davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
NEICKbORS SIGN APPEAL TO
GOVERNOR FOR KELS' LIFE

SACRAMENTO, Dec. 27.-Pcti
tions asking Governor Richardson
to spare the life of Alex Kels, Lodi
butcher convicted of murder, are be
ing circulated in Lodi and elsewhere
today by his friends and relatives.
The petition asks that death sem
tence be committed to life imprison-
Went and bases the request on the
following grounds:
81. Mr.. Kels entered plea of
guilty to murder. This plea pre-
cludel any trial on its merits and
also precludcd any evidence in miti-
CATION of punishment being offered
at or before the time of sentence
for the reason that he was not rep
resented by council and the further
reason that at the time of his, sent
cncc his wife was in ignorance of
the fact that he was living.
No Chance to Testify
"2. Consequently no opportunity
was afforded her to give any testi-
mony in court and take part in his
defense.
"3. We believe that had Mrs.
Kels been given the opportunity OF
tcstifying for her husband the pun
ishmcnt would not, even under n
plea of guilty, be greater than life
imprisonment. .
"a. In substantiation of our con
tention we desire to state that we
have known Alexander A. Kels as n
citizen of Lodi, who has always been
Il man of charitable nature, kindly
disposition and held in high esteem.
80. We cannot reconcile the
crime committed by Mr.. Kels on any
other theory save that he was ment ,
ally deranged.
"6. When it is remembered that
he had wife and two children,
onc of which was born subsequently
to the commission of the crime and
when it is remembered that immedi,
ately following the crime he wand
cred apparently .aimlessly in an auto
mobile with the body of his victim
i'll the machine, we believe that our
conclusion as to his mental derange-
| ment is not exaggerated.
"7. We are also of the opinion
that the communication of sentence in
this ease will work no injury to the
people of the state of California or
to the proper administration of JUS
tice.
"S. We therefore earnestly re-
quest your eXcellency as governor of
| the state of California that you
commute the sentence of Alexander
A. Kels from a Judgment of death to
a judgment of life Imprisonment. -
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
PRINCE RECE Mt
JAPAN ATTACKED
BY AN ASSASSIN
Narrow Escape From
Death; Solons Will Ten
der designations
By United Press Leased Wire

TOXIC, Dee. 27.-Prince Regent
Hirohito of Japan narrowly escaped
injury this morning when an attempt
to assassinate hlm was made.
Viscount Iriye, Lord Chamberlain,
was slightly injured by broken glass,
this having given rise to reports
that he had been shot.
Official announcement was made
that one bullet had struck the car
in which the prince regent Was driv-
ing to the diet burlding to address
parliament, but that the regent had
not been injured.
Daisuko Namba, aged "a, declared
to be a socialist, was arrested, to-
gether with two alleged accomplices
charged with the shooting.
The prince regent, apparently un-
disturbed by the attack made upon
him, proceeded to the diet and de-
livered his address without reference
TO the occurrence.
Cabinet May Resign
Police started an immediate round
up of anarchists. Rumors flew fast
that the attack was part of an an
aarchist plot to gain revenge for
the killing of Sayake Osugi, social
ist leader and the subsequent theft
of his ashes from the chamber where
they were being held pending mem
orial services some ten days ago.
These rumors, however, were declar-
ed improbable by all well informed
sources.
1t was expected that the entire
cabinet would Immediately present
its resignation to the prince regent
to demonstrate the humiliation of
the government. The prince probably
will decline to accept the resigna-
tions.
The alleged assailant was identi.
fled as youth known as Namba,
the "black sheep son of member
of the senate. The father has long
been an opponent of universal suf-
frage and leader in the fight
against that movement.
rNamba is of the same type of
fanatic as was Nakaoka, the assassin
of the late Premier Hara.
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
Greer Files $4,000 Libel Suit Against Mccall Paper
new PARK in 6
LAWS ENACTED
BY CITY DADS
Three-HOur Limit Set
For Cars Downtown
Section

In an effort to provide better ac-
comodations for ranchers who do
their shopping in Ell Centre, the Ell
Centre city council last night passed
u parking ordinance, which is in
tended principally to eliminate the
practice of local merchants and
workers in parking their cars
throughout the day in the down
town district.
1t has been pointed out before,
that many ranchers refuse to do
their shopping in FL Centre, prefer
ring to 90 elsewhere because of their
inability to park their cars within
It reasonable distance of places
where they wish to trade in this
city. Quite often it is necessary
for them to park on Broadway or
State street and then carry their
purchases from stores on Main street
to their cars This is a hardship on
the rancher which tends to drive him
away from this town when shopping.
Under the new ordinance, it will
be unlawful for anyone to park on
Ahatli olitNl ptlNN0h L ouiti anu
Seventh for more than a three-hour
period between the hours of 8 a. m.
and 6 p. m. The same law also ap-
plies to Fifth and Sixth streets, be-
tween Broadway and State streets.
In addition to the ordinance al
ready making it illegal to park with
in 10 feet Of fire plug, the heY
ordinance also is designed to pre-
vent parking within 10 feet of the
entrance to theatre, school OF
church during the hours these build-
ings are being used. ....
This ordinance will be effective 80
days from publication in local
paper, which brings the effective
date to January 81, 1924.
The council also passed an ordin-
ance raising the daily license fee
for tent shows from $25 to 500.
This is designed to keep out unde-
sIrable shows and to protect the
legitimate amusement places in the
city.
An ordinance establishing the curb
line on Broadway, between Eighth
and Twelfth streets was also passed.
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
DIXMUDE LOSS
MAY DEVELOP TO
LARGE SCANDAL
by United Press Leased Wire

PARIS, Dee. 27.-Loss of the
naval dirigible Dixmude, somewhere
in the Sahara, was conceded by the
French cabinet this afternoon and
the affair has developed into a
scandal of which explanations are to
be demanded from the government.
Deputies, aroused by the confu-
sion of reports regarding "last
messages from the missing airship,
today demanded an investigation
and Deputy Girod will interpolate
the minister of marine in the
chamber.
At noon today it was officially
announced that the last wireless
message received from the Dixmude
was picked up at Bizerte at 8 p. IL.
Friday. 1t gave the ships position
as half way between Biskra and
Touggourt.
The DiXmu les commander re-
ported he was proceeding towards
Algiers at 20 l;ilOmeters and hou.
and asked what the weather condi
tlOnS were.
Sent News Of Storm
The station at BiZerte flashed
back Il warning of westerly gales
hut no further word came from tho
irigible, leading to believe she may
have met with an accident at that
moment.
Reports of lights seen in the Tunis
sky of recent nights are discrcdit
ed now by the naval ministry.
Eight airplanes on Wednesday
ccverey the territory around Biskra
whence the last authentic reports
of the DiXmude were received and
today the search was extended
farther to the south.
The ministry of marine announced
that the dirigible last was sighted
over Ouledd Jellal, 45 miles south
west of Biskrl at twilight on De
cember 90. All that time the shii
was headed eastward an da violent
westward storm was blowing up.
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
TO ASK AID OF
COOLIDGE; MOVE
TO SLAY KLAN

WASHINGTON, Dee. 27.-An eff
fort to enlist President Coolidge in
the factional strife within the ku
Klux Klan was made here today
when representatives of = Edward
Young Clark, former khan head
made public an open letter calling
on the president to take the lead
in an effort 20 stamp out the klan.
Clarke's REPRESENT! i've, Edgar
Fuller, brought with him to Wash
ington in addition to the open let,
ter, documents he said he would
show to President Coolidge If he
were permitted
Ted Clarke, Mr.. Coolidge's per
sonal secretary, who is acting see
retary during the absence of G.
Bascom Slemp, declined to let
Fuller see Mr.. Coolidge.
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
AUeQes Article
in "Fd1.mer'' by
Mccall LibeIOuS

Complaint was filed late yester-
day afternoon in the superior court
here by +. w. Greer, through his at
torney V. N. Thompson, against the
Farmer Publishing Company, pub
Usher of the Imperial Valley Farmer
and It. ID. Mccall for damages to.
taling $4,000.
The sult is based upon an alleged
hbelous article, the plaintiff claim
ing that it was printed for the pur-
pose of damaging his character and
impairing his credit. The article in
question appeared IN the Imperial
Valley Farmer under date Of De-
cember IA, under the heading
"Reader's Forum and is as fol-
lows:
" Imperial Valley Farmer,
"El Centre, Cal.
Gentlemen:
"The irrational conduct and writ
ings of Mr.. F. w. Greer appear to
indicate that further publishing of
his attacks on officials of this COM
munity are of very doubtful benefit,
If not 4 positive detriment.
" Do you happen to know that one
of his last official acts while on the
pay roll of the district was to buy
of Rath and Marshall eight turkeys
and order them sent to the Examiner
staff and the bill of some $50 sent
to the district2 The district, know
ing nothing about the transaction un-
ill the bill showed up, turned it
down, of course, but what manner
of man it is that would do this kind
of a thing?
GA pair of field glasses borrowed
by Greer of DIR. Norman Dupont, in
the name of the district got lost, or
disappeared in some manner and the
bill came to the district for $50.
Other Items Enumerated
"While Mr.. Greer was away IN
San Francisco to attend the meeting
of the American Legion, at cost of
$644.J2 for expenses for a week or
ten days trip, Greer got one, Mr..
Chesebro, If that is the way his mamie
is spelled, of the Braw1ey News to
report to the Examiner, and put in
his bill to the district for this item
$53.0O, which was paid to him to be
paid to Chesebro, but ask Chesebro
if he got it?
"The records of our county show
actions to recover debts of various
kinds from Mr.. Greer.
"Yet Mr.. Greer claims to be
seven hundred month man, all
though it is matter of wonder if
the income tax man knows Of any
such income.
1.-The county tax records do not
show MIR. Greer as tax payer.
Why allow man of such pecu-
liar views to attack men Of such
sterling worth as Mr.. Aten and Mr..
Trentham through your columns? 3.
Yours truly,
(Signed) T. ID. MeCall.1
No Statement Made
Other than to say that he expect
ed to prove in court every contention
contained in his complaint Mr.. Greer
said there was nothing more to be
given out at this time.
The suit is the outgrowth of
Greer's controversy with President
Aten of the Irrigation Board over
advancing expense money to Wash
ington, where Greer was to do pub
LEFTY work for the Swing.Johnson
bill soon to be considered by con
gress. Greer severed his connection
with the Irrigation District ms the
result of the disagreement.
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
Builder of L. A.
Bore May Lose
Half a Million
by United Press Leased Wire

Los ANGELES, Dee. 27.-James
Hill, contractor for the Second
street tunnel, will lose more than
100000 if President Charles H..
Treat, of the city's board Of puDhc
works, carries out the threat he
made today of declaring the con-
tract for the tunnel forfeited.
The contract called for the com
pletion of the tunnel within 465
days from March %, 1921. Exten
sions have been given up to the
present time, and althought the
tunnel is completed except for the
thing of the walls and the compile
tion of the portals, delay of sew
eral months is expected because the
contractors are said to have ordered
their tile from foreign manufactu'
rers. Treat said that he would not
give another extension of time.
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
GIRLS INJURY
DUE TO STAGE
HITTING POLE


According to C. B. Whitney, man
ager of the local telephone office,
who made investigation this morn
ing, the accident on the San Diego
highway IN which Miss Mary }. kel-
ley was injured Christmas nights oe-
cured when the stage in which she
was riding, went off the highway at
q point near Dunaway, and struck a
telephone pole.
The stage, Mr.. Whitney said, tray
eled nearly 800 feet before it struck
the pole, knocking the latter down
and dragging it for IS feet. Miss
Kelly sustained severe cut on her
head when the broken wires were
forced through the top of the stage
She was reported to be resting com
fortably at her home today.
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
Note New Phone
Number at
Press


In order to facilitate the handl-
ing of news and the business af-
fairs of the Press, a new te'e-
phone has been installed in the
editorial room, the number being
700" All calls pertaining to
news items should be made on
this line. Matters relative to cir
culation, advertising and the
general business of the paper,
should bo conducted on 26 which
has heretofore served the Press.
We will greatly appreciate it
if our patrons will endeavor to
remember to use TOO for news
and 25 for business transactions
with the Press.
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
MORE EARTH
SHOCKS FELT
IN COLOMBIA
by United Press Leased Wire

BOGOTA, Colombia, Dec. a.
Two of the most severe shocks vet
felt rocked tho remains of thc towns
IF Tulcan, Cumbal and Carlosams
Wednesday, adding to devastation
in the border region where earth
cuakes of the past fortnight have
taken toll of several thousand
lives.
Bogota, the capital, felt the
quakes at Il. nj. yesterday but no
damage was caused here.
An Italian geological mission,
which went to Tulcan to study the
result Of the earth shocks, believes
they were caused by great iu-
;crnal displac aments IN the noun
tains.
Reports frow Cacheta were that
the quakes wore accompanied by Il
sudden cXtraoi dinary change in
temperature.
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
PROLONGED RAIN
A NOVELTY HERE,
ADVISE CAUTION
Country Homes are Al
most Isolated Due to
Muddy Roads

Imperial Valley continues to eX-
perience the novelty of protracte9
rain, amounting to little more than
II heavy drizZle. which has been
continually on the JOB since yester-
day morning. At 6 O'Clock this
morning, according to the gauge at
the headquar' ers of the Irrigation
District in CaleXico. the raifall had
amounted to 80 OF an inch with
the prospect of this figure being
at least doubled before the same
hour tomorrow morning.
The rain has nierfered consider
ably with business in FL Centre and
other valley cities, as the condition
of the roads makes it almost impoS-
sible for people living in the rura!
communities to gel to town. The
let-up in business is welcomed by
the merchants to a certain extent,
following the heavy trading of the
last two weeks, and gives Them
opportunity to re-arrange thel-
stocks in preparation for inventory
Pedestrians walked ging RI y
about the streets today, taking each
step with caution, to prevent slip
ping on the pavements and side
walks. Former residents of the
cast were reminded of their Ole
homes in winter, when the streets
were covered with snow and Ice.
Drove With Care
Automobilists drove with care,
and those who relaxed their vigil
ance in the least, were soon brought
back to normalcy when their ears
began to slide about the landscape.
No serious accidents we've report
ed, though narrow escapes from col
lision were the rule rather than the
exception.
Old clothes were. resurrected from
The discard and to save more val
liable garments from the onslaught
of mud and rain and even occa'
sional umbrellas were to be seen.
The rain has not been sufficiently
heavy to hurt crops, it was stated
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
II LIVES LOST
AS ASYLUM FOR
INSANE BUR rs
CHASTITY Tragedies Enact
ed as Inmates Are
Trapped

CHICAGO, Dec. 27.-Seven-
teen charred bodies have been
removed and a hunt is on today
for others in the fire-razed
"death house, of the Chicago
State hospital for the insane at
Dunning, on the northwestern
edge of Chicago.
Police in automobiles ranged
the country for number of in
sane patients who escaped in
the mad confusion following
outbreak of the fire in the
flimsy frame building just after
dinner last night.
The known dead were:
Elijah Carraker, SO, an at
tendant.
Mrs. Mary Carraker, SO, wife
of Elijah.
Lowell, II year old son of
the Carrakers.
Michael Ledwith, 43.
John Bennett, SO.
Officials said they would not
be able to make up the complete
list of dead until the escaped
patients are found.
Many of the bodies were
burned beyond recognition.
More bodies are in the ruins, Cor
oner Oscar Wolff told the United
Press he believed. Some of th'
missing men, believed to be fugi
tives, were really burned to death
he believes.
81 couldn't begin to even guess a
an estimate of the bodies / believe
ore in the ruins,'' he sald. There
may be as many as -, or only two
or three
Wolff spent almost the (entire
night investigating the fire. He viii
hold an inquest later today. =.
Practically all the victims weT'
insane. The others were cpileptlcs
DR.. Daniel G.. Coffey, superlntenden1
of the institution. said.
Hermon Hooker, an cpileptic
gave the alarm~of fire. A ma'
stampede followed.
600 Patients Terrified
From 600 patients in the dining
room rose terrifying chorus o,
howls and shrieks. They ran abou
like maddened animals. Some leap
ed out the windows, taking glass
with them. Most of the others made
a rush for narrow exit, ignoring
several other avenues of escape
Here the pile of humanity KICKED
and showed and screamed, the weak
er going down under the superio
strength of their fellows. Str
others ran aimlessly about the hall
By this time the flames had bit
ten into the flimsy walls and were
rapidly eating their way into th'
huge room.
Into this inferno plunged three
women attendants, Mrs. Anna Hab
ems, Mrs. Margaret Gum and Mrs
Hannah Saunders. They were oil
duty in a nearby pavilion when th
fire siren walled its warning. B.
superhuman efforts they restored ;
scmblance of order and formed wha
was left of the patients into line am
marched them out into the night
Once outside, some of the patient
made a break for liberty.
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
UTLEY IN STATEMENT ON ALIEN LAW
Crop Contracts
Not Permissible
States official

Attempts to get around the pro
visions of the alien Land law, re-
Gently declared constitutional by
the United States supreme court,
and which has caused Japan to
send protest against the law to
the United States government, will
not be countenanced by the district
attorneys s office, nor will District
Attorney Utley attempt at present,
to pass on the legality of contracts
drawn between land owners and
aliens ineligible to citizenship, ac-
cording to statement which he
gave to the Press today.
The district attorney has also de-
cided that a cropping contract
whether made before or subsequent
to the 1923 alien land law amend
ment. will not be permissible un-
, der the law.
Following is his statement COW
ering points which seem to be un-
certain in the minds of land OWL
ers and alien ineligibles, after the
establishment of the constitutions
ality of the alien land law:
Asked Many Questions
81 have been asked many ques-
tions recently regarding certain con
tracts and proposed contracts and
leases with aliens ineligible to
citizenship, and have had a num-
ber of contracts submitted to me
for approval, and the more l study
the alien land law and the decisions
of the courts of California and of
, the Supreme Court of the United
States respecting this law, the more
strongly / am convinced that 1t is
not within the duties of my office
to attempt the construction of con
tracts between land owners and
aliens ineligible to citizenship,
drawn in an effort to avoid. or get
AROUND the provisions of the alien
land law of this state, for in so
doing we would be very probably
placing ourselves in a position
whereby we .wouid be advising q
way to avoid, or get around the
law, rather than obtaining obser-
vations of the law, which it is our
duty to do. NV position in this re-
gard seems to, be the same rs that
taken by the attorney general, III
letter written On December 2l TO
district attorney of northern Cal
ifornia.
"Before leaving for San Fran
cisco to confer with the attorney
general on this subject, had reach
ed the conclusion that cropping
contract, whether made prior or
subsequent to the 1928 amendment,
is void, and would not be permits
sible under the law. The attorney
general stated that he agreed with
me in this. While there is nothing
in the alien land law to prevent
employment of an ineligible alien
as u laborer, yet any contract which
will give an ineligible alien de-
gree of proprietary control over
agricultural lands and will make
him Il sharer in the products of such
land, or give him any interest there
in, would be in violation of the
law.
Similar to Sacramento
"The condition existing i'll I'm
perial Valley with respect to ineli-
gible aliens farming agricultural
Continued ON page @
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
FINAL STEPS ARE
MADE I'm RAISIN
GROWER s. A SIS N.
Nv United Press Leased Wire

LOS ANGELES, Dec, 27.-Final
steps in reorganization of the old
Sun Maid Raisln Growers Corpora
ton have been taken when papers
were filed authorizing the appoint
ment of Milo l.. Rowell as trustee
for the organization, which has been
replaced by the new Sun Maid
Raisin Growers of California and its
service corporation, the Sun Maid
Raisin Growers Association.
This action completes the refin-
ancing and reorganization plan
adopted last spring.
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
U. STEAMER
IN DISTRESS

LONDON, Dec. 27-The Unit
ed States shipping board steam
er Conejos sent out S. O. s. calls
for assistance this afternoon
which were picked up by the
wireless station at Alexandria,
according to a private message
to Lloyds. ae7
The Conejos, a steel screw
steamer of 5110 tors, was bullt
at Hog Island in 1920.
She was out of Philadelphia.
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
Officer Horde to
Prevent Betting
At New Tracks
BY United Press Leased Wire

CULVER CITY, Dec. GA horde
of deputy sheriffs and detectives
are expected here at today's horse
races in addition to the Burns opera,
tives already in attendance, to pre-
vent possible gambling.
Despite the declaration of Field
Judge Smith that the law was being
complied with in every particular,
detailed Investigation has been ord
cred by Sheriff Traeger. Dick Fer
ris, promoter, is making every effort
to prevent betting, he said.
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
GLORIA SWANSON
VERY MUCH ALIVE

I NEW YORK, Dee. 27.--Gloria
Swanson was hard ut work tQS Jay
ut the Lasky Studios on Long Is
land, where nav film starring her
is being prepared. She eheerfully
denied reports being circulated in
the west that she had been dead for
three weeks.
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
THREE DIE WHEN
HYPNOTIZED MAN
BEGINS SHOOTING
ny United Press Leased wire

VIENNA, Dee. 27.--Hypnotizcd
by Professor Maximilian Langsner,
noted mesmerist, during theatrreal
performance, policeman of Sebcn-
leo started shooting into crowd of
spectators, killed three, wounded
several and hustled number of
others away to the police station.
There he came out of his trance and
was arrested on charge of murder.
The hypnotist was also arrested
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
WHAT'S DOING

Concert featuring Miss Frieda
Peycke, State Street Christian
church tonight.
''The Social Code" Palace
theatre tonight. 1f -,
Bible Chautauqua, Tulane
theatre tonight. t" tt
Ell Centre chapter No. 109,
r. A. M. tonight, Masoric hall.
Ell Centre lodge, No. 1926, B.
P. o. E. meets at Elks hall to-
night.
Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-27
SUSPEND PROPOSALS TO
TO CUT COTTON RATES
By United Pres. Leased wire

II! United Prcss Leased Wire
WASHINGTON, Dee. 27.--Pro-
posals of the vieksburg, Shreveport
and Pacific railway 10 decrease the
rate on cotton aud cotton linters
moving from points in Louisiana IN
Gulf Port, Miss, aud Mobile, Ala,
for eoastwise movement, were s,is-
pended by the Interstate eommsres
commission until April 20.