davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
POST CARD CLEW LEADS
TO CONVICTION OF FENCE
Plea of Guilt Entered in Hope of Es.
Gaping Prosecution on Other
Charges

Several picture post cards addressed
to D. w. Swanner $50 West Avenue
Fifty-three, and found in room at
the Cook apartments, led to the arrest
in November of Henry j. O'Keefe and
his sentence yesterday to six months
in the county Jail. O'Keefe pleaded
guilty in Judge Davis court to a
charge of receiving stolen property,
many articles of jewelry being found
in his room, while other valuables were
traced to purchasers living on the out
skirts of the city.
O'Keefe, according to his story, re-
ceived the property from man named
Morelli, who said. he took it from a
room he occupied q year previously
The jewelry was proved to have been
taken from the Swanner home and
other houses in that vicinity. Post
cards taken from the Swanner home
were also found in O'Keefe's room, and
it was through these that the stolen
goods were traced to their owners.
When asked why he pleaded guilty tc
the charge, O'Keefe replied that Inc
feared If he went to trial the police
would color two petty offenses in the
past in such a way that he would be
given a long term in the penitentiary
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
CIV . OI LIIN SONAA %
POLITICIAN IS
HELD FOR CRIME
VERNON POLISH LEADER SAYS
CHARGES ARE FALSE
Alleged Theft of Hides from Packing
House Declared by Defendant
to Be Trick of Ene-
mics

John Jacob Gostomslli, Polish polit-
ical leader in Vernon, was in Judge
Davis criminal court yesterday to an
swer to a charge of grand larceny
Gostomski is accused of stealing five
hides, valued at 500, from the Los An
geles Packing company January IA.
The alleged theft was discovered, it is
claimed by the finding of shipping tags
in Gostomski's back yard.
Gostomski pleaded not guilty and his
trial was set for March 4. He told his
attorney, Fred Fette, he would never
plead guilty to the charge. 1T is a
scheme to discredit me among my po-
litical friends" Cfostomski said. "A
great deal of animosity has been
aroused against me on account of my
prominence as political leader among
my countrymen in Vernon and l am
not surprised at the prosecution"
A proposition, it is said, has been
made to Gostomski to plead guilty to
a charge of petty larceny and take a.
Jail sentence or appeal for release on
rotation. This proposition he has de-
clined to accept, stating he prefers to
take a chance before a jury on more
serious charge than gain his release
and be under a cloud. Gostomski is
the father of fifteen children, eight of
whom are living in Vernon.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
WEDDING ATTENDANT
CALLED AS WITNESS
Bridesmaid TestIfies in Divorce Trial
and Offers Evidence to Sup
port Wife's Request
for Separation

Susanna Smith who. twelve years
ago, acted as bridesmaid at the we'd
ding of Theodore Haenel and Anne e..
Haenel was the principal witness in
the latters suit for q legal separation
in Jurge Houser's divorce court yester-
day. The Haenels were married in
Covington, Ky, in 1898, and Mrs.
Haenel sought q divorce on the ground
of cruelty extending over a period Of
several years. Judge Houser continued
the hearing until the husband could be
brought into court to tell his side OF
the story.
The following DEGREES of divorce were
granted: Emma Jane Spencer from
Amile w. Spencer, Katie Singer from
Benjamin f. Singer, Marjorie E. Pear
son from Thomas j. Pearson, w. j.
Chambers from Katherine Chambers,
J. n. Livermore from Josephine Liver
more, George H. Brooks from Adelaide
K. Brooks, Gwendoline Miller from
Frank Miller Daisy S. Ryan from VIII
liam II. Ryan, a. Ralph Lewis from
Cora May Lewis and Eugenia M. VIII
son from Frank Wilson.
Suits filed We're George G. Peckham
against Ada PeclSham, Lillian Tuttle
against George Tuttle and Ada Edna
Sparks against Frederick Alma Sparks.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
DEMAND OF EXPRESSMAN
REFUSED BY COUNCIL
Bill for Moving Election Booths Ia
Passed from Various Comn1lt-
tees and Left in ALI

A demand for $500 in favor OF ]. ].
Harris was used as a football by the
council yesterday, kicked from one
committee to another, and finally left
up in the air. The demand was for
moving election booths from the coun-
ty court house to the various polling
places at the last general election, and
although the finance committee re-
garded the bill as irregular in some
particulars, the committee had recon-
mended to the council that it be paid.
Auditor Myers had refused to ap-
prove the demand, because the total
amount vas more than $500 and the
charter require that for anything over
$500 bids must be advertised for and
the contract awarded to the lowest
bidder. But the demand had been cut
in two so as to make two bills ana TO
come under the charter provision.
President Works pointed out that
this was an evasion of the charter, IL
not a direct violation, and declared the
council would be violating the charter
il it approved the demand. Council
man O'Brien declared he had informa-
tion that the city clerk or one of his
deputies had received informal bids
and that Harris had been permitted to
see these figures before submitting his
own. A motion was made to refer 1t
back to the finance committee. Tn1s
was lost by vote of four to five. An
other motion was made to deny the
demand, and this was lost by the same
vote. A third motion to refer it to the
legislation committee was lost by the
same vote, and then the council went
on to other matters and left the de-
mand unsettled.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
FAVORITlSM IS CHARGED
IN EIGHTH ST. WIDENING
Attorney for Small Property owners
Claims Determinations Were
Made in Damage Awards

The assessment district for the
widening of Eighth street from Broad
way to Figueroa street may be changed
and the assessments readjusted as the
result of protest placed with the city
council by Gertrude Taft, through her
attorney, Henry T. Hazard, yesterday.
Mr.. Hazard chiefly objected to the
amount of damages awarded Ham
burgers and the high assessment
placed on the property of his client.
He stated that when Hamburgers
built their new building they dedi-
Gated five feet in Eighth street, and
then started proceedings for the WIDEN
ing of the street from Broadway to
Figueroa street. After dedicating the
five feet they were awarded $4,000
damages and assessed only S1O,94O,
leaving them a balance of about $lO,-
900 for property they already had given
the city. His client, he said, was as
sessed $6975 for a fifty-foot lot on the
southwest corner of Flower and Eighth
streets and in addition had to give
five feet of her property, reducing the
depth to forty-five feet. Her award of
damages is so much lower than the
assessment that she will have to pay
between $1,000 and $3O00
The council considered the assess
ment inequitable and referred the mat
tel. to the streets and boulevards COM
mittee by a vote of five to four. The
four dissenters were in favor of sus-
tanning the protest and revising the
assessment.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
PUBLIC SEnWCE
COMPANIES REPORT
Annual Statements Regarding Finan-
caI Condition of Corporations
Referred by Council to
Utilities Commission

The annual statements of the public
service corporations were submitted
to the council yesterday and referred
by the council to the public utilities
commission.
These statements purport to show
the financial condition of the corpora
tions, their earnings for the past year,
their assets and liabilities and other
data that are used as basis for f1X-
ing the amounts these companies may
charge for their service.
1t is the duty of the council to fix
these rates once each year, in March,
and the public utilities commission was
created chiefly to advise the council
| in the matter of rates. This commits
| sion is authorized to employ experts to
investigate the statements of the cor
porations and to investigate the cor
porations themselves, if there is sus-
picion the figures do not tell all the
facts, as is usually the case.
AS soon as the commission has COM
pIeted its work it will advise the coun-
Gil how much should be charged for
gas, electric light and power and tele-
phone service, and on this recon-
mendation the council will base its ac-
ton in fixing rates for the following
year.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
COUNCIL NOTES

Three civic bodies which have been
invited to send committees to confer
with the supply committee on the
matter of the readjustment of salar-
les of city employees have not acted on
the invitation, and President Works
yesterday advised the supply COM
mittee to ''jog up" the delinquents.
The city attorney was yesterday IN
structed to present an ordinance to
the council prohibiting automobiles
and other vehicles from spilling oil on
asphalt pavements.
A resolution passed by the council
yesterday requires all private water
companies to file statements of their
receipts and expenditures with the
city council at once so that the council
may fix rates for these water COM
panies in February, as required by
state law.
With practically no change the
traffic ordinance was passed by the
city council yesterday, just as report
ed by the legislative committee. The
ordinance contains 62 sections. and
with the exception OF the building or
dinance is the longest law on the city
statute books.
The petition of physicians that they
be excluded from the operation of the
speed ordinance when responding to
an emergency call was denied by the
council, and filed.
The city attorney presented an or
dinance to the council yesterday fix
ing the telephone rates to be charged
from the present until July /, when
the new rate ordinance viii go into
effect. The ordinance was referred to
the legislative committee.
A meeting of the council will be held
next Friday afternoon when an emer-
gency ordinance providing for city
employees for Hollywood will be passed.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
INTERPRETATIONS

The following articles of incorpora-
tion were filed in the county clerk
office yesterday
Crescent Art Glass and Manufactur-
ing company-Capital, $4,000. Direct
tors: w. A. Robertson, c. B. Morton
and A. B. Cagwin.
Billiken Holding ompany-Capital
100000. Directors: X. K. Parrot, John
Il. Richardson, David Goldberg, c. s
Tappaan, Arthur Veitch, Elmer r. Nc
Dowell and h. w. Sorenson of Los
Angeles and f. c. Fairbanks of Pasa-
dena.
Forrest City National Oil company
Capital, $250,O0O. Directors: 1. n. Rich
ards, E. w. Reynolds, a. B. Elmer, L.
M. Hamilton, Frank r. Surbee and j.
r. Church of Los Angeles and Floyd j.
Hickey of Santa Barbara
The West Glendale Methodist Epis-
copaI church-Directors: c. +. Smith,
M. S. Van Luven, w. r. burlington, j.
w. Durham and w. II. Nisbet of West
Glendale.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
CANADIAN CLUB TO TAKE
UP SOCIOLOGICAL WORK
Members of Association viii Name
Committee to Investigate Cases
of Destitution and Give Relief

Charitable and sociological work VIII
be embraced in the offices of the
Canadian society, according to resolu-
tions adopted at the regular monthly
meeting held last night i'll Lincoln hall,
Walker Theater building. The club
will have a special committee whose
duty it will be to investigate all cases
of destitution brought to its notice,
and then take proper action on the
same. Heretofore the club has devot-
ed it's energies to social and literary
pursuits.
A delightful program followed by a
dance was the entertainment last
night. Mrs. Lillian Balagh rendered
vocal selections, DR.. T. G. Dewitt read
a paper on Canadian Federation" and
George Peterson gave several excellent
recitations. Mrs. Shulenberg acted as
accompanist.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
STREET RAILWAY FRANCHISE
PROBABLY WILL BE DENIED
Los Angeles Company Offers 500 for
Privilege to Operate Cars
in MeIrose Avenue

Application for a street railway
franchise in Melrose avenue asked for
by the Los Angeles Railway company
probably will be denied by the city
council on recommendation of the pub
lie utilities commission.
The railway has offered 800 for the
franchise, but the commissioners be-
lieve this is not enough as it will cover
the cost of advertising only and viii
net the city nothing.
The recommendation will be based
on a similar one made in the case of
the West Thirty-ninth street extension
franchise. 1t is understood real estate
dealers who will open up new tract
in Melrose avenue have offered the
street railway company $4,000 bonus for
building the road. The public utilities
commissioners take the stand that If
the railway is to receive $4,000 bonus
the city should receive more than $100
for the franchise to construct the road.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
10 SELL MORE BONDS

Glass G of the Owens river bond
issue to consist of $4,S96,00O was au-
thorized by resolution of the city
council yesterday. These bonds are
to be sold to Kountze Brothers and
A. B. Leach & Co.. the New York
bond buyers, who have contracted to
purchase the entire issue. of $4,000, GOO.
These bonds will not be delivered at
once. as they must first be printed and
signed. but the money will be received
in time to pay the extra Indebtedness
incurred by accelerating the work OF
building the aqueduct. The 's4,S96,OO0
will make a total issue of $16,000,00O
of the $23,0O0.0OO authorized by the
water works bond election Of 1907.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
SEEK ARREST OF Drummer

A bench warrant for the arrest OF
Herman Drummer, former lottery king
of st. Louis, was signed by Judge Will
bur of. the superior court yesterday as
a result of Brunners refusal to give
his deposition before a notary on Sat
urday. The taking of the deposition
was ordered by Judge Houser of the
divorce court several days ago follow
ing a hearing in the maintenance suit
brought by Mrs. Louise Drummer
against her husband, and was for the
purpose of disclosing the whereabouts
of certain documents alleged to be kept
I'm hiding by Brunner.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02

65 years old and could have been re-
tired on a pension five years ago, put
he loves the service so well that ne
has twice enlisted after he could have
been retired for age. Every enlistment
stripe on his sleeve means that he has
served three years in the navy, and
the twelve stripes represent thirty-six
years of service. Hall said yesterday
that he expected to die in the service.
He is very proud of his service stripes
although he is modest and embar-
rassed when they are referred to.
The Perry is in San Pedro harbor'
and Hall took advantage of his shore
leave to shake hands with the mayor.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
WILL SETTLE RIGHTS OF
BUILDING INSPECTOR
Question Raised by Fifth Street En-
eine House Trouble Sent to
the City Attorney

Longer delay in the settlement of
the claim of the F.. o. Engstrum COM
Dany against the fire department fund
for $4,000 was occasioned yesterday
when the council referred the matter
to the city attorney and the legislation
committee. The city attorney is asked
to give an opinion on the legal rights
of an inspector on city work to order a
change in the ingredients of concrete
mixture.
is very dangerous, in the opinion of
President Works, who said yesterday
that it would be a great temptation
for an inspector to order a change in
ingredients if the inspector was to
profit by it financially. He declared
he was not prepared to say that any
INSPECTOR had yielded to the tempta-
tion. but he thought it had better be
removed.
The board of public works recon-
mended to the council yesterday that
the bill of the Engstrum company be
paid. 1t has been incurred IN the
construction of the Fifth street en-
cine house, but had been held up for
several months because of question
of the contractor following specifica-
tions.
Committees of the former council in
vestigated the matter and recommend
ed the bill be paid and then it was
referred to w. NJ. Humphreys, chief
inspector of public works, who made
personal investigation and made the
same recommendation. While it is
admitted the specifications were not
followed to the letter, the investiga-
tions showed that what changes We're
made resulted from the orders OF the
insnector on the work. All who have
taken part in the investigation have
concluded that the building is good
lob. and the city attorney is of the
opinion that the city would not be
able to successfully defend a law suit
to collect the money.
President Works declared yesterday
he would rather the city would lose
the lawsuit if such a suit would bring
out all the facts in the case.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
NEW TRIAL Is DENIED
TO SLAYER OF NEGRO
Fred Lumner Sentenced to Twenty
Years in Penitentiary After
Attorneys Efforts

Attorneys argued for more than two
hours in Judge Davis court yesterday
in their efforts to secure a new trial
for Fred hummer, convicted last week
of second degree murder for the kill
ing of John Perry (colored) September
30 last year. They were unsuccessful,
Judge Davis denying the motion for a
new trial and sentencing hummer to
twenty years in San Quentin.
Judge Davis, in passing on the mo-
ton, said he did not believe from the
evidence that either hummer or his
father was in danger of an attack by
Perry when young hummer fired the
shot that killed the negro. A stay of
execution of five days was granted.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
MEETINGS OF COUNCIL TO
BEGIN AN HOUR EARLIER
Last 10 O'Clock Session Held at City
Hall Yesterday--Next Week
Work Begins at 9 A. M.

The last 10 o'clock session of the
city council was held yesterday. Here
after the weekly meetings of the coun-
ell will begin at o'clock and they
will begin promptly. BY meeting at
o'clock the council expects to be able
to conclude it's work by noon, so that
afternoon sessions will not be neces-
sary.
When the present city council was
organized the first rule it adopted was
TO hold its sessions at 9 o'clock, but 1t
found that the time was fixed by ordi-
nance and it was necessary to pass an
ordinance repeating the 10 o'clock
clause and fixing the time at O'CLOCK
1t required thirty days for the orqi-
nance to become effective ana thls
caused the delay.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
HARB0R COMMISSION
TO SEND DELEGATE
Representative viii Go to Washing.
ton to Explain improvements
Needed on Pacific Coast

The harbor commission yesterday
was authorized by the city council to
send a special representative to Wash
ington to appear before some of the
committees of congress.
Matters concerning harbor improve
ments will be brought before the riv-
ers and harbors committee, and the
matter of a steamer line between Pan
anna and the Pacific coast will come
before Senator Flint's committee on
interoceanic travel.
Five hundred dollars was appro-
priated from the general expense fund
to pay the expenses OF the representa-
tive the harbor commission will send.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
WINE MERCHANT FOUND
NOT GUILTY OF 0FFENSE
Charles DAILY Acquitted in Police Court
of Charge of Violating Liquor
Ordinance

Charles DAILY, proprietor of the Los
Angeles Wine company, 5S4 East Fifth
street, was acquitted in Police Judge
Fredericksons court on the charge of
violating the city liquor ordinances.
Several other liquor dealers have
been convicted and by an error Daly's
name was included among those who
had been found guilty. He was repre-
sented by Attorney Willedd Andrews.
The case was tried Friday.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
HARRIS A BANKRUPT

Ed b. Harris, deputy county tax col.
lector, filed a voluntary petition IL
bankruptcy yesterday in the United
States district court He placed his
liabilities at $914 and assets, all Of
which are claimed as exampt at $435
Harris stated in his petition that he
receives a salary of $110 a month, but
he asked to be relieved from paying
any bankruptcy fees on the ground
that he is a pauper.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
CORPORATIONS MUST REPORT

Corporations are urged by Claude
I. Parker, collector of internal rev.
enue, to make returns under the new
corporation tax law at once. The time
for filing reports of corporation busi-
ness will end March 1, after which a
fine of 80 per cent of the tax will be
added. Failure to receive copies of the
tax blanks will not excuse corpora
tions from a fine. 1t is the duty, ac-
cording to law, of corporation officers
to secure blanks and make return at
onpa
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
AROUND TOWN
Miu Address Federation Club

viii Address Federation Club
Robert C. Root, Pacific coast repre-
sentative of the American Peace So
ciety, will address the Federation club
at its luncheon today on 1.-THE WORLDS
Awakening
All Day Mission Service
The regular all-day monthly mission
was held at Peniel hall, 227 South Main
street, yesterday. Services were con-
..ducted by Mr.. and Mrs. T. P. Fergu-
son. at II, 2:SO and o'clock.
REPORTS Theft
D. S. Martin, proprietor of a feed
yard at $50 Central avenue, reported
to the police yesterday that his place
was entered early yesterday morning
and a watch and chain and suit Of
clothes were stolen.
AGED Resident Dies
Louis j. Ensign, SO years old, died
Yesterday at the home of his grand
daughter Mrs. j. II. Dixon, 1915 Sec
ond avenue. Funeral services will be
held Thursday at 1870 p. m. at the
residence, burial to be in Rosedale
cemetery.
D. A. r. Makes Plans
Daughters &f the American Revolu-
tion held a business meeting yesterday
afternoon in Ebell club house for the
purpose of discussing plans for the
state convention which will meet here
February The various committees
have been arranged. For the day fol-
lowing the convention an automobile
ride and luncheon have been planned,
while on the next day an excursion
will be made to the California Junior
Republic.
Lecture by President Jorden
DR.. David Starr Jordan, president Of
Leland Stanford university, will de-
liver lecture on "The Tusipala in
Samoa" before the academy of science
Saturday evening in Blanchard hail.
Dr. Jordan also will give some of the
natural history of Samoa and tell of
the life of Robert Louis Stevenson
while there. Prof. J. u. Gilbert of the
faculty of the Los Angeles high school
will exhibit q number of skulls which
recently were excavated on the Han
cock ranch. No admission will be
charged and the public is invited.
Bank Directors Reelected
The Broadway Bank and Trust COM
pany held it's annual meeting Tuesday
afternoon. The old board of directors
was reelected with the addition of r.
Il. Bundy, the directors being r. c..
Gillis, Arthur Let's, Ben Williams,
Warren Gillelen, e. p. Clark, George
w. Walker, r. W. Kenny, Robert F..
Jones, George I. Cochran, DR.. w. w.
Beckett, A. w. Redman and r. l..
Bundy. Warren Gillelen was re-
elected president; George 1. Cochran
and r. W. Kenny, vice presidents; A.
w. Redman, cashier, and j. w. Spauld-
ing. assistant cashier The president
presented a report showing most sat
isfactory increase in the business for
the past year.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
HIS APPEAL DENIED

The appeal of L. c. Whaley, recently
found guilty of obtaining money and
property under false pretenses, was de-
MED by the district court of appeals
yesterday. Whaley, who was tried in
the superior court, was sentenced to
three years in states prison
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
no vorE oN LOCAL oprIoN

CHICAGO, Feb. 1.-The anti-saloon
forces have three days in which to
complete their quota of $1,000 sigma
lures of the petition for vote on local
ontion for Chicago. Thursday at mid
night is the last moment at which il
may be submitted to the election COM
missloners. About 10000 signatures are
said TO be needed.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
OLDEST ENLISTED MAN IN
NAVY CALLS ON MAYOR
Twelve Enlistment Stripes on Sleeves
of John Hall Tell of 36
Years of Service

With twelve enlistment stripes on
his left arm that made his sleeve look
like a barber pole, John Hall of the
revenue cutter Perry called on Mayor
Alexander yesterday morning.
Han is the Oldest man in the United
States navy IN point of service. lie is
Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
CITY TO SUE CONTRACTOR

City Attorney Hewitt was yesterday
instructed by the city council to take
legal steps to collect on the bond OF
d. NJ. Leary the defaulting contractor,
who failed to enter into contract to
build a portion of the South Los An,
geles main sewer This action was
taken on the recommendation of the
board of public works, which reported
to the council that the city had sur
fered a loss Of $4,000 by reason or
Leary's default.