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Advocate Archives
This week in the Advocate Archives we look back to this week in 1939, 1949 and 1966. We find that, finally, a sign is installed at the Bourne Bridge to help motorists find Provincetown; police work the clues with Sherlock-like precision and speed to locate a stolen car and the thief who took it in record time; local businessman warns of moral decline brought on by beatniks and other undesirables.
June 15, 1939
Town To Have Name On Sign
Painters of the State Department of Public Works are lettering “PROVINCETOWN” and road directions for reaching it on the sign at the traffic circle on the south side of the Bourne Bridge, where for many years motorists bound for Provincetown have seen nothing to indicate Provincetown’s location and thus been shunted off in some cases to the southern shore of the Cape.
The sign is being changed, according to a letter received by the Advocate from Edwin F. Eldredge, State Representative of the Second Barnstable District, as a result of two Public Works hearings at which Mr. Eldredge cited the confusion for motorists, financial loss to Provincetown merchants and the increase of mileage to the Cape-tip allegedly caused by the sign’s failure to mention Provincetown’s accessibility via Route 6.
June 16, 1949
Police Work Fast To Nab Thief Who Stole Car Yesterday Morning
Fast and intelligent police work resulted in the arraignment this afternoon before Judge Robert A. Welsh in Second District Court here of Paul Emile Lequin, 25, of 100 Hillman Street, New Bedford, on the charge of stealing an automobile from The New Central House parking lot early yesterday morning. The prisoner pleaded guilty to the charge and was bound over to the Grand Jury under $10,000 bail. Unable to provide the bail, he was taken to Barnstable this afternoon.
The car, a 1947 Buick convertible, was owned by Frank Martin of 11 Bartlett Avenue, Belmont, a guest at the New Central House. For some reason he awakened about 4 o’clock yesterday morning and looking out from his window to the parking lot saw that his car which he had left under a light was missing. In the meantime, Summer Patrolman Clarence Pierce had seen a car coming up Town Wharf, go through Standish Street and turn right east on Bradford at an excessive speed, noted the license number and reported it to the station. At about the same time Mr. Martin came to the station to say his car had been stolen, and the number given was that of the speeding car.
Some hours later a member of the crew of the fishing boat “Alice” which was tied up at Town Wharf came in to report the disappearance of Lequin, also a crew member, and to seek police assistance in locating him. This gave Chief William N. Rogers and the men of the department the first clue to work on. They questioned the fisherman as to where Lequin might go and his possible hang-outs. When they learned that he hailed from New Bedford and had a favorite bar there, they contacted Captain Owen J. Cox of the New Bedford police who assigned Lieut. Wilfred Cote of the detective squad to find Lequin. He was found in his favorite bar and on him a piece of paper on which was written the name of Frank Martin.
June 16, 1966
No Law Against Nonconformists Who Break No Laws, Town Says
Police Chief Francis Marshall took the floor at a packed open meeting of the Selectmen Monday night to quote the laws and counter charges by Gene Poyant, local restaurant proprietor, that the town is seasonally beset by undesirables Mr. Poyant referred to as “pigs,” and plagued by rowdy-ism, stealing, assault and kindred problems.
Mr. Poyant, who repeated his demand of last year that the Selectmen take action against “the problem in town,” was reminded by Chief Marshall that the lawbreakers referred to by Mr. Poyant were already in custody and that no laws existed authorizing the police to run out of town “characters who need a shave, bath and run around with long hair.”
Mr. Poyant a year ago brought a petition to the Selectmen demanding action against an assortment of unkempt visitors he called “beatniks.” He was reminded by town officials then that no laws existed penalizing nonconformists in dress and hygiene. Mr. Poyant Monday night highlighted his demand for action with the warning, “Mark my words, we won’t have a decent town for long. . . .”
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Jun 14th, 2007