1955 Retrospective
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THE PLAIN DEALER . SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1999 5-D OURCENTURY 1955 ATA GLANCE Court rejects Sheppard Rapid reflects city’s growth appeal, new evidence Defense attorney William Corrigan had high hopes when he appealed Sam Sheppard’s mur- der conviction to the Court of Appeals. He ar- gued that 29 rulings by Judge Edward Blythin were in error. More important, he submitted a 59-page report by noted forensic scientist Paul Leland Kirk as newly discovered evidence. Kirk had examined the murder scene when the house was returned to the Sheppard family after the trial. He challenged a number of findings by the police and the coroner’s office. He said the pattern of the blood splatters indi- cated the killer was left-handed; Sheppard was right-handed. He said the killer had been se- verely bitten by Marilyn; Sheppard had no ex- ternal wounds. And he said some of the blood in the house was neither Marilyn’s nor Sam’s, indicating the presence of a third person. The court unanimously rejected the appeal, saying the report did not qualify as newly dis- covered evidence because it could have been gathered before the trial. Corrigan had said before the trial that Dr. Anthony Kazlauckas, a former deputy county coroner, would examine the house, but changed his mind because, he said in the appeal, police would have knowl- edge of the result. Even Paul Holmes, whose PLAIN DEALER FILE PHOTOS book “The Sheppard Case” concluded Shep- The public awaits: Opening Day of the new rapid transit system, at the Terminal concourse. pard was innocent, said Corrigan had made a key mistake. In the second trial 11 years later, Kirk’s re- port would be crucial. Meanwhile, on July 20, Thousands turn out Sheppard became convict No. 98660 in the Ohio Penitentiary. to ride trains, cheer • transportation Under a 1953 charter amendment, if a can- breakthrough didate won more than 50 percent of the vote in a primary he was elected and there was no general election. As a result, Mayor Anthony By Fred McGunagle Celebrezze became “the first Cleveland mayor The dream was alive again, almost to win by a shutout,” according to The Plain as though the previous 25 years had Dealer. With 55 percent in the primary, Cele- never happened. The band played and thousands brezze easily cheered April 16 as the first sleek, defeated en- blue and gray rapid car glided into a dorsed Demo- gleaming station — an area that had crat Joseph been a dusty storage site since the Bartunek, Re- opening of Union Terminal in 1930. publican Ker- It was just as the Van Sweringens mit Neely and had planned it before the Depression Democrats Al- put a cruel end to their — and Cleve- exander Martin land’s — dreams. (the first black Once more, the city’s factories to run for were booming. Once more, new mayor) and Clevelanders were arriving daily Robert Swee- from the South. And now, Cleveland ney. looked forward to becoming a world Nineteen port with the opening of the St. Law- council mem- rence Seaway in a few years. PLAIN DEALER FILE bers and one Cleveland, America’s seventh- newcomer also William Ganson Rose, chairman of the civic celebration, second from right, passes out literature at the opening of largest city, had become the sixth the rapid at the Union Terminal. Frank P. Celeste, new wrapped up American city with a rapid transit mayor of Lakewood, their seats. The system. In a few short years, it ex- with his wife, Margaret, party organiza- pected to have a downtown subway, mile extension to W. 143rd St. and Lo- and son, Ted, 10. tions were in the mark of a truly great city. Voters rain awaited right-of-way negotia- shreds and had passed the $35 million bond issue tions, and an eastern branch up Ce- there were calls the previous fall. dar Hill to Coventry Rd. awaited for replacement of GOP Chairman Alexander “Cleveland is experiencing a new funding. Other areas clamored for L. Demaioribus and Democrat Ray T. Miller. civic birth,” Mayor Anthony Cele- their own rapid lines. In Lakewood, Frank Celeste succeeded brezze proclaimed, his chest swelling More than 20,000 riders put their Amos Kaufman, who was retiring as mayor behind his breast-pocket handker- two dimes (or a nickel if they had a after 23 years. Shaker Heights defeated a chief. William Ganson Rose, chair- transfer) in the turnstile the first day. charter amendment for a city manager but man of the civic celebration, told the They marveled at the smooth ride on elected Wilson Stapleton, who favored the crowd, “Cleveland is not the biggest welded rails, the fluorescent lighting, amendment, as mayor. city, but it does the biggest things.” the large, sealed windows with • The rapid was a big thing. It had forced-air ventilation, the foam rub- cost $30 million, with a Reconstruc- ber seats and stainless-steel fittings The Indians had their most exciting young tion Finance Corp. loan to be repaid that wouldn’t snag nylons. pitcher since young Bob Feller in 1936. Left- from the fare box. The East Side sec- That crowd was dwarfed by the es- hander Herb Score led the lead in strikeouts tion, the part opening in April, had timated 45,000 who turned out on while winning 16 games and rookie-of-the- been more than three years in con- Sunday, Aug. 14, when East met year honors. Bob Lemon led the league with 18 struction. Each of its 68 cars seated West. It was “Free Ride Day,” an idea wins, Early Wynn won 17 and Bob Feller won 52 riders and was capable of 47 mph. borrowed from legendary Mayor Tom 13, including his 12th one-hitter. They made the eight-mile trip from L. Johnson, and families with chil- Al Smith hit 27 home runs, Larry Doby 26, Windermere Station in East Cleve- dren were prominent in the long Al Rosen 21 and Ralph Kiner, obtained from land to the Terminal in 18 minutes. lines. They rode between Winder- the Chicago Cubs, 18. The Tribe battled the The West Side section, due to open mere and W. 117th in 28 minutes, Yankees for first place all season, but wound waving at bystanders from the big up three games short of the pennant. in August, would bring it to W. 117th St. and Madison Ave., a total of 13 windows as they glided through parts • miles, with four more stations. A two- of town many never had seen before. Many commuters were delighted, Passengers board a train at the Windermere Station in East Cleveland. Behind Otto Graham, whom Paul Brown especially those who worked near the had talked out of retirement, the Browns won Terminal. They could take the rapid their 10th straight division title, scoring more instead of driving and paying an out- That would bring 75 percent of ity than the 2-1 approval they had points and allowing fewer than any other team rageous $1.25 to park all day near downtown commuters to a stop within given the subway. Lower E. 9th St., in the NFL. The title game against the Los An- Public Square. West Side motorists 700 feet of their destination. It would with its dilapidated bars and flop- geles Rams would be the last for the great were pleased, too; there was less con- give Higbee’s, Halle’s, May’s and houses, suddenly looked like valuable Graham. gestion on the bridges over the Cuya- Sterling-Lindner-Davis a chance to real estate. There was talk of renam- Before a record 87,695 in the Los Angeles hoga River. reclaim shoppers they were losing to ing it “Seaway Blvd.” Coliseum, Graham went out in style. He threw Other commuters, especially those the suburban shopping centers. At year’s end, the Chamber of Com- touchdown passes of 50 yards to Dante Lavelli who worked “uptown” near Play- Meanwhile, excitement grew over merce announced that Cleveland had and 35 yards to Ray Renfro and scored on runs house Square, were less enthusiastic. the coming arrival in Cleveland of added a record 89 manufacturing of 15 and 1. Lou Groza kicked five extra points Before, they could catch a bus that ships from around the world. Con- companies, and industries had plans and a field goal. The Browns defense inter- dropped them off near their office. gress had approved the St. Lawrence for another $282 million worth of new cepted seven Rams passes en route to a 38-14 Now, the bus took them instead to a Seaway and deepening of the chan- facilities in 1956. win. station where they waited for a rapid, nels was under way.A consultant re- Cleveland was on the grow again, • then waited again at the Square for a ported that Cleveland would reap the and this time it appeared it would loop bus. Many switched to driving, most benefit of any Great Lakes port last. The economy was booming. The Wearing white armbands as identification, creating more parking problems. because of its large industrial “hin- Indians and the Browns were win- 75,000 mothers went door-to-door in Northeast By the time the West Side rapid terland.” ning. East Side was coming together Ohio the night of Jan. 19. The Plain Dealer opened, however, a solution was in The Illuminating Co. produced a with West, downtown with the neigh- urged residents to turn on their porch lights sight. The courts had turned down color motion picture called “Land of borhoods. Cleveland was coming to- for the Mothers’ March on Polio.