davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1915-05-13
RANCHER ENDS -.
LIFE BY HANGING

Suicide was the verdict of a coro-
ner's jury this morning after wit
nesses and members of the family re
lated the Incidents which led up to
the discovery, yesterday afternoon, Of
the body of Ferdinand + Leja, 81, a
native of Austrian Poland, suspended
from rafter in his home south OF
Meloland.
Frank Migera, a neighboring ranch
er, related his version of the sinister
find. Migera, On the day of the trag
edy, had made arrangements with Le-
ia to meet him in short time to get
calves and shortly after yesterday
afternoon called at Leja's home. As
he passed the window he discerned
Leja's body standing by the window
and after shouting to attract the at
tenton of the motionless figure he
entered the house.
His cries for help after the discov-
cry attracted the attention Of labor
er working in field ON the ranch.
He Joined Migera and the again en-
tered the house.
While his companion lifted the body
of Leja, which hung, suspended by a
heavy strand of cotton rope, Migera
struck the soles of the dead mans
feet in an effort to revive him. De-
spairing of this, they left the body
still suspended and sought out zan-
jero to cummon aid.
Meantime the family returned from
trip to this city, and the mother,
the first of the family to enter the
house, saw the body of her husband.
She screamed for help and her sou
rushed into the room, where they at
tempted to resuscitate the dead man.
Testimony by one of Leja's sons at
the coroner's inquest this morning re-
yealed the fact that Leja and his son
Ferdinand, Jr., had quarreled bitterly
on the day prior to the tragedy. The
dispute arose over the removal of a
piece of harness from a set worn by a
team which was owned by the family
John Leja asserted this morning that
his father had ordered the son to re-
move the harness and, following his
refusal, the father snatched up d
heavy chain, and the 2 fought, young
Leja finally wrestling the chain from
his father.
Later in the day the father came
Imperial Valley press., 1915-05-13
4 MEXICAN CHILDREN
APPEAL FOR HELP

Destitute, their mother dead and
their father i'll at st. Thomas hospi-
tai, 4 little Mexican children, the
Youngest of them years old send a
pathetic message of appeal to the peo-
pie of Imperial Valley.
Two years ago prosperity smiled
upon them and the little family was
happy under the beneficent smiles Of
fortune. Then the mother was strick-
en- with illness and died and the faith
er struggled to maintain his family Of
children.
Recently he fell i'll and was removed
to st. Thomas hospital and the chill
dren until yesterday were almost with
out care, when they were placed in
the custody of Probation Officer A. W.
Swanson
Totally dependent upon the kindness
of others and almost without clothing,
the children are appealing through the
probation officer for aid.
AT present the children-Ernesto,
aged 3; Cuca, aged 5; Santos, aged z,
and Manula, aged 9-are being cared
for by Probation Officer Swenson.
Imperial Valley press., 1915-05-13

If we mistake not the character OF
cur great ppresident, he will be
touched by the tribute paid him by a
Japanese cantaloupe grower at Braw-
ley, who has sent to the chief eXecu.
tive the seasons first crate of canta-
loupes, with the following letter:
"Hon. Woodrow Wilson, Washing.
ton, D. c.: OF your honorable admin.
istration and especially of your char
acteristic form of courage to do gooo
Under the faith of the most high, We
Imperial Valley press., 1915-05-13
SHRINERS PLANNING
FOR BIG OCCASION

Great preparations are being made
for the Shriners' concert and ball here
Saturday night. Some of the Shriners
will arrive tomorrow, but the greater
part of the 200 Shriners will reach
here Saturday afternoon, followed by
a street parade. The San Diego Shrin-
ers are leaving no stones unturned to
make this pilgrimage complete sue
cess.
The concert given by the Al Bahr
band of 40 pieces will be of the high
est class and will afford the music
lovers of the Valley rare treat and
an event long to be remembered.
A large orchestra will render sweet
music for the ball at the Barbara
Worth following the concert.
Imperial Valley press., 1915-05-13
Chapter Meets.

Chapter A. V. p f. d. Sisterhood
met in regular session at the home
of Mrs. Jessie Bernhard on Hamilton
avenue yesterday afternoon. A very
interesting report of the state conven-
'tion which was recently held in AL
hamhra was given by Mrs. Bernhard.
At the close of the business meeting
delicious refreshments were served by
the hostess. The members are all
very enthusiastic and anticipate a
year full of pleasure and profit.
Imperial Valley press., 1915-05-13

to the district attorneys office and
swore out a warrant for the arrest Of
his son, and exhibited as a proof of
his sons disobedience and attack upon
him pair of badly injured thumbs,
which Ferdinand, Jr., had twisted i'll
taking the chain from his father.
At the conclusion of the d1lspute,
Leja threatened to kill his son if the
son Gid not kill him, John Leja testi-
fled this morning. Later Ferdinand
Jr., was ordered to leave the ranch.
The note left by the suicide, and
written in Polish, was translated at
the inquest this morning and shed but
little light upon the strange motive
which actuated Leja to take his life.
Leja's last message before he sought
his life follows:
"To Frank Migera, you must give
that carriage and that doubletree that
was on the tongue"
The note was not signed, but mem
hers of the family testified that the
writing was that of the father
Leja's body was removed to the NOR
tuary of c. A Shafer, where the in
quest was held this morning.
Imperial Valley press., 1915-05-13
Also in Africa.

Johannesburg, South Africa, May
13-Roused by the Lusitania affair,
mobs today wrecked or burned ten
German warehouses, three hotels, sev.
en- saloons, three motion picture the
atres and many shops owned by Ger
mans, and burned a large German
flag in front of the city hall. Hun
dreds of men forced the entrance to
the German club and wrecked it. The
rolce were powerless to prevent it
The damage reaches $500,000.
Imperial Valley press., 1915-05-13

announced the receipt of cablegram
saying 20 officers and 100 men were
saved.
The announcement was the first of
ficial word that the Allied fleet is
again engaged inside the Dardanelles
Semi-official reports received are to
the effect that the campaign against
the Turks is progressing satisfactorily
and that the British are forcing their
way further along the Gallipoh pen
insula under cover of the fleets fire.
The Goliath was of 1880 tons and
was completed in 1900 at a cost of
$3,364 900. Its normal complement
was 700 officers and men. 1t had
four 12-inch guns and the heaviest
armament.
Imperial Valley press., 1915-05-13
Won BernstOrffs Denial.

Washington, May 13.-German Am
bassador Won Bernstorff issued a
statement today denying published
reports this morning that he had
outlined Germany's probable attitude
toward the Washington note. He de-
MED making any statement and re
fused to comment, saying:
THE matter is now between the two
governments"
Imperial Valley press., 1915-05-13
Tribute from Japanese's
Heart to the President

japanese are appreciative. We love
those pages of noble history which
have been written by your hands.
81 am sending crate of canta-
loupes, as | intended the first fruit
age for your honor. Because of bad
weather, they have required careful
tending day and night. Please accept
these as a little token of mine and
an expression of my heart. Most re-
spectfully,
"KYUTANO NAKAMURA."
Imperial Valley press., 1915-05-13
Another Liner Watched.

New York, May 13.-The Anchor
line steamship Pennsylvania, which
sailed from New York with 873 pas
sengers, is due in the zone prescribed
by German submarine warfare tomor-
row afternoon or night, according to
company officials Owing to reap
pearance Of official German warnings
on the. date she sailed, interest in her
fate is marked today.
Imperial Valley press., 1915-05-13
Brilliant French Successes.

Paris, May Brilliant successes
are claimed today by the official com
munique, in great battle raging from
Arras to the sea. The French are
reported to have captured additional
trenches east of Carency and taken
Hill No. l25 after several days of
most desperate fighting. They also
made important gains toward Lens,
their main objective.
Imperial Valley press., 1915-05-13
Sacramento Flood.

Sacramento, May 13.-The river is
falling after the highest May stage
in the history of the city. No dam
age or further floods in this section
are expected.
Redding, May 13.-The Shasta route
of the Southern Pacific probably will
be reopened tonight after a blockade
of several days on account of slides
due to rains.
Imperial Valley press., 1915-05-13
Rockefeller Wins Suit

Cleveland, May 13.-Rockefeller
won his injunction suit to restrain
Cuyahoga county from collecting taxes
on S8l1,Q00,OOO tangible property he
owns in Cleveland The federal courts
decision upheld Rockefeller's conten-
tions.
Imperial Valley press., 1915-05-13
A City of Terror.

Constantinople, May 13.-The ar
rival of $4,000 Turkish wounded has
converted Constantinople into city
of terror. Crowds, mostly of wom-
en-, paraded the streets, and Allied
aeroplanes flying over the city added
TO the excitement There is much riot
ing.
Imperial Valley press., 1915-05-13
Praise for President. .

Los Angeles, May 13.-The city
council today unanimously adopted u
resolution praising the president and
expressing confidence in his ability
to guide the country through any cri
sis arising as result of the Euro
pean war. The resolution will be for
warded to Washington.
Imperial Valley press., 1915-05-13
Odd Fellow Election.

San Francisco, May 19.--Frank D..
Macbeth of San Francisco was elect
ed grand master of the state Odd
Fellows, holding convention here to-
Gay William p. Schlosser of Los An
geles was made deputy grand mas
ter.
Imperial Valley press., 1915-05-13
The Presents.

The presents received by the bride,
which were shown in two rooms at
the Barbara Worth, were most nu-
merous and beautiful Tables were
arranged around both rooms and in
the center, and all were loaded with
cut glass and silverware, hand d-paint-
ed articles and scores of beautiful OBJ
jects with which the countless friends
testified to their friendship.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-28

istration. A plain clothes man was to
slip the bracelets on the editors wrists
and charge him with working the
dead brother" game on a fellow pas
senger somewhere between Kansas
City and Topeka. The trip to the
county Jail was to follow and Cain
was to be placed in the county Jail.
Friends of the newspaper man were
tipped off not to recognize him.
At IL o'clock Sunday morning the
stage was set. Detective Summers
paced the platform. In various cor
ners stood a dozen of Topeka's Gin
uniform. Kiene and a dozen of the
boys were in hiding at one end of
the station. Parsons stood behind
truck on the platform.
Cullen A. Cain, nattily attired,
stepped from the car and Detective
Summers reached for his hip pocket
for handouts and billy-then the I'M
expected-fcr Parsons happened.
Miss Phropsie Cain, the newspaper
mans 16-year-old daughter, rushed
from the waiting room of the station
toward her father. Not wishing to
embarrass Miss Cain, Parsons signaled
Summers to come back. Miss Cain
stood beside her father, a nystificd
expected something to happen The
cops waited for the signal from Par
sons. Cain was allowed to walk un-
molested up Fifth street.
Kiene and a dozen others rushed
from as many directions and asked
why.
The chief explained that he didn't
want to embarrass the girl. Then the
news was broken to Parsons that Miss
Cain was one of the principal actors i'll
the show. I'VE had it framed with
her to weep and kick up a fuss when
Gully was pinched" raved Nienc.
''She's been pracIlcing her part for a
week.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-28
How a Reception Planned for
c. A. Cain Went Awry.
Returning PrOdigal Met at Sta
ton by the Police.
THEY PLANNED TO ARREST HIM
And Throw Him in Jail as Part
of a Big Joke.
Everything Was Spoiled by APP
pearance of His Daughter.

When a man visits his old home
town after a period of absence, per-
haps it is only human that he should
except a few of his cronieS of other
days to meet him at the station. How
ever, such receptions are varied. Some
welcome on the fatted calf order,
sometimes by a squadron of ponce
men. Had it not been for the fact
that fellow conspirators of Harvey
Parsons. chief of police, forgot to put
the police chief next to certain
Fe station Sunday morning, Cullen A.
Cain, now connected with the pub
licity staff of the Bell Telephone COM
pany and formerly city editor OF the
State Journal, might at the present be
flirting with barred sunlight in the
padded cell at the county Jail.
A few days ago Chief Parsons re
be in Topeka on Santa Fe strain No.
3 Sunday morning at 1 1 o'clock. The
communication requested that a rev
of the boys be at the station.
Parsons descended upon the office
of Sheriff L. L. kiene, another ex-
newspaper man.
Il suppose Wen meet CAIN" said
Parsons after the sheriff had read the
telegram.
.'Uh-huh, we WILL" affirmed Kiene.
Then the two went into star chamber
session.
Saturday evening a dozen or more
policemen and plain clothes man
men and others including city, county
and state officials were present or
were informed of the plans.
The plot was to meet Cain with
a squad of policemen as large as the
entire force during the Cofran admin
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-28
Raid Crap Game.

A crap game, promoted and operat-
ed by twenty persons of color, was
rudely terminated Sunday afternoon
about 2:3O o'clock by an auto load of
policemen, headed by Sergeant Lon
Sauls. The game was in progress at
the foot of Harrison street in the City
park.
David Gray and George Afford, were
arrested owing to the fact that they
could not develop as much speed as
could their companions. When the
cops were discovered the twenty ne
groes scattered like a flock of quails.
Lon Sauls numbered his artillery and
began a bombardment. A total rout
was the result. When last seen, two
of the operators of the "seben come
1eben' pastime were disappearing over
the brow of a hill in Kenwood addi-
ton.
A two score of weary willies became
joyful at seeing the cops chase the
negroes and whooped advice to the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-28
RAILROAD news
Statistics Show That Railway
Trespassing Is Serious.
Twelve Thousand Killed Each
Year in This Way.
nFnIUI
ROADS WANT REGULATION
And a Law Enacted to Make
Trespassing a Crime.
Other Items of General Interest
i'm the Traffic World.

Statistics show that on an average
$4,000 persons are killed and injured
each year on the railroads of the
United States by reason of the fact
that they are trespaSsers on railroad
property. In contrast with this list
of casualties, it is shown that only one
passenger out of tvery 7,219,S han
died by the railroads in the year 191 )
met death or serious injury in train
collisions or derailments. In all acct
dents, including those caused by per-
sonal lack of caution or reckleSsness'
such as trying to board or get off NOV
ing trains. etc, only one passenger IN
3357.147 was killed or injured.
In the great majority of cases of
trespassers. the railroads are not re
sponsible. No railway management
wants to kill anyone. Its constant
effort is to prevent casualties or ali
kinds The man at the throttle shud-
ders at the thought of killing or
manning a human being The strain
upon his nerves and mind and heart
when he rounds a curve and finds a
man. woman or child on the track
in danger of being crushed to death is
terrific and indescribable.
What the railroads most desire and
what they insist upon is that persons
shall keep Oft their tracks These
tracks are built for the passage of
trains and not for persons to walk
upon They are fenced in for rail-
road use, but it is common for per
sons to use the tracks and the rail-
road right of way for a footpath, or
to make a short cut. or to avoid mud
DIV roads Boys will play ball beside
the tracks and often cross them in
their play. Sometimes they rest in the
shade of cars and children often
Chamber into empty ones 1t is aston
ishing how many persons of ordinary
good Judgment will take unnecessary
risks at railroad crossings, when a few
seconds time to look and listen
would insure safety
In England and Germany the death
list of trespasserS on railroads is very
small-a little over LOO IN 1872
including suicides. In those countries,
however the government enforces a
penal statute against trespassers.
In spea king of this matter one To-
peka railroad man said:
CLEARLY this is a matter which the
Iawrna kers and the executive authori-
ties of the states should take more
firmly in hand. The railroads are
powerleSS to protect their long lines
form Needless trespaSSing. Admoni-
tions. warnings. fences and signs seem
of little avail. The railroads as well as
the people need the protection of the
state. such laws with the manifest
purpose CT the authorities to enforce,
would have. in addition to their de-
terring effect. an educational value in
bringing a too needless public to j.
iZe the dangers of treSpaSsing on rail-
road tracks. There is Away danger
on a railroad track, and hundreds have
persisted because they discounted this
danger
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-28
Smith Urges Fairness.

\. II. Smith, president of the New
York Central railroad company, says:
The railroads need most. just now
and for the future, to be correctly I'M
derstood and appreciated by the people
as the most essential element in the
present and future commercial pros
perity of this country and they need to
have accorded to them fair, just and
reasonable treatment by the public, by
legislatures, commissions and other
regulative bodies, in order that they
may expand and develop into efficient
methods and improve their service
Big Four Changes.
Announcement has been made by
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-28
Expccting Big Peach Crop.

According to reports of the Mis-
souri,, Kansas and Texas officials the
Oklahoma peach crop is one of the
largest in the history of that state.
More of the growers have pruned,
sprayed or cultivated their orchards
than ever before. This should result
in a better quality of fruit. The coun-
ty farm agents in each of the Okla
homa peach-growing counties are as
sisting the growers to select and pack
their fruit
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-28

Traffic Manager Charles ]. Brister of
the Big Four that freight agencies of
that road will be established on the
Pacific coast. T.. F. Hartnett, now
commercial agent at Toledo, is pro-
NOTED to Pacific Coast freight agent
with headquarters in San Francisco:
Charles Z. Brown, travelling freight
agent at Louisville is promoted to
commercial agent at Los Angeles; j.
q. Kimberger. travelling freight agent
at Philadelphia, is promoted to COM
mercial agent at Seattle
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-28
STATE WINS ONE CENT
Alabama Asks $4,000 in Bank Suit
Gets Penny.

Montgomery. June 2S-After being
out nearly thirty-siX hours, the jury in
the state of Alabama against the
Montgomery Savings bank for S11o,-
900 today brought in verdict Of one
cent in favor of the state.
The state was suing for $4,000,
alleged to have been paid out to Theo-
dore Lacy, now serving a prison term
for the defaIcation of state convict
department funds.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-28
New Mileage Book.

Effective July 1, a new mileage
book will be placed on sale at stations
on the Denver and Rio Grande and
Rio Grande Southern railroads in Col
orado. These books, containing 1000
coupons and costing $40, will be gooS
for passage of a head of a family and
the dependent members of his or her
IA unilY residing under the same roof.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-28
CLAW Tennis Tourney Is On.

Pittsburg, Pa, June 2S.-Play in the
national Clay court tennis Champion
ship. which started Saturday, was re-
sumed today. Officials hope to re-
duce the mems singles to 80 players
by tomorrow so that the wOmen'S
matches can be started. The meet
will continue all week.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-28

Jess Beverley and Cliff Leroy both
colored, are booked at the police sta
ton for investigation following an at
tempt Sunday evening to burglarize
residences at 1911 West Fifth street,
1112 West Fifth street and 1910 West
Fifth street
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-28
zI0NISTS IN MEETING.
General Jewish Situation Is Dis
cuSSed at Boston.

Boston, Mass, June 2S.-Separate
conventions of the various Zionists or
CARNATIONS meeting here were begun
today. The first body to come to-
gether was the Federation of Ameri-
can Zionists, with Louis Lipsky Of
New York presiding.
Reports of several committees were
to be heard and a discussion on the
general Jewish situation was planned.
Fireless Cookers at Forbes. ADV.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-28

Eugene Davis is booked at the DO
lice station on a charge of speeding
Bert Richardson arrested him.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-28

Germany's total steel production in
1914 amounted to 1S,519,643 metric
tons.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-28

The store belonging to ]. F. Roose
at 1907 West Tenth street was bur-
glarlzed late Sunday evening or early
TINS morning and a small pearl han
died revolver and a few pennies were
taken An axe, taken from a barn.
was used to pry the window open. The
job apparently was done by boys
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-28

quarry. The fugitives had the last
laugh for the attention of the cops
was called to the hoboeS and they
were compelled to depart hence.
Juror Runs Gambling Den?
A dozen or more found ms and
j. II. Hadley, juror in the first di-
vision of the district court, were ar
rested Saturday evening and lodged
m the county Jail following a police
drive on Hadleys pool hall at BIG
kansas avenue Hadley faces charge
OF running gambling resort. His
hearing in police court had to be post
poned as he is a juror in a case in
the district court today.
Police evidence is to the effect that
a gambling den is run in the base
,nent of the building in the guise of a
pool hall. Hadley was attempting to
kick a portion of the wall which
switched on a buzzer in the basement
when he was caught by the police.
The electrical device was torn out of
the wall and will be used as evidence
against the proprietor of the place.
The found ms are all colored. The
following officers made the raid
Chief Parsons, Sergeants Walker and
Sauls, Detectives Alba and Morgan,
and officers Cook, Hobson and Wood
ward.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-28

Motor Washers at Forbes.-Adv-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-28

Fireless Cookers at Forbes ADV.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-28
The above saves you 500.
The above saves you 1000.

Wolff Packing Company's pure
Capital City Lard, a Lard of Quail
ity instead of 14c per Id. Special
Tuesday, June 29-pOund -. loo
The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1915-01-29
UNITED DAUGHTERS OF
THE CONFEDERACY.

John Watson Morton Chapter
United Daughters of the Confed-
eracy will hold it's next regular
monthly meeting with Mrs. Smith
S. Clayton Thursday afternoon,
February 4. The meeting will be
opened by repeating the Lords
Prayer in unison. followed by the
ritual of the Daughters.
"How firm a foundation" will be
rendered by the choir. After the
regular order of business Mrs. w.
l.. Morris will give reading.
Other features of the program
for the afternoon is music by Miss
Ruth Corbitt, recitation by Bonnie
Mai Cooper, music by Mary Ann
Morris and a reading by Mrs.
Georgia Anderson.