davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-10
Quiet Lynching Bee in California City Early in
Morning Brings Quick Justice to
Trio of Toughs.
FOR THE KILLING Of THREE OFFICERS
Men Accused Of Assaulting Girls, Opened Fire
on Police When Asked to Surrender,
With Fatal Results. IL! ~:

fUnited Press Leased Wire Service. ]
SANTA ROSA, Calf, Dec. 1o.-A
mob here early today lynched
Charles Valento, George Boyd and
STerrance Fits, San Francisco gang
sters, charged with numbering three
officers.
The three men were hanged from
limb of the same tree in a ceme-
terry. The mob departed and left
them hanging there.
1 The men, Valento, Fits and Boyd,
were taken from the Sonoma county
I Jail at one a. m, by an armed mob.
According to pre-arranged plan, the
mob began forming around the Jail
about 12:40 a. N. The mob advanced
on the prison and the startled guards
were suddenly confronted by scores
of masked men. Every member OF
the mob was masked.
The jail guards were disarmed, and
their keys taken. They protested,
! but were so outnumbered that resist
ance was useless The three prison
ers failed to show fight when the mob
dragged them from their cells. They
were placed in autos and driven to
| the cemetery where ropes were loop
ed over the bough of a tree and
noosed about the necks OF the three.
Fits. face to face with death,
begged pitifully for his life. He
screamed for mercy, but the mem
bers of the mob made no answer TO
/ his outcries.
Valento laughed and jeered at the
| IiynChers to the last. He maintained
/ his air of bravado until the moose
tightened around his neck and MS
feet swung clear of the ground.
BOYD, who was suffering from
wounds sustained Sunday in the gun
fight in which the three officers were
2l,illed, was too weak to protest or
Sesist He had to be carried from
5ihe automobile to the improvised
i gallows.
The lynching had been feared since
the murders Sunday afternoon.
Sheriff James Petray. of Sonoma
county. and Detectives Miles Jackson
and Lester Dorman were killed in a
gun fight with the three men
The shooting occurred when the
officers attempted to arrest Nalento
IN a charge of being MEMBER OF
The so-called Howard street vice
gang. in San Francisco. He WAS ac-
cused of assaulting Jessie Mont
gomery and Jean Stanley, telephone
operators, on Thanksgiving day me
operations of this vice gang resulted
in widespread terror and the publlc
was aroused. The officers found va
ento with Fits and Boyd at the
iome of Peter Guidotti here Wnen
hey demanded the surrender OF the
rio, the gan gsters opened fire kllilns
he three officers instantly. BOYD, IN
4 confession. admitted that he shot
Ill three officers. but the jury IN
iicted Fits and Valento with him.
Judge Lynch Holds Court.
SANTA ROSA, Calf, Dec. "
Judge Lynch. unreasoning advocate
of the days Of gold in California, came
back to tho bench today.
u Impersonated by mob or seventy
Five to one hundred angry citizens, ne
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-10

HAMON STORY
Nephew of Dead Oil King, Denies
Tale Told by His Wife Regard
ing That $too Check
Each Month.

TUnited Press Leased Wire Service ]
DIXON, Calf, Dec. 1O.-Frank
Hamon, husband of Ruth Walker
Hamon, who was located on ranch
twelve miles south Of here, today
denied that his purpose in marrying
Clara Smith HamOn was as con
venience, for his uncle, the late Jacob
Hamon.
The marriage, he said, had no con
necton with the shooting of his
uncle.
The $1O0 a month L received from
my uncle was as salary after l gave
up a position in one of his oil fields
due to lung trouble said Hamon.
81 was getting the allowance long
before | married Clara Smith,
He denied that Mrs. Jacob Hamon
received $1,000 a month, and declared
that he believed in his uncles state
menas that the shooting was acci-
dental.
MIS-. Frank HamOn, working in
Sacramento under the name Of Ruth
Walker Hamon, early this week de-
clared that she believed her husband
had gone to Cuba. Mrs. Frank Hamon
has since disappeared.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-10
HOPES DASHED
FOR IRISH PEACE
Lloyd George Announces That
Government Will Not Ne
gotiate With Dali
Eireann.
NOT REPRESENT PEOPLE
Only Basis for Peace Will be Accept.
ance of Unbroken Unity for
the United King
NOT REPRESENT PEOPLE
COrreSpOndent,7

LONDON, Dec. 10.-Hopes for
Irish peace were dashed by Lloyd
Georges announcement in the house
Of commons today Of the govern
ment's refusal to recognize or to
negotiate with the Dali Eireann
Urish parliamenD on which the Sim
Feiners had insisted.
No formal negotiations have been
attempted. Lloyd-George told the
house, although peace makers on
both sides have communicated with
their government.
The prime minister declared he
was "regretfully convinced" eStrem-
lists controlling the Irish murder
lcanIpaign" were not ready for peace.
"The only basis for peace" the
ance by our opponents of unbroken
unity for the united kingdom"
The people of Ireland themselves
are most anxious for peace, Lloyd
George said, but the extremists will
not permit. ...--....... .-y ..
| Announcement Of Lloyd Georges
plan to discuss the Irish situation
drew an unusual crowd to commons
today.
The premier went to the heart Of
the matter at once by declaring the
government could not recognize the
Dali Eireann as a body qualified to
speak for the Irish people.
Since this body could not be recog-
nized, he declared, the government
had made no effort to enter negot1a-
tions. He reiterated that the gov
ernment hoped for peace and was
ready to discuss it with any person
or organization it could recognize as
of the Irish people.
He told Of interviews with Arthur
Henderson and William Adamson,
la bor members Of the house who in
yestisated conditions in Ireland and
came back with report that the
headers were ready to accept peace.
He mentioned also the report ot Arch
Bishop Clune who had seen Arthur
Griffith, acting head of the sim rem
at Mount Joy prison in Dublin.
These conversations, he said, had
convinced him that the people OF Ire
land desired peace, but the e&trem-
lists who were responsible LOT Tue
murder campaign had SHOWN they
we're not ready to abandon 'heir
warfare.
Martha, law in the most disturbed
eecticns of Ireland will be proclaim
ed, Lloyd-George declared.
The premier said residents of the
areas to be placed under martial law
will be allowed a reasonable time 10
surrender their arms and UNIFORMS
After that period possessors OF
weapons or wearers Of uniforms Will
he treated as rebels, he said, liable
ito courtmartial and the death SEN
Itence.
The same rules will apply to har-
bars of rebels, he declared.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-10

passed and executed a death sentence
upon Torrance Fits, George Boyd
and Charles Valento, all white, Ameri-
can citizens, alleged members Of d
San Francisco gang accused Of the
| murder OF three peace officers and Of
unspeakab'e attacks on two gill tele'
phone operators.
An hour after the three men had
been strung from the same limb on
big oak tree in the Odd Fellows
cemetery on the outskirts of Santa
Rosa, Coroner Phillips and Sheriff
Boyes went out and cut down the
bodies.
But they didn't do it until scores
of Santa Rosa citizens-;ncluding
many women-had made a pilgrimage
to the cemetery and stood. there 81
lently gazing upon the three tortured
forms as they swung gently in the
breeze which was blowing soft mist
around them.
There they were, dangling about
three feet from the ground, the three
men who had been indicted for the
murder Sunday of Sheriff James
Petray, of Sonoma county, and Detec-
tives Miles Jackson and Lester Dor
man, OF San Francisco.
BOYD, who had confessed the kill
ing of the three officers, was hanging
at the end of the limb, his face ex-
pressionless, for he was nearly dead
from a mortal wound when the lynch
ers pulled the rope.
Fits, his head cut open, his mouth
gagged and his face contorted with
terror was in the middle
Valento, a defiant half smile still
on his face, his body stripped to the
waist, just as he was found in bed
at the Jail, was nearest the trunk OF
tho tree.
! The mob had formed quietly and
Judge Lynch had acted swiftly.
About 1 o'clock this morning, auto
| mobiles began driving into the town.
| Masked men were at the wheels and
in the seats They carried shotguns.
| Presumably at a given signal, they
poured into the office of Sheriff
Boyes, pointed to a picture OF the
murdered Sheriff Petray hanging on
the wall, and shouted:
Look at that; isn't that enough
Outnumbered and with six shotguns
pointed at him. the sheriff said he
could not resist.
The lynchers took his keys, opened
the cells, dragged out the prisoners
and rushed them into automobiles.
Then a cavalcade OF about thirty
motor cars, each filled with masked
men. drove silently through the most
fashionable section Of town to the
Odd Fellows cemetery
With hardly a word passed. except
for the screaming and pleading Of
Terrence Fits, they placed the nooses
and lifted the three men to their
death.
It was the "1ynch law" of the
"forty-niners" modernized which was
ruling again, for the first time in
many year, in California.
Instead of the old mining camp
wagon which hauled the victims OF
the gold hunters wrath to their doom,
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-10
SUIT AGAINST
NATIONAL GUARD
Houston Press Seeks $25, 900 Dam
aces for Arrest Of Editor Who
Charges imprisonment
Was Illegal.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service.I
HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 10.-PoWer
of the military over civilians outside
a specified martial law zone will be
tested here as a result OF a civil suit
for damages filed today in district
court by the Houston Press in behalf
of its editor, G. V. Sanders.
The suit is directed against Colonel
Billie Mayfield, of the Texas nat.onal
guard. and three lieucrnants Of the
guard.
Sanders asked $4,000 actual dam
ages and $4,000 exemplary damages
for false arrests.
The suit is the outcome OF the
attempted arrest Of Sanders by order
Of Colonel Mayfield. August 80, dur
ing occupation of Galveston.
Questions of freedom Of speech,
right of habeas corpus and trial by
Jury are involved in the case.
The attempted kidnapping or the
editor, coming at time when the
Galveston trouble was at its highest
pitch, caused a sensation in TeTaS.
AS editor of the Press, Sanders had
attacked martial rule over Galveston.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-10
THIRTY THOUSAND EXTRA
NAIL CLERKS AND CARRIERS

Postofice officials began to plan TO
handle the rush at a series OF con-
ferences held here last October. Ryan
said. Divisional officials from every
section of the country came here TO
make plans to put on something IKE
1000 extra railway mail cars and
thousands of extra auto trucks.
The public can put the finishing
touches on the job by obeying two
simple rules. Ryan said. These rules
are: Cd Double wrap every package
and place inside the name ana au-
5rese of both sender and addressee.
Then r. the outer wrapper becomes
torn. the postofice clerks will know
where to send the package without
Gelav It won't go to the dead letter
once: (2) mail early; the big Ersh rus h
comes in the week just preceding
Christmas day.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-10
CHOIR BOY
HANGED TODAY
Nick Viana Executed on Nineteenth
Birthday After Conviction OF
Murder Of a Saloon
Keeper.

limited Press Leased Wire Servlce.J
CHICAGO, Dec 10.-Nick Viana, the
choir boy murderer, went to his death
here today on his 18th birthday with
out showing q trace of fear, and pro-
testing his innocence. He was hung
for participating in the murder OF An
drew Bowman, a saloon keeper.
"Jt is no disgrace to Gie for my
father, mother and sisters, the lad
said, as the moose was ADJUSTED.
Vtana declared that while he did not
do the shooting, he would not tell who
did because of threats made against
his family's lives if he turned state
witness.
The trap was sprung at $50. His
neck was broken anG he was pro
nounced dead five minutes later
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-10
Furniture Prices Lower.

WASHINGTON, D. c.. Dec. 10
Promise of lower furniture prices
was made by the national council OF
furniture associations in a statement
iss,1ed at the close of a meeting held
bern The association said the manu-
facturers composing its membership
had decided at once to give the ouy.
ing public the advantage not only o,
present market conditions bua OF all
declines that may reasonably De eX-
pected during the first half OF the
coming year.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-10
rBy Don E. Chamberlain, United
Press Staff Correspondent

1By Don E. Chamberlain, OniteH
Press Staff Correspondent
CHICAGO, Dec 10.-Plans for
launching a billion dollar drive 1or
the purpose of rescuing Americas
foreign tr-atse, described as "begln-
ming to back up" were taken up by
aihe comtsy's acading aAnheEs and
business men here today.
The plans provide for estaDlsil-
nent of a $1OO, 100000 corporation 10
finance foreign trade. The confer
ence, called by John S. Drum, san
Francisco, president OF THE Ameri
can Bankers association, will be rep
resentative of all the countrys IN
dustries, and was authorized by the
association at its Washington con
vention.
The 100000, 900 capital, the corpor'
atoms sponsors plan, Will NE SUD
scribed by banks, business concerns
and the public.
Fixing of the capital at $100OO0,oo0
is to give it the maximum nnahclai
ability of $1,100, 100000.
The Edge act which authorizes
formation of the proposed corpora
ton, permits issuance of debentures
AGAINST existing securities owned by
LII TO an amount equal to ten times
it's capital. The existing securities
will consist of foreign trade obliga-
tiOnS.
According to a statement issued to
DELEGATES, Americas eXpors trade
(which has been built during the last
several years, covering South Ameri-
ca. South Africa Australia and the
e =, NO tn h1 1rl< and
throw goods manufactured for export
into competition with goods maHufac-
sured for. domestic consumption IN
the markets of the United States.
THE banks Of this country up TO
this time have taken part in forefgn
loans directly, and also indirectly
Through the advance of funds TO
manufacturers who in turn have In
effect loaned their production abroad,
the statement said Further credits.
in order to meet the situation and al
low the distribution of the over sup
civ of commodities in the United
States and prevent the accumulation
of manufactures must be or longer
time than banks and industrial insti-
tlrtions can legitimately be asked to
carry"
In an effort to maintain and stinau-
late Americas foreign dzade, 1t IS
planned to interest the general pub
lie in the capitalization Of the corp0T-
atoms stock. 1t is believed that If
the general public cOmprehends what
is at stake and shows its approval
by investing, it will put our for
eign trade over the top
Drum declared today that there was
not the slightest doubt Of the sue
cessful launching of the corporation.
From the hundreds of letters
which have received it is evident
that the plan has made an instant ap
peal to the country" said Drum
Men from forty states attended the
sessions Delegates inC'Tded:
Standish Backus, president Of the
Burroughs Adding Machine company
Detroit: Julius H Barnes New
York; John E. Barber. Los Angeles /;
r. n. Briggs, Denver; John CaVa
naugh. Des MUines Edward Cooking,
ham, Portland, Ore; R. R Frazier
Seattle; General George W. Goethals,
New York; Herbert Hoover; J. r
Howard, Clinton, Iowa; Paul NJ
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-10
J. G. Sterret, Bachelor, Found
Dead in His Pasture by
Party Searching for
Him.
THROWN FROM HORSE
Verdict of Accidental Drowning Re.
turned by Coroners Jury Which
Sat on the
Case.

limited Press Leased Wire Service.
CORYDON, Iowa, Dec. 10.-The
coroner's jury investigating the death
of J. c.. Sterret, a bachelor farmer,
whose body was found in pool OF
water in a pasture on his farm, TO-
day returned a verdict Of accidental
drowning.
The verdict declared Sterret had
been thrown from his horse into the
pool OF water and that he had been
rendered unconscious when his head
struck a sharp object in the pool.
Neighbors, who had organized a
!searching party, found Stewet's body
Iseveral hours later.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-10
GERMANY WILLING TO PAY
FOR EX-KAISER'S EXPENSES

continue it's payments for the upkeep
of the former kaiser. it declared to-
day.
The Tageblau stated the govern
nent has received protests from
France and Great Britain on these
expenditures, but has replied that
the money must be considered as
payment on private property
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-10
Export Trade Backing Up.


CHICAGO, Dec. 10.-Belief that
the present price decline will con-
tinue indefinitely was indicated ebyt
delegates attending the foreign trade
financing conference here today. The
conference was called to discuss
plans providing for formation OF
$1O0 900, 900 foreign trade corporation
to maintain and stimulate Americas
foreign trade.
Former Secretary OF Commerce.
William Redffelds declared the pres
ent low prices we're due to the back
ing up of our export trade
The result, he said, was an over
supply, which forced prices down and
caused enormous losses to producers.
Redfield declared that when the
proposed corporation starts to func-'
tioning it will eventually halt the
decline and steady Americas foreign
trade.
1T will particularly benefit our
Latin-American trade" he said
The conference was called to order
by John S. Drum, San Francisco,
president of the American Bankers
association. a.
He was followed by John McHugh.
of the Mechanics Metals National
bank, New York, who sounded the
keynote speech.
McHugh declared an emergency
had arisen which justified establish
ment of the proposed corporation.
During the war and for a year and
a half after the armistice, he said, the
great wave of prosperity which swept
the country sent prices higher.
spending at home was generous
and unstinted" he said. "Other na-
tions bought our goods as never be-
fore"
Since, however, McHugh said. con-
ditions have changed.
Our extraordinary prosperity has
stopped" he said. "Factories and
mills have shortened their hours of
work; many even have closed down.,
Goods prepared for export have
backed up at all our seaports owing
to lack of means to finance their
shipments, and our markets are glut-
ted in consequence. Yet the irony
Of il all is that the outside world
could use all the surplus we might
spare, and Europe is stiIl calling
urgently for our goods and for our
aid"
McHugh elaborated on the plan for
corporation.
It would. he said, assume the for
eign trade obligations to enable for
eign buyers to absorb this country's
surplus. Then the corporation. he
said would issue debentures on the
foreign obligations.
That the backing up OF Americas
foreign trade has cost the country
s. 600, 600 0GO was the statement OF
George s Murphy. banker, Of Man
haitian. Kas.
'Tt has cost the state OF Kansas
alone approximately $40 100000 be-
tween July l and December | Of this
year" he said.
OF this the loss in wheat repre-
sented s131 100000 alone. Murphy
estimated
"If this corporation had been in
Continued on page q
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-10
Night and Day Shifts to Han
die Biggest Christmas
Rush in History.

United Press Leased Wire Service j
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1o.-Ihlrty
thousand extra mail carriers, clerks
md helpers now are beginning nlght
Ind day shifts to handle the blsgest
Christmas mail rush in the history or
he postof1ice,
This is in addition to approximate
" 100000 regular postofiice depar. =
nent officials and employees, accord
ng to superintendent Ryan OF the
bureau OF postofices, today.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-10
Suicide In Jail

MARION, Illinois, Dec. 1O.-Frank
Bianco, accused murderer of two boys
at West Frankfort, Illinois. whose trial
was in progress, committed suicide by
hanging himself in Jail early today.
The murder of the youths was the
cause of riots which broke out in West
Frankfort last summer, resulting in
the deaths Of several persons and loot
ing of many PLACES Of business.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-10
Government Not Disposed to
Discontinue Upkeep of
Late War Lord.

UNITED Press Leased Wire SeFTIceI J
BERLIN, Dec- 10.-The German
government Is not disposed To DIS
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-10
Delegates From Forty States Meet to Organize
CORPORATION Which Will Rescue Americas
Export Business.
SAY PRICE DECLINES WILL CONTINUE
Hundred Million Dollar Corporation to be-
Formed With Right to Borrow Ten
Times Its Capital.

Warburg, New York; Thomas E-'
Wilson, Chicago and Franklin Mas
Veagh, Chicago.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-10

(Continued on page 2.)
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-10
Illinois Missouri Weather.

ILLINOIS Fair tonight and Satnr-
day. Warmer.
MISSOURl-Fair tonight and Sat
urday. Warmer.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-10

Judge Lynch Holds Court.
SANTA ROSA, Calf, Dec. 10
Judge Lynch. unreasoning adVocace
of the days Of gold in California, came
back to tho bench today.
Impersonated by mob OF seventy
five to one hundred angry citizens, ne
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1920-10-07

ture," said Mr.. Sidney. "Our conven-
dons teach US to regard a family tie
as a sacrament. In many cases 1t is
only an odlOus obligation leading to
tragedy"
'Dick knew all of Henry's weakness
es," Jed continued. Sometimes he
would torture him physically, by twist
ing his wrist or rolling him over on
the ground when young girls were
around. Sometimes he would torture
him without laying hands on him.
"Dick was a thick-headed brute, but
he had genius for cruelty. When
their parents died and the boys APP
preached their majority, Henry was al
most an imbecile for fear of Dick.
"Dlck wanted then to get his inheri-
lance and go out into the world, but
the estate was left In trust until both
boys were Of age. Dick came of age
and was obliged to wait two years for
Henry"
was astonished by the succinct and
philosophical brevity of this ignorant
mans narrative. Mr.. Sidney was at
ease in his chair with his eyes closed
and a placid expression of pleasure on
his face. Jed was active In gesticula-
ton as he talked. That was the eff
feet of the wine. The wind continued
to pull at the chimney and scold In the
corners.
sled has read great deal to me"
said Mr.. Sidney without opening his
eyes. Il think he has become theatric."
SWELL" said Jed. ito shorten a story,
when Dick, being twenty-one, found
that he had to wait two more years for
Henry, he became more brutal than
ever. In some way or other, the night
Of the murder the two brothers hap
pened to meet in tavern in village
not far from Hartley house. Henry
did not want to go home with his
brother, but they both got drunk and
they started to walk home together.
"No one has been able to do much
more than guess at what took place,
but 1t was known that Richard was
DAulC lldI was SCdACO Va
him but was not a coward. They must
have had violent quarrel.
There was cottage near the pool.
The only person in it at the time was
a little girl, whose parents were not at
home She was awakened by cries
and swearing. She said that she heard
one man say: They'll findtyou dead in,
the morning. Then she heard sounds
of struggle and was scared and hid
her head under the bedclothes.
when her parents came home she
told them what she had heard, and
they went out with lantern to the
place from which the noise came. They
found parts of Henry's clothing The
next day Richard was found, ten miles
away, still drunk He confessed that
he had killed his brother in drunken
rage.
"Afterward he said that he hadn't,
but he admitted that there had been
quarrel. It was most celebrated