustly sentenced to the elec-tric
chair and his penalty should be
reduced to life imprisonment.
These arguments will be ad-vanced
by Court-appointed defense
attorneys. Joseph P. Phelpe, Jr. and
Oilbert P. High before the high tri-bunal
sitting in Philadelphia.
Assistant District Attorney Vin-cent
A. Cirlllo, on the other hand,
maintained that the verdict was
justified.
Young Mnryann's ravaged and
almost nude body was found In a
remote section of Whitemarsh
Township, off Hart's Lane, last
January.
she had disappeared late in De-cember
after leaving several teen-age
friends with whom she had at-tended
a movie In Manayunk.
Smith was arrested soon after
discovery of the body by State Po-lice
and Philadelphia detectives. He
had Just been released from Gra-terford
Penitentiary where he spent
10 years for vicious attacks on
Williams, who climbed through women In Upper Merlon, Bridge-window
of the cab told State port 0nd Norristown.
Judge Honeyman Blasts New Law
That Adds Township Supervisors
County Judge Robert W. Honey-man
fired a broadside today at re-cently-
enacted legislation which
gives townships like Upper Merlon
and Whitemarsh th i right to have
five supervisors instead of three.
"It doesn't go far enough, and
there Is a good chance It could be
successfully challenged In a test
case," declared Honeyman.
He added, however, that he
would not alone assume the re-sponsibility
of resolving the issue
should It arise.
What Honeyman objects to Is
that the act, in his opinion, falls
short of its mark.
Under its provisions, second class
townships with a population of 10.-
000 or more, can have a five man
board of supervisors instead of
three.
But It speclflces that the two
new supervisors must be elected
"at the next municipal election "
No Mention Made
The act makes no mention of ap-points.
Just last week, Honeyman signed
a decree creating two new super-visor
posts In Whitemarsh. and
may be called upon soon to do the
same for Upper Merlon.
In both cases, the way was
paved for an enlarged board when
objections were withdrawn by citi-zens
who at first opposed the move.
Attorney Jesse W. Beeghley, Jr.
represented the objectors in White-marsh,
and Attorney Edward R.
Taylor those In Upper Merlon.
"Since I have signed the order."
sa!1 Honeyman, "Whitemarsh Is
Notice!
No trash will be collected in
the Borough of Conshohocken
on Thanksgiving Day. The next
regular collection on the Ka*t
Side will be on Monday. Nov. 27.
Francis Roop. chairman of
Sanitation, rails this matter to
your attention.
HiKh School.
Federal law limits the discussion
to economic effects of the hi,:
Nlntey percent of the cost will be
paid by the federal government.
Varying Reactions Shown
In addition to reaction from home-owners
and businessmen whose es-tablishments
would b<
v bae drawn varying re-actions
as to its effect on stimulation
of industrial growth.
Proponents claim it would pro-vide
a long-needed direct link from
this area to Obetter City Miid the
Industrial Highway. They claim this
would be benefleail nnd would lure
industry to this areo.
Others feel the expressway would
permit this area to be by-passed,
thus losing Its attraction to Indus-try
The latest proposal Is a modified
version of the so-called Blue Route
which would take it through the
Crum Creek Valley In I>>
County. These plans have been tfi*
now entitled to have two more cepted by Martin and his State
supervisors, but the posts must re- H , Departmeiil staff,
years be- | Rap X*w Proposal
The Combined Civic Associations
of Delaware and Montgomery Coun-ninln
vacant for two
cause of short-sighted legislation'
Parallel Situation
He said Upper Merlon will be faced
with the same situation when he
signs a decree for 'hat township
The next general municipal elec-tion,
when the posts may be legally
filled under the act. does not fall
until November, 1963 with the suc-cessful
candidates taking office In
January. 1964.
Honeyman said that Attorney
Daniel L. Qulnlan, township solici-tor
for Upper Merlon, has "burned
the midnight oil" trying to find a
way of interpreting the act so tliat
the vacancies could be filled at
once.
Under provisions of the old Sec-ond
Class Township Code It was
permissible for . mbers of the
board to fill existing vacancies. It
they could not agree, appoint-ments
were made by the Court.
lies charge the new route will re-sult
"In another poorly-di
limited Boceai highway similar to
(Continued on Page Three)
Rockett Re-elected
As Bank Director
. 3. Rockett. president of
the Conshohocken Federal Savings
and Loan Association, was one of
eleven re-elected to serve a two
year term as •' 'Irector of the
Federal Home I *a Bank of Pitts-burgh.
The bank with assets of 280
million dollar.-, rings and
loan association's in Pennsylvania.
Delaware and West Virginia, pro-viding
funds for rrlending for home
mortgage loans. The bank Is slml-ftderal
Reserve Bank
with its function with banks.
'Beat Phoenixville9 Spirit Flares as Golden Bears Line lip for Action
Police his truck developed mechani-cal
trouble and ran out of control
It Jumped the medial strip and up-set
in the opposite westbound lane.
Phelps and High will argue that
the death penalty imposed on
Smith represented on "abuse of dis-cretion
by the Jury" of nine men
Williams Is employed by the arid three women in Adams County
Technical Maintenance Products! where the case was heard.
Company. Brown's Mill. N, J Hr m his argument tomorrow, Clr-had
Just completed a Job at the.njo will say that the verdict was
General Electric Company plant ; Justified.
King of Prussia, and wns return-] He will point out that there had
Ing home when the accident hap-: been ample time for the Jury to
pened.
Other Accident*
Mrs. Esther Swope. 56. of 201
Lafayette Ave., Oreland. suffered
scalp lacerations and a back injury
Friday afternoon In a Norristown
accident. She was admitted to
Montgomery Hosplt"1
Police said the woman was walk-ing
across W. Main St.. near Bar-bbdoes,
when she was struck by the
car of Michael J Evangelist. 413
Forrest Aw.. Norristown.
James J. McAfee. 37. of 1549
Sullivan Drive. Norristown, was ad-mitted
to Montgomery Hospital
With face lacerations and a frac-tured
Jaw early Saturday after his
car slammed Into a utility pole on
Bethlehem Pike, near the Sunny
Lrnd Day Camp. Whitemarsh
Tjwnshlp.
McAfee told Police Sergeant C
L.oyJ FrankentirH that he
consider the testimony.
Both Cirillo and District Attor-ney
Harold Spencer will term the
crime one of the most vicious ever
committed in Uie Conshohocken-
Upper Merlon area. They will urge
that the verdict be sustained.
At the time of his arrest. Smith
was employed as a handyman at
a King of Prussia motel where his
mother also worked as a maid.
Their home is on W. Sixth St.,
Bridgeport.
BRIDGEPORT YOUTH FINBD
Arraigned before Magistrate Fran-cis
J. Bobenrelth on charges of dis-orderly
conduct. David Hansel), 19.
of the 200 block of East Fourtli St..
was found guilty and ordered to pay
a $10 fine. He was arrested at Elm
and Fayette Sts., Friday evening by
Officers Peter Vennero nnd Har-fell
rlsoii Langlcy, of the Borough of
C nimued on Pa± Seven/ tConshohocken police. i
TURKEY DAY CLASSIC: They're ready to m into
the season's final game against Phoenixville on Thanks-giving
Day with high hopes of victory. C'onshohocker
High School football team's tentative starting line-up.
u announced by Coach Raj Weaver, who calls the spirit
"very good" is shown (I. to r. front row) Donald Smith,
K.E.. senior; John Di Palma, R.T.; Calvin Flowers, R.G..
senior; .lames Do Sante. (.'.; .lames .Mullen. I..G.. senior;
David Gryga. L.T.: Michael Etheridgo, L.E.: and the
baekfleU of Edward Selders, Q.R.. senior; (1. to r.) Dai M
Lawrence, R.H senior; Ernes! Hathis, P.B.; and Prank
Graham, in senior. ., ..,,