davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04

searchers-the Los Angeles officers
think they themselves may have done
it-dug there for while, and re-
moved enough sand to bring the
prowling coyotes to the spot. The
sand showed signs of claws that had
scratched for something underneath.
Another day or two and only the
bones of Nina Lee Deloney would
have remained in the vicinity to GER
tify to the confession made by Wat
son last Thursday to District Attorney
Woolwine and Sheriff Cline's officers.
District Attorney Woolwine, Sheriff
Cline. Under Sheriff Manning ana
Deputy Sheriffs Couts and Bell, who
worked the case from the start, Sher-
iff Applestill, Deputy Sheriffs H. J..
V. Blake, Sam T. Griffin, A. P. Gre
rer. f. E. Cummings, G. D. Applestill,
Chief of Police Dave Matlock, former
Police Commissioner "Bill Reams" of
Ell Centre, and more than a score of
Los Angeles, San Diego and Imperial
Valley newspaper men were the next
to reach the sandy ledge where the
body lay. Shovels began to flash in
the desert sun rays, and soon the ten
dons of leg came into view.
FACE CRUSHED
The body was in fine state of
preservation. 1t lay on its left SIDE.
The dark brown hair was matted and
lay around the head. There was a
hair pin, and one safety -pin--two sill
ent tokens Watson failed to remove
when he burned the clothing and the
blanket in which he brought the body
with him. The face had been crushed
in with hammer or some other heavy
object-just as Watson told Mr.. Wool
wine in his confession. One of the
hands had been badly crushed, as if
it had tried to block the first blows.
Carefully and patiently the workers
removed all sand and boulders from
it. The sandy ledge was at the place
where waterfall during the rainy
season was apt to bring more sand
and gradually dposit thicker layers of
sand and rock on it. Apparently Wat
son knew just what he was doing anG
how to do it. 1t took the searchers
and gradually deposit thicker layers of
only about half hour to remove the
sand from around the body. 1t lay
exposed to the sunlight, hauntingly
calm, while far overhead buzzaro
circled in slow steady swings, and the
mountain that had kept its secret sc
well, looked on.
BOASTS OF TELLING TRUTH
81 told you I'd find the place." was
the remark made by Watson as he
was placed in the ambulance. "Some.
times | don't remember things.
seem to have q double personality you
know. Now take this thing, if some
one else did that I'd feel horror, 3
: terrible feeling, but somehow | do no
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04
WOULD CONTROL TRADE ROUTE

THE HAGUE, May 4.-Eight
Dutch steamship companies have COM
bined to form the United Dutch Navi-
cation company. probably, the largest
combination since formation of the
International Mercantile Marine, and
have apnounced the, principal effort
Of the combination will be directed
toward opening new lines to Australia
the Far East and Africa, and toward
control of trade routes to North and
South America.
The new company is backed by a
capital of 2OO0O0,00O guilders. The
combination includes the following
companies: Holland American line
Royal Dutch Steamship company
Netherlands Line, Royal Packet com,
pany, Rotterdam Lloyd Line, Mas
Navigation company, the Van Nievelt
Gourdraan & Co., Of Rotterdam.
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04

brought to the Shafer & Lemons un-
dertaking establishment where the in
quest was held at 3 o'clock this after
noon.
Officers Of Imperial county from
Sheriff Applestill to his humblest
deputy aided and assisted in the
search. Chief of Police Dave Mat
lock of Ell Centre, deputies Cummings
and Griffen and others OF the forcs
led the way to the scene of the grave.
Sheriff Applestill also provided
transportation for the small army OF
newspaper men and photographers
who were in tn party.
More than 25 machines and 100
people We're at the desert graveyard
at the time the sensational find was
made.
CROWD GATHERS
A crowd estimated at 1000 gather
ed at the union depot this morning to
await the arrival of Watson. When
the news first reached this city about
5 O'Clock yesterday afternoon that
Watous, famous from coast to coast
as the modern Bluebeard and biga-
mist, who is unable to relate. the
number of wives he has married and
slain, hundreds planed to meet the
train this morning. Later news con-
firmed the first report that Watson
had left Los Angeles on the evening
train and when the train pulled into
the station this morning huge
crowd, such as has been seen only
rarely in Ell Centre had gathered at
the depot to watch him.
During the trip down on the train
Watson talked with newspaper men of
whom there were battery along. On
his trip he revealed nothing that he
had not previously made public.
FEARS CROWD
AS the Pullman door opened and
Watson stepped into the vestibuls he
saw the vast crowd. For the first
time apparently he realized that he
was the center Of the eyes Of the
nation. A score of cameras clicked
and then drawing his cap over his
face and shielding his eyes with his
upraised arm, escorted by two deputy
sheriffs he stepped to the ground. A
rush on the part of the curious COM
PEELED the officers to push back the
crowd make lane through which he
walked to the big ambulance. From
the depot the ambulance and several
automobile loads of officers and news
paper men went directly to the Bee
cafe where he was given . seat
towards the rear A crowd which
quickly grew in size until the street
was blocked gathered and officers
prevented the crowd from surEing
inside. Newspaper men and officials
were permitted inside and represent
atives of the Press were permitted
to interview j. Morgan Marmadukc
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04

feel it now,' he said to Deputy Sheriff
the ambulance.
While the men, dwarfed into little
spots, mucked up in the hill Watson
asked that the curtains of the ambu-
lance be drawn, and he be left undis-
turbed DR.. Saunders administered
stimulants, and the murderer felt a
little better. The cream colored am
bulance. glimmering in the sun, stood
on the highway, at the head of the
long line of the official cars. Inside.
propped on a pillow, lay Watson. He
did not show any nervousness or anX-
iety. He kept on talking about HIM
self. Whether sincere or feignlng, ne
appeared to be anxious to paint hlm-
self victim of double personality,
man who could not help the crimes
he had committed. He was anxious
about the impression he was making
on those around him, and was think
ing what those who knew him 'ul
north would think of him. "Yon
know | have lots of friends up north
and | don't want them to recognize
me-"
HANDS INDICATORS
Watsons hands are his emotional
indicators. They are the hands of a
musician. Pliable hands-hands that
can twist themselves into any shape,
almost. These hands kept on forming
different shapes while he sat on a
rock below and talked to Deputy
Sheriff Bell and his physician. But
they were not at all nervous, those
wonderful hands of Watson, the su-
per-murderer. The hands that slew
Nina Lee Deloney-that wrote the
letters to her relatives while she lay
buried under the sandy ledge-that
held the hands fhs other wives. and
did not shrink from their warm, pull
sating touch-were not nervous. They
did not shake, or wriggle in agony
They just went on making forms, just
like him mind must have been doing
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04
STATE TODAY
IS SETTLING
JOHNSON 5
FUTURE
Spirited Contest on Between
Herbert Hoover and Sen
atOr Hiram Johnson for
26 Delegates from Cali
fOrnia.
(By Associated Press)

SAN FRANCISCO, May 4.-The
chief issue in the primary today is
whether johnson or Hoover will have
the republican delegation The state
registration is l, iii 1872 of which $685.
767 are republican, 242,737 are demo-
cratic with a few scattered prohibi-
tion and socialist votes.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 4.-Choice
between two groups of 26 delegates to
the republican national convention,
one pledged to United States Senator
Hiram w. Johnson and the other to
Herbert Hoover, former United States
food controller, was offered to voters
at the California presidential primary
election today.
Democrats and prohibitonists also
We're electing today 26 delegates each
to their respective national cOnven-
items. These were unopposed, except
that on the democratic ticket Henry
ii. Childders of Los Angeles, an
nouncing that he favored liberal in
depreciation of the national prohibi-
ton amendment, qualified as candi-
date for national delegate in addi-
tion to the 26 named by the state CEN
trail committee. The democratic dele
gates are unpledged. The prohibition
group is pledged to the candidacy of
Henry Clay Needham of Los Angeles.
Registration for todays election eX-
ceeds that for any previous primary
election in. California. of the 1872
men and women eligible to vote, $685.
7G7 are registered as republicans,
DAT 7o7 nc democrats 16 50S aS S0cial-
lists and 6,321 as progressives; 3317
are scattering and 125,30S declined to
state their party affiliations.
Regardless of party affiliation,
voters at this election may choose the
ballot of any party they wish, state
officials have announced. AS re-
suit, it was expected that many demo-
Gratis and others would vote the re-
publican ticket where interests cen
tered in the contest between the rival
Johnson and Hoover groups of pros
pective delegates.
The johnson forces were expected
to show their greatest strength in
San Francisco and the northern part
of the state, while the maximum
Hoover vote was expected from Los
Angeles and Southern California.
Only delegates to national party
conventions will be elected today. The
state primary will be held August "a,
when candidates for a United States
senatorship, eleven seats in congress
and long list of state offices will be
chosen. California presidential cleo
tors will be named by the state con-
ventions in September.
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04
BY A. Nj. ROCHLEN

(Staff Correspondent Angeles Tmes.)
Bluebeard Watson superbgam murderer today made
good his CHASTITY claim.
Acting what probably the most dramatic CHAPTER of this
county Southern California he led District Attorney Woowne
and Of other Los Angeles and Imperial officials
the lonely where he buried the body of Nina
Deloney three months ago Then without moments hesitation
without visible emotion with the grim certainty DEATH
pointed to the rocky ledge high above where the
roodng the silent desert has guarded we'll the sandy
sepulchre
He did not walk up to the The murderer insisted
walking some dstance Slowly patiently he toed the
certain sand and gravel under foot then shading
eyes against the that watched his first climb the
mountain he pointed ahead.
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04
PHONES, WIRES COST
UNCLE SAM HUGE SUM
(By Associated Pressl

WASHINGTON. D. c., May 4
Operation of the telephone and tele-
graph companies during the war cost
the government $1,005,56 Burleson
informed congress today in asking for
an appropriation of that amount to
liquidate the affairs of the federal
wire administration.
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04

Due to the fact that officers work
ing on the case had been unable to To-
cate the grave from Watson's meager
description of the topography of the
surrounding country, Watson was
brought here today and taken to
Devils Canyon where he stated the
murdered woman was buried.
SEEMS WORRIED
Still in weakened condition
caused by his recent attempt to end
his life by cutting his throat. he was
met at the train and carried in an
ambulance. Taken to local restau-
rant where he was the cynosure of
hundreds of eyes, he ate hearty
breakfast. On re-entering the ambu-
lance after he had breakfasted the
click of many cameras seemed to
make Watson slightly nervous, but
his statement to a newspaper man
indicated that his only worry was
that the pictures would not be good
of him.
On arriving at Devils Canyon Wat
son assisted by two deputy sheriffs
slowly walked towards the part of
the canyon where the murdered wom-
an was supposed to be buried. The
climb was apparently too much for
him, so sitting on the ground he pro-
ceeded to build a miniature canyon
with rocks, indicating the spot where
the grave was made.
HEAD BEATEN IN
Following these directions Under
Sheriff Al Manning, accompanied by
Officers r. Lee Couts and Harvey
Bell. detailed by Sheriff Cline on the
case, had no difficulty in finding the
body. The corpse gave mute evidence
of the fiendishneSs of Watson, who
has stated that he killed the woman
with a hammer. Not only the head
but the face was beaten in.
How Watson, who is small of sta
ture and whose physical appearance
gives no indication of his being pos
sessed of unusual strength, ever sue
ceeded in dragging or carrying the
body of Nina Lee DeLoney up the
mountain side is difficult to under
stand Watson stated that he had
driven an automobile from Long
Beach with the body and that he
reached Devils Canyon about A o'clock
in the afternoon. Driving across the
sand to the nearest hill he had parked
his car and waited the fall of dark
ness to begin his gruesonie selfap-
pointed task.
INQUEST HELD
According to Watson it took him
more than three hours to drag the
body to the grave which he had pre-
pared. He said that he had first re-
moved the clothing, which he after
wards burned. then he had placed the
corpse in blanket and in this man,
ner had finally succeeded in getting
it into the grave
body of Nina Lee Deloney up the
Peterson was notified. and the bod!
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04
The desert has given UP it's dead.

The desert has given up it's dead.
Ending five day search for the body of Nina Lee Deloney
murdered time last January by Walter Andrew Watson
notorious buebeard Los Angeles officers headed by Sheriff
John c. Cline and District Attorney Thomas Lee Woolwine
the corpse lonely grave the described
and pointed out by Watson this morning in Devils Canton
Coyote Wells
The had been made secluded spot situated in
aVne half way the mountain side in Devils The
body had perhaps been buried beneath feet of earth
incidence the discovery the the fact that Under
sheriff Al Manning and Officers Harry Bell and R. Lee Couts
had previously stood the search made last Friday
Manning had actually shoveed inches of sand
with his hands, but having shovel he had made further
effort to dig
The removal of the top layer of sand sufficient however
allow the attract coyotes which had either late last
night early this morning partially uncovered the corpse
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04

"There it is, behind that rock" he
said in voice halfway between g
whisper and an ordinary conversa-
ton, and then sat down. The repre-
sentatives of the law who came to see
per men and onlookers, dashed for
ward as if life was to be saved in
stead of corpse to be uncovered.
Watson sat on a rock, waiting. He
was patient. Deputy. Sheriff Bell and
DR.. c. A. Saunders, of the Los An
gele County hospital, stood near by,
watching him and the small groups
reaching upward. Suddenly the few
of the leaders disappeared behind q
large boulder. All was still, and
only the sound of the loosened gravel
played delayed dirge for the mur-
derer's victim. The rock held their
silence, and all was still for just q
brief moment or two. Then an arm
shot above the largest boulder. A
head appeared-there was a shout,
joined by others, and white handker-
chief waved the dismal signal The
body was found just where Watson
said it was. The murderer has made
good.
IRON NERVE CRUMBLES
That signal was sign for greater
effort of the ones who were still
climbing up. To Watson it was the
emotional crisis. The iron nerve-or
perhaps the colossal absence of it
crumbled like the very sands he had
disturbed on his last pilgrimage to
the grave site, and he seemed to wilt.
Deputy Sheriff Bell and DR.. Saunders
led him back to the road about 500
feet distant, and placed him in the
ambulance. He made good on his
blood d-stained pact, and his part. for
the time being, was over.
The rugged mountain, hardened
witness of cataciysms of cons ago,
was watching scene never before
equaled in the dramatic highlights. 1t
was scene made possible by a will to
live, by a desperate effort Of Watson
to save his neck, and the will to live
famed into desperation after two at
tempts to die had failed was robbing
death of the secret which only Wat
son knew.
By the time the rest of the crowd
reached the grave, eager hands were
scooping up the sand. The spot is
about 200 feet above the state high.
way, and about one-quarter of mile
from it. directly opposite the. Sugar
Loaf road leading in the opposite di.
rection, and approximately mile anC
a half below the Sheppard Bridge
across Devils Canyon, at the foot OF
Mountain Springs grade.
MISSED BODY BY INCHES
Out of our three previous attempts
to find the body we passed within
few feet of the place. Some of tn
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04
RELIEF SNOWY n
As JUAREz TAKEN
WITHOUT FIGHT
Washington ApprehensiUe for
Some Time OUer Rebel MOUe-
ment Along Border: Blood
less Victories.
(By Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, May 4.-Relief
was shown both in the government
circles and by the revolutionary
agents here today. when it became
known that Juarez, where revOlu-
tiOnary fighting has always been a
potential international danger. has
been taken by the rebels without
fight. Until now the rebels have
taken about half of the Carranza
territory without battle.
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04
LIGHT VOTE IN COUNTY


Indications late this afternoon that
there would be light vote in Imperial
county. Voting in the Ell Centro
precincts was very slow all today
because of the interest shown in
Bluebeard Watson. 1t was expected
however that late this afternoon those
who had been following the story SC
slosely would cast their votes.
Estimates today on the number Of
votes which will be cast in the valley
varied. Of the nearly 10000 regis
tered in the county it was estimated
that between 5000 and 1000 would
vote.
Estimates on the vote varied
Hoover supporters declared that
the county would not go for Johnson
by more than 2 to l but hackers OF
the fiery California senator declared
that he would win by 8 and even 4
to |
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04
BULLETINS
(By Associated Press
KIEV SURROUNDED

WARSAW, May 4.-Bolsheviki are
entranching in the hills, on the west
bank of the Dnieper in great semi
circle with their backs against Kiev,
the Ukrania capital, according to in
formation from the front today.
Fight for the possession Kiev is at its
height, raging day and night along
the line through valleys and rivers.
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04
BOURGEOISE PERISH

LONDON, May A considerable
number of the bougeoise who fled
from South Russia to Asia Minor
perished during storm in the Black
Sea, according to wireless from
Moscow today. Fourteen ships laden
with refugees were lost.
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04
B[UEBEARD POINTS WAY
To SECLUDED SPOT N
WHICH WIFE IS BURIED.

Partially Dismembered Body of Murdered Nina Lee
Deoney Found Exactly Where Bgamist Husband Had
Told Officers 1t Would Be- Large Crowd Watches
Search Watson Himself Too Weak To Go To Lone
Grave; Searchers Had Dug Exactly in Spot Mentioned
Last Week; Coyotes Uncover Body.
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04
LOCATED
CHASTITY CLAIM MADE GOOD;
THERE, BEHIND THAT ROCK

Without Visible Emotion, Buebeard Watson Points to
Grave of Murdered Wife; Eager Hands Follow Direc-
tions and Scoop Earth Until Entire Form is Exposed
Dark Brown Hair Laid Matted Matted at Side of Head
Crushed in by Blows of Hammer.
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04
VOTE IN
IMPERIAL COUNTY
(By Associated Press)

SAN FRANCISCO, May 4.-Thirty
thousand citizens voted before 10:3O
this morning and there were indica-
tions that as many democrats as re-
publicans were voting. The registrar
expecter the total vote would be
100000.
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04

JOHNSON LOSES NEW JERSEY
BALTIMORE, May 4.-Wood de-
feated Johnson yesterday in a very
unusual light vote in the preference
primaries by a majority of 7841.
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04
,OS ANGELES VOTE HEAVY

LOS ANGELES, May 4.-Regis-
tration in the county is $4,000. The
registrar expects the vote to be about
250,000. The early turnout was un-
usually large.
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04

Continued on Page 81
Imperial Valley press., 1920-05-04
MISSED BODY BY INCHES

Out OF our three previous attempts
to find the body we passed within q
few feet of the place. Some of thu
The Washington times., 1920-06-05
LINER AbLME OFF
NEW YORK COAST
Fuel Pipe Bursts on Bergens-
ford $50 Miles From
New York.

NEW YORK, June 5.-The steam
ship Bergensfjord, of the Norwegian
American line. which sailed from this
mort Yesterday with 1,241 passengers
aboard, caught fre at sea early today.
First reports said the ship was
putting back to port, but later ad.
vices said the Are had been placed
under control and the damage was
not suffcient to prevent the weasel
from continuing her voyage. The
Are broke out in the after stoke hold
and was caused by n bursting fuel oil
pipe. wireless reports said.
The Bergensfjord had reached a
noint $50 miles east OF Fire Island
when the fire started.
wireless calls for aid were sent
broadcast to oil vessels by Captain
ole Bull, and the Red star liner lap
land was reported to be standing by.
An early wireless from the vessel
said that one boiler had been put
out of commission.
Among the passengers aboard are
Bishop Anton Bast, Rear Admiral
David Kindlebert, U. s. ~, and Con-
sui Bent Falkenstjerne, OF Chicago.
The Washington times., 1920-06-05
BY MARLEN f. PEW.
International News Service.

CHICAGO, June 5.-These were
the unprecedented outstanding fea-
lures Of the Republican situation
today on the eve Of convention
week:
From the practical political stand
point the convention is leaderiess
and the incoming delegates show
general sympstoms of bewilderment-
Lowden and Wood Weaker.
Anyone of the eight prominently
mentioned Presidential candidates Is
now an actual possibility, although
the weeks developments have badly
shuffled the cards Of Lowden and
Wood.
A dark horse is not improbable
Probably not more than third OF the
total number of delegates of 9s4 were
actually under pledge and many OIL
these pledges are wobbly
4. IThe prevailing confusion 10 oroth
brewed or these eisments: the prt
mary system. thafdeath of Col. Theo-
dore ROOSEVELT Senator Penroses
illness, the strange mix-up OF the
Southern delegates who have oeen
delivered" at the physiological mo-
ment of late years by Frank Hitch-
cock. party disputes concerning the
form of the treaty OF peace ana pre-
eminently the failure OF any strong
hand to assert general party controi.
Machine Leaders Puzzled.
How to hold and swing this amaz-
inely confused mass is the puzzle of
machine leaders who never before
have participated in a Republican
convention which did not respond to
the dictates of one or more domlnat-
ing practical leaders The pest
they can predict now Is that tne
convention will take form, that lead
ershin will assert itself. and that
sentiment for a candidate Will con-
solidate upon the shoulders of a man
who will satisfy.
The New York delegation Is case
in point, although it exaggerates the
situation. 1t numbers eighty-eight.
They will arrive tomorrow. They are
unpledged, except as they are eH-
pected to yield the usual "favorite
son" honors on the first ballot A
meeting of the delegation will be held
Monday to canvass the candidates.
But there is no pronounced leaders
and after President Nicholas Murray
Butler. Of Columbia University, has
been paid his compliment The mem
bers are likely to be free to drift
with the prevailing political winds.
John w. Dwight, district dele
gate from New York. who has been
attending political conventions since
1880, said today:
"I have never seen such a wide
omen convention. Each candidate will
have his chance here. i enjoy the
tContinued on Page ., Column a.