davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
Court Says John W. Bitter
Must Pay Back Part
T of Fees Retained.
DECISION NOT FINAL
Excess Fee Case Will Be
Resumed Monday on
:. Other Issues.
AFFECTS OTHER CASES
Various Officials Must
Make Refunds Unless
Decision Reversed.

Unless the higher courts hold diff
fercntly. County Tax Collector john
4. Bitter and other county officials
against whom suits have been brought
must pay back to Bexar county cx'
cess fees collected by them from 191;
to 1918 and those collected since the
last fee bill was enacted in 1919
This was determined by ruling OF
Judge Robert w. L. Terrell in the
Seventy-third District Court Thurs
day morning in suit wherein the
county is seeking to collect from Mr.
Bitter some S37 200 in excess fees
which it claims he has illegally re
tanned.
Judge Terrell's ruling was given
following two days spent in arguing
Law points on the pleadings and ex-
ceptions in the case. The same rul-
ing rendered in the Bitter case would
apply in the suits against the other
officials which were filed by BeXar
county in the same court.
Will Amend Pleadings.
The Bitter case will be taken up
again Monday. Judge Terrell having
given both sides time TO amend their
peadiuCs and answers to conform to
his ruling regarding the years during
which the county should have had the
fees. Judge Terrell also entered an
order Thursday granting tho request
of District Attorney ID. \. McASkili
TO be allowed 10 join Birkhead and
Lang in the prosecution of the suit
against County Attorney Tom j.
q Newton.
Judge Terrell previously had grant
ed the request of the district attorney
in The other suits but had denied ii
in the Newton ease. His announce
mcnt from the bench Thursday was
that after n more carefully cousidera-
ton Of the application and fuller
consideration of the facts. he wished
TO withdraw his previous decision and
grant the request.
Would Have TO Audit Books.
The ruling of Judge Terrell in et-
fc is that BexU county is entitled
10 the fees as provided for in the act
OF the Legislature of 1913 and up
to 1913 when Il new fee bill was
enacted. From 1915 until the enact
ment of another fec bill in 1919 the
county officials are entitled To the
fees. From 1919 on, however. the
fees would again 90 to the county
and the officers would be limited TO
the fees allowed them under the maxi
mum fec bill. The fees in question
were derived from the collection OF
delinquent taxes.
Under the ruling Thursday. scpar-
ating the years during which the of
ficials are entitled to the fees, it will
be necessary to virtually audit the
entire set of books of Mr.. Bitter in
order TO arrive Mt the amounts due
the county and the officials. This.
il was indicated Thursday, may re-
ouire several months work.
Mr.. Bitter. in his amended answer
to the pleadings of the county. has
claimed that collection of these fees
sought by the county is barred by the
statute of Imitation. This question
is still to be decided
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
IMMUNITY is CLAIMED
Defendant in Liquor Case Says lie
Can Not BE Prosecuted.

Because he had talked to the dis
trlct attorney regarding the ease
against Cant. Il. {. Baldwin. against
whom an Indictment charging illegal
disposition of seized liquor was dis
missed in the Thirty-seventh district
court, J. l.. Bell. charged by indici-
ment with violation of the state
liquor laws, claimed immunity from
prosecution in the Ninety dis
trict court Thursday. 4 formal plea.
setting out the grounds for immunity
was TO have been filed shortly before
noon.
Bell and !. II. McDonna were in
dieted following the seizure of liduor
by the state rangers. Captain Baldwin
also was indicted for failure to make
proper report of the liquor seized
from the two men and for illegally
destroying il. When the Baldwin case
came up for hearing in the Thirty
seventh. Bell. on advice of his attor-
ney. W. \. Hogan. declined to talk
10 the district attorney or To testify.
He was informed. however. that if he
did talk. he would be immune from
prosecution on the same grounds thar
Captain Baldwin claimed immunity.
He later agreed TO tell what he knew
of the case.
The case against NcDonna. also
called Thursday. was continued be-
cause of the absence of the defendant
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
RAID FOR LIQUOR
County Officers. Dry. Customs and
immigration Agents Take Part.

County officers. prohibition agents.
customs and immigration officers IN
counties within the San Antonio tee
ritory contributed 10 the enforcement
of the national prohibition act. We'd
ncSday. with the staging of three
raids in Gillespie. KarneS and Frio
counties.
Two stills. 10 gallons Of whiskey.
fifteen gallons of wine. aud two bar
relS of mash were destroyed by fed
eral prohibition agents accompanied
bv Deputy United States Marshal
James T.. Bacon. when they raided
the home of retired farmer in Fred
erickSburg. Wednesday afternoon. Al
bert Klein was brought back to San
Antonio and arraigned before United
States Commissioner X. l.. Edwards.
on two complaints. one charging pos
session and sale and the other manu-
facture and possession of property de-
signed for the manufacture of liquor.
He was released under 500 bond N
each case.
After the ball was the time selected
by county officers. customs and immi-
grant inspectors to raid the house III
Il Mexican in the north edge Of FRO
county. Wednesday night. The owner
of the house was drunk at the time
of the raid. according 10 the report
received by Assistant Collector of Cus-
toms Ed Comlla. Two stills. three
gallons OF whiskey and 30 gallons al
raisin mash were seized. The Next
can will be prosecuted in the state
court in Erio county.
County officers and federal agents
seized several gallons OF whiSkey ami
a still in raid on place in Rungc.
Karnes county. Wednesday. coin-
plant has been filed against negro
not yet arraigned.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
LITTLE CHANGE DUE
Will BE Cooler and Generally Fair
Friday. According to Forecast.

Partly cloudy and cooler Thursday
night and generally fair Friday. is
the forecast for San Antonio and vi
entity. Minimum temperatures will &c
from ~ TO Is degrees and moderate
To fresh northerly winds are forecast
ed.
The Northwest is still under the in
fluence of high pressure area and it
is moving down over Texas. \ larger
center in Canada is bringing extreme
.y low temperatures. but this center
is not expected TO reach down into the
United States.
\ small low was still south of Texas
l.. Mexico and the gulf Wednesday
night. 1t was responsible for the thun-
derStorm northwest OF the city early
Thursday morning. Heavy cumulus
clouds rearing five miles in the air
were seen TO the northwest at Sun-
down Wednesday night and they re-
manned in that vicinity during the
night. About ) o'clock Thursday
morning the storm moved Gus aud
passed by San Antonio accompanied
by .O4 of an inch of rain and a wind
OF 30 miles an hour. The wind early
in the morning maintained a velocity
Of 20 miles an hour. but it diminished
during the day.
Light and scattered rains fell
throughout the cotton belt. 1t was
raining at Corpus Christi Thursday
morning and Amarillo reported about
half an inch. The smaller high over
Nevada brought temperatures OF III
degrees in the mountains. This center
is expected TO move eastward Thurs
day night and Friday and bring clear
weather in its path.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
"BEST MAN" TO PRISON
Judge Saws Boy Sentenced Better
Nan Than Those Freed.

Robert Rhodes. Il mere youth. who
sacrificed himself IN order that his
brother and companion might go
free was sentenced h. Judge W. w.
Met rory in the Ninety-fourth Dis
trict Court Thursday morning. Rhodes
had been convicted of burglary of a
private residence and given two
sentences of five wears each. Judge
McCrory ruled that they should run
concurrently.
Rhodes. his brother, William and
mother boy named Jack III. Osborn.
had been indicted in five counts. the
indictments growing out of rhe same
transaction. Robert taking the blame
for the whole affair. entered pleas of
guilty in two cases and the others
were dismissed. Osborn was tried
Wednesday afternoon and acquitted.
the state not having sufficient evi-
dence to convict Then the state dis
missed the eases against Osborn and
William Rhodes.
The best man Of the three is go
ing 10 the penitertiary to do five
years" JUDGE McCrOry remarked rs
he warned the two b0ys against whom
eases had been dismissed to go
STRAIGHT" You two bows barely eS-
capped the penitentiary and want 10
warn you that this business of hijack-
ing is a dangerous one and You'll end
there sooner or later if You don't stop
it. Robert has taken all the blame.
is going TO do time in the place of
you two a | still contend that he
is the better man.
Judge AIcCrory. in sentencing Rob
ert. promised him that he would in
tercede for him at the end of year
and endrav1r to have him pardoned.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
Court Collector Must Refund Collected During
READ TELEGRAMS TO
SAN ANTONIAN INTO
TEAPOT DOME RECORD
Gus Jones Says Message
Was Request From Fall to
Locate New York Lawyer.

Washington. ID. C.. March Ga
telegram dated January IL. and sent
b.; Secretary Fall TO Gus L. Jones.
Department of Justice agent at San
Antonio. Tex. was read into the
record at the Teapot Dome oil probe
today. The message follows:
Get in touch with Buckley i'm
mediately. Ask him if he can come
here at once as my attorney and gen
eral adviser. This is very important.
Must see him before he sails" ,
Gus I. Jones, special agent in charge
of the bureau of investigation of the
Department of Justice here said Thurs
day morning that he had received 4
personal telegram from Senator Fall
and that he had answered the tcle-
gram as he would have if any other
personal friend had sent him tel
egram calling for reply.
Il have known both Mr. Buckley
and Senator Fall for many years =
NJ. Jones said. ''In the early part
OF January. received a telegram from
Senator Fall who was then at Miami,
Fla. asking me II ! knew whether
Mr.. Buckley was in San Antonio.
Senator Fall stated that he was anx-
ious 10 get into communication with
Mr.. Buckley. Mr.. Buckley was not
in San Antonio at the tiGc. and |
informed Senator Fall to thar effect
Although | have known Mr.. Fall
for many years. have no knowledge
of his personal affairs"
Mr. Jones. it is recalled. was as
sociated with Mr.. Fall when the lat
ter was chairman of the committee
which conducted an investigation of
Mexican affairs. II was during this
time that he formed an acquaintance
with Mr.. Buckley. v ho formerly held
large interests in Mexico and who
is a New York lawyer.
Mr.. Jones association with Mr.
Fall during the investigation Of Mex
lean affairs was solely in the capacity
of investigator for the Fall committee
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
A ROWLING DOG
Sleepless Neighbors File Complaint on
Failure to Get License.

Residents on Keller street have
demonstrated one way 10 even up
matters" with the owner Of dog
that bowls all night"
This consisted in filing an affidavit
against the owner charging the animal
was being kept ON the premises with
out dog license being paid.
When the Keller street residents
finished testifying Police Judge Onion
assessed 50 fine against the owner.
when the latter failed to show he had
purchased a dog license. In addi-
ton to the payment of the fine the
owner was instructed To procure q
license or pay another fine. each day
bcing, under the law, a separate Of
Tense.
.Of COURSE" says Keller street resi-
dents. ''thc payment Of fine won't
stop the dog from barking all night
hut it's some satisfaction anyway
Complaints Of dogs bowling at night
reach the police by the score every
~ hours. But. in the absence Of a
law prohibiting a dog from bowling
they cannot act.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
WAS HELD PRISONER
Woman Claims Man Beat Her When
She Tried TO Escape.

That she had been ,lecoyed to n
hous" GA Main avenue and kent there
three days against her will and had
been brutally treated by married
man whom she had believed to be sin
gle is the charge whicl a San Antonio
woman will ask the Thirty-seventh
District Court grand jury 10 invcsti-
gate. it became known Thursday. II
was expected that the woman would
appear before the grand jury some
time Thursday 'or Friday.
Report of the affsir filst was made
TO the city detective department. ac-
rOrding to reports Thursday. Thurs
day morning the woman also is I'M
derStood To have told her story 10
Bryan &. Mauermann. special investi-
gator in the district attorneys office
Mr.. MGuermann is understood TO have
advised her 10 report the matter to
the grand jury and lst it make thor
ough investigation.
According to the wsman's story. as
reported Thursday. she claims that
she had been going with the man be-
lieving him to be single. On February
% she claims she was decoyed 10 a
house on Main avenLe. After getting
her there she claims. the man with
whom she had been going held her I'M
prisoned at the place for three days
against her will.
Finally the woman claims in her
attempts TO get away she and the man
engaged in furious struggle. The
woman is said to have received two
black eyes and to still bear several
bruises on her shoulders and arms.
According 10 the report Thursday
the woman is said 10 have reported
the matter TO the city detective de
partment when she had recovered from
her experience and was then brought
to the district attorneys office 10
make formal complaint. 1t is expected
that the grand jury will make thor
ough investigation of the charges and
report OH them at the end of the week.
The woman making the charge is
said TO be a widow. good looking and
well dressed. Her name has not been
disclosed nor has the name of the man
whom she charges kebt her prisoner.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
MUST BE CAREFUL
Chief Van Ripper Tells Men They
Must Pay Cor Damage.

Policemen. detectives and others in
the police department will be- called
upon 10 pay for damage they cause
city properly through carleSSncSS. \
second Offpnsc viii result in suspcn-
sion from service.
Thus were the stringent orders is
sued by Police Chief Van liipcr. Thurs
day.
THE expense caused by the careless
handling of city property. particu-
LARRY automobiles. says Chief Van
Ripper in his written orders TO the
members OF the department. has
reached Il point where halt is abSo-
lutely necessary.
According To the chief ears have
been handled roughly and, seemingly.
without care. During the last IS
hours. he said. / castings on police
cars have been ruined because OF us
ing them while flat
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
CHARGE ANTI-SALOON
LEAGUE REPRESENTS
BIG BUSINESS IN u. S.
Letter Asks Congress to
Find ORR Where Money
Comes From. -.

Washington. ID. e.. March G.--The
Anti-SaI0on League was charged to-
day with being representative OF
big business instead OF the Christian
Churches iH an oncn letter sent TO
members OF Congress by the joint
legislative committee for modifying the
NolStead act
The committee charged that ;hc
league has "broadcast" that ii con
trollcd Congress and urged Congress
TO investigate where the money for
the league came from. Ii quoted from
a letter signed by :. :. Krcsgc
chairman of the manufacture and
business committee of the league. with
the remark that if showed the league
TO represent big business for selfish
purposes ouly-to help them TO make
more moncy-aS Kresge phrases it,.
by keeping the liquor bloodsucker out
of decent trade" Wayne Il. Wheeler
general counsel Of the League. is
charged in the letter with irving 10
block every movement to expose the
corrupting influences in prohibition
enforcement.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
HOUSE COMMITTEE
VOTES TO REPORT
A BONUS MEASURE
Ways and Means Agree
meaf Passes IS
to 3.

Washington. ID. C.. March g.
Agreement To report soldier bonus
bill was voted 1G TO today by th,
House ways and means committee.
No action was taken on the form
of the bill to be reported. Repre-
sentative Bacharlch. Republican, New
Jersey. presented his plan for limiting
compensation TO paid-up insurance
and other plans were discussed but the
committee decided to 90 into all of
those submitted tomorrow.
Representatives Treadway. Mass.
Tilson. Conn: Collier. Democrat
Mississippi, and Mills New York.
Republicans. were those voting
against approval of. any bonus meas,
ure.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
STRIKERS, COPS CLASH
Both Sides suffer Casualties in Riot
in Germany.

Berlin. March 6.-Strikers and pO-
lice clashed al the Baden Aniline Dye
Works at Ludwigshafen today and
casualties we're suffered on both sides.
SAYS dispatches received here.
4 partial strike was declared yes
terday owing to the refusal of q num-
Der of the men TO work nine hours
daily. Strikers this morning forcibly
entered the works. drove out those who
had reported for duty and prevented
Others from entering. They arc al
legged 10 have opened fire on the police,
wOnnding several.
The number OF casualties among
workmen is unknown.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
FORBES In COURT
Pleads Not Guilty TO Charges and
Furnishes $4,000 Bond.

ash'nston. ID. C.. March G.
Charles Il. Forbes former director
OF the Veterans Bureau. pleaded not
guilty. today before United States
commissioner to charges Of fraud.
conspiracy and bribery handed down
by a Chicago grand jury.
Bond was fixed at $4,000 which
Forbes Immediately furnished. He
VIII appear in federal court at Chi
cagO for trial March IL.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
HONE WEATHER FOR TOURISTS.

st. Louis: Temperature IS. raining. =
mile wind from the southwest: lowest
temperature in last % hours. IS; high
est. so.
Chicago; Temperature 50. cloudy. To-
mile wind from the southeast lowest
temperature in last "a hours. 80: high
est. 10.
. Kansas CITY: Temperature. 81 partly
cloudy: 1i-mile wind from the west;
lowest temperature in last - hours. 81;
highest. IS.
New York: Temperature Sc partly
cloudy: 1s-mile wind from the north
lowest temperature in last = hours
Sc; highest. s..
Washington: Temperature. Sc; clear
smile wind from the north; lowest tenn
perature in last II hours 81. highest, 81.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
bEXAR COUNTY
TAXES SHOW A
BIC INCREASE
Collect $l,5S6,523 for
/, Fiscal Year Just
Ended.
ASSESS NOW FOR 1924
Report Heavy Shortage in
Personal Property
Collections.

BeXar county's tax collections Cor
the fiscal year just closed exceeded
those of the pcrvious year by more
than Sl32.OG0. according To figures
complied by Chief Deputy Collector
I. J. Bail in the office OF Tax Col
lcctor John \. Bitter and made pub
lie Thursday. This increase. it is
asserted, indicates that BcXar county
during the year. experienced an era
of prosperity and good business and has
fully recovered from the depression
following the war. Tax collections,
it is claimed. are always good bar
Omctcr OF business conditions.
The total collections for the fiscal
gear just closed. including property
taxes. polls, back taxes and occupa-
ton taxes. amounted To 81 Lost. -
This compares with the total the year
previous o. S1.4Ji.2S1.33. representing
an increase in exact figures of Sf:2, Z
"A l.GI. The rolls for the year have
just been completed after several weeks
hard work on the part of deputy clerks
in Mr.. Birtcr's office,
Poll Tax the Same.
Property taxes for the year amounted
To S1.J29. 69940. This compares with
the property tax collection for the pre-
viouS year of 81. i03, 369.2S. This rep
resentS an increase for the year OF
S126.330. l.. one of the heaviest in
crcascS on record. Poll tax collec-
lions for the year amounted 10 Sia.-
40 as against Si2.940.m for the
previous year. This represents an in
crease OF only S20S.J0.
There was much heavier increase.
however. in the collection Of back
taxes. The total amount collected
this year was 81 I.33I.60 compared 10
collections the year before Of S7.43J.-
~. making an increase for the year Of
S".S.9.JJ. There was n still greater
increase in the payment of occupation
taxes. Total occupation taxes paid
this year amounted 10 S23i0 while for
the year previous the collections
amounted only 10 $4,000. making an
increase Of SlS03.50.
Personal Property Tax Short.
The property tax collections include
all taxes on real estate. improvements
and personal property. According 10
figures being compiled now in the col
lector's office there is heavy short
age in the payment Of personal prop
erty taxes this year Clerks are now
checking the rolls aud the exact
amount is not yet obtainablc These
dclinqucucieS represent personal prom
erty such as automobiles. household
goods and similar items where the
owners do not possess any real estate.
Collection Of peranal property taxes
is Il difficult matter.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
NEGRO SLASHES TWO
WOMEN WHEN THEY
REFUSE HIM MONEY
Captured by Posse, Lynch.
ing Averted by Timely
Arrival Of Officer.

Bloomington. ILL.,. March ca ne
gro slashed and seriously injured two
women at their homes neIr Fairbury.
near here. yesterday. when they re-
fused him money aud food. He Was
captured by farmers posse aud ar
rival of Il deputy sheriff avertcd Il
possible lynching.
The negro gave his name rs George
Brandon. IL. of Chicago. and said he
ESCAPED from a hospital ior the insane,
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
AMERICAN BISHOPS
LIKELY TO BE MADE
CARDINALS BY POPE
No Definite Decision on
Appointments Made,
Howeuer.

Rome. March 6.-ArchbiShop
Hayes of New York. aud Archbishop
Mundelrin Of Chicago. will probably
be nominated as cardinals. according
to the view taken in well informed
Vatican quarters,
In TO this time. however. no Off
cial decision has been made public AMI
50 far rs can be learned, no positive
determination as to the appointments
has been reached.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
NEGRO DISLIKES SHOW
Files Complaint Against Theater
Owner Showing Birth of a Nation. -

Bloomington, Ill.,. March s.-Infor-
nation was filed in the Mclean county
court here yesterday against Walter
Taylor. proprietor of the Rialto thea
ter where the Birth of a Nation is
being shown.
Complaint was made by Robert Ma
than. negro resident. who charged
that the show is prejudicial To his
race.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
The WEATHER
TEMPE RATUREs,
FORECAST.
san Antonio AMI Nicinit,;

san Antonio ana vicinity: Thursday
night. partly cloudy and cooler: Friday.
generally fair: minimum temperature. 4S
to IS; moderate, to fresh northerly
winds
East Texas: Thursday night partly
cloudy; cooler in south portion; Friday.
generally fair.
West Texas; Thursday nisht and Fri
day, generally fair.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
JURY ACQUITS HIM
SLAYER Of Pet" Brown Is Freed OF
Murder OIarge.

Brentwood. Tex. March 6.-l. j.
Star!,ey was acquitted here today ot
charge of murder in connection
with the staying of Elmer Pet y
Brown near Cisco.
Trial was here on change OF venue.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
SNOW In WEST TEXAS
Fall Deep As Inch and Half in
Some Portions.

Fort Worth. Tex. March g.
Shows. as deep as an inch and a hall
in portions of West Texas, we're re-
ported today.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-06
Louisiana G. q. 2. Endorses Coolidge.
New Orleans. March 6.-The Repub.

Iican state convention meeting here
last night adopted resolution in
structing the Louisiana delegation to
the national convention at Cleveland
to vote for Calvin Coolidge for Pres
dent.