The stories in the Suffolk News-Herald 53 years ago.

Missouri commander, officers to face General Courts Martial

NORFOLK (UPI) – General courts martial were ordered today for the commanding officer, the operations officer and the navigator of the battleship Missouri as a result of the vessels grounding in Chesapeake Bay January 17.

The courts martial were ordered by Rear Adm. Allen Smith, commander of the Cruiser Force of the Atlantic Fleet, after a review of the proceedings of the Naval court of inquiry which investigated the grounding.

W.E. MacClenny will is probated

Under the terms of the will of Major Wilbur E. MacClenny which was probated in the city clerk’s office on Tuesday, the bulk of the estate, the value of which was not named, reverts to his widow, Mrs. Irene B. MacClenny.

Written at his home, in his own handwriting, on Sept. 27, 1949, provisions of the will direct the bequeath of cash sums to three nieces and others as follows:

$200 each to Misses Ann MaClenny and Virginia MacClenny, and to Mrs. Nellie Mills Blackburn, all nieces; $100 each to Mrs. Bernice Jones Rawls and Miss Betty Julia Jones; and $200 to Antoinette Jones Birdsong.

Letter to the editor

Protests way of selling Lions Minstrel tickets

I am one of the 300 persons denied admission to the Lions Club minstrel show last night, despite the fact that they had bought tickets. I stood at the door and watched 10 to 15 persons admitted because they seemed to possess some password. This, of course, took place after the guard announced – &uot;No more seats.&uot;

You say I didn’t arrive in time. Well, I didn’t even though it was 45 minutes before curtain time that I came. Bus must I sit at least one and a half hours to see a local show?

Could you possibly have sold tickets that didn’t exist. Of course you didn’t, but a lot of people are wondering. My ticket said it was good for admission for Wednesday night, but it wasn’t. And Wednesday night was my only chance to see the show

Disgusted

Book club members hear Mrs. Gibson talk on music

The Suffolk Book Club met yesterday afternoon at the home of Mrs. David Rawls on South Broad Street and heard Mrs. William C. Gibson read an interesting paper on music of the 1890s and 1900s. Club members joined in singing the good old songs.

The speaker was Mrs. J.L. Cuthbert, program chairman. Mrs. B.E. Parker Jr. presided and announced that the business meeting scheduled for April has been postponed until May.

Those attending included Mrs. Parker, Mrs. William C. Gibson, Mrs. Frank Lumis, Mrs. Williams Birdsong, Miss Hilah Kilby, Mrs. T.H. Birdsong Jr., Mrs. J.L. Cuthbert, Mrs. Walter Story Sr. and Mrs. David Rawls.