The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 29

Th PHhbvrrt Prey Jn. 'S7 5eti PAGI I Pinched 150 Times Jail Twice Most Arrested Man Says He's Being Robbed Cephus Ford Fades and Fades As Progress Rolls 7s and lis By WILLIAM PADE J. Cephus Ford, Pittsburgh's most arrested man, claims he's "getting robbed." The object of his wrath is the Urban Redcvclop-'rncnt Authority, which he says is "doing Ole Cephus wrong. IRANCH STORES: Brentwood-Whitehall Mt. Lebanon Natrona Heights --The bespectacled, "gamblin man" says times have Rotten so tough in the Hill District "that a lelkw can't hardly make an honest living no more." And Cephus doesn't smile when he says that.

Despite the fact that he's been pinched at least 130 times, he staunchly insists he's an "honest man." "There ain't no 'gnmblin' man' who could ittay in husine Ions: if he cheated his patrons," Cephus declares, Cephus prides himself on his long and successful "business'' record in the Hill District. The 52-year-old "Mayor of Lower Wylie Avenue" has been going strong for 20 years. Although he claims special virtue (or himself, he flatly denounces the Redevelopment Authority as being unethical and a "bunch of robbers." Jffflor to Post savs hr' heen "I've been In Jail Just twice." Cephus feels that a record like that reflects some inherent goodness In his makeup. The thing that's got him singing the blues these days is the fact that the redevelopment project is rapidly depopulating the Lower Hill. "My patrons are all mov.

Ing away," Cephus says woefully. He's also Indignant about the way the authority ousted him from 79 Townsend the Checker Club's one-time headquarters. Patrons of Cephus' former emporium recall that the Checker Club was a "real classy joint" while It was located on Townsend Street. When a big Downtown hotel was redecorated a few years ago, Cephus bought all the old rugs and draperies in the hotel's dining rooms and moved them into the Checker Club. Even Cephus admits the place was "pretty nice." When the Redevelopment Authority opened negotiations last March with Cephus for the purchase of the building, officials discovered STOOD worth of old liens and debts were outstanding against the property.

At the outset of the conversations, Cephus suggested he'd be to sell out for $10,000 or $15,000, a sum which would permit him to clear up the liens and move the Checker Club elsewhere. The authority replied that it "couldn't possibly offer any more than $7700" for (ho property. With $7000 worth of liens outstanding, Cephus quickly saw that his take on the authority's offer would amount to no more than $700. "By the time I pays my attorney, there Von't be nothing left for Cephus," he 3tfekcd from pillar to post" evr since the authority Started clearing the Lower for the City's new civic center. Puring the past 10 months, he's been forced to move his famous "Checker Club" once already and another move is Tow coming up.

"That outfit Just doesn't aerin to realize how tough it is for it man In my ness to be relocating every pother day," he explains woefully. Cephus has temporarily down at 1110 Wylie Ave. in a dilapidated building which itself will soon be down to make way for Pittsburgh's new "Acro- Cephus operates a res-'taurant on the first floor the "Checker Club" in the rear. Around the clock, there's a steady flow of customers the restaurant's jront door. Few of the patrons, how-iver, stop at the lunch coun "I'm gel ting Authority officials, how-rver, deny that Cephus is being treated unfairly.

"The property simply Isn't worth any morn than $77(10 and it's not our fault that Cephus has incurred all those debts," one spokesman for the authority said. Although Cephus moved out of 7-9 Townsend St. several months ago, the au Regularly $63 and $75 i' tweeds thority is still trying to i A i II 5WFTI AKinc 1 "straighten out the mess" and make some sort of deal with Cephus. One expert said that WW -Ml il 'o court action will probably have to be taken to unravel the liens. Lf WORSTEDS it, i i Am few Stop in at Home's tomorrow and save on handsomely tailored clothing made of rich, durable fabrics.

Made by a famous maker specially for this big sale. Come in and sec the wide, wide selection and save. ter. Instead, they slip through door at the rear of the dinning room and head straight lor the club, which Cephus says is "strictly a social organization." The way lie explain it's a cather'mg place for "poor folks who ran't afford to belong to ritzy clubs." "We play a little penny-ante, cards, some craps and even checkers," he admits. When the place is going full-blast it rocks with shouts of: "Deal the cards! Bet a five-spot 1 On the Hill, everybody knows about the "Checker Club" even the police.

tvidenc of 'Honesty' Occasionally, Cephus is raided." "'The police customarily charge him with operating a gambling house. Cephus promptly pays a fine and is 'back in business again the next day. Cephus even cites his record of arrests as evidence of his "honesty." "I've been pinched V(l times," he explains, "but do you know linw many times I've been in jail?" i i af Wk 2 ffcV -j: He's looking for a farm, "a place with a nice big house where all the club members could gather and really enjoy themselves." Cephus figures that maybe It's time the Checker Club went suburban. muHly-styled suits Liberty Avenue Store Robbed Burglars made off with an r-' saK AND W00LS IV mi Ik'-- herringones yMi -e fj It -ii PIN CHECKS fe.vfwll1? '3 F' 'toll 4 Jfv4llvj -4' pwfe undetermined quantity of Jewelry and sportswear last Home's features a complete line of fine fabrics in natural or lounge models in all sizes. Some suits with vest.

Two and 3 button models with center vent and flap pockets (some patch pockets). Shades and fabrics that can be worn now, and take you through the Spring, too. Greys, blues, browns, heathers, and mixtures. In regular, short, long, extra long, stout, and short stout sizes. night at the War Surplus Store, 927 Liberty Ave.

The theft was discovered by ratrolman Harry Levine and James Miller, who found the front door open. J' LlvjrlTi DARK TONES ftfifl 'on rriMi'it MiiNit P. M. l5T sj m-m mm sm' ss' -m -mm. w- 1 I 1..

L. 'Shi Ml TWEEDS If HM fel' SAXONIES fjg hM itl'-'l'J finely-tailored topcoats Come in and see a complete selection of imported and domestic fabrics in Raglan sleeve models with Fal collar or sct-in-slccvc model with notch lapel. Slash or patch pockets. Sec herringbones, plaids, checks, nubby tweeds, and solids. Regular, short, longs, extra short and extra long sizes.

-id Claud 0ICAST AAi-VTV WMIHM fOtOC AST -v AtHowtnrmsNowi lLH' r-TTMUNniif 1 AIN it Vf SHETLANDS pjl Slight additional charge for alterations other than sleeves, cuffs and waist. Gulf may he a weather maker for the eastern slates. Precipitation will be widely scattered. High temperature forecast today were: Duluth, 20; Buf Home's Men's Sforc, Third Hoot A fair and moderately cold Sunday is forecast for the Pittsburgh district. High temperature will be 30.

Cold 'air will swing southward Into the Northeast in circulation around a huge high In Canada. Mild air will remain l' RAGLANS ff falo, 21; Chicago, 32; Fioston, 36; St. Louis, 39; New York, Seattle, Denver, Kansas City entrenched over Texas and the: and Washington, 40; rhoenix, far Southwest. A low pressure 42; Los Angeles, Atlanta, Open Mondays 10 to 9 Other Days 10 to 5:30 Come In, phone GRant 14000 (phone service opens 8:30 A. M.

Daily) or write Morne's, Pjh. 22, Pa. center with warm and cold Fort Worth, fi2; New Or fronts running through thej leans, C8, and Miami, 73..