davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
M'COY LOSES
FIRST ROUND
LIFE B A It'll E
by United Press Leased Wire

LOS ANGELES, Dec. Skid
Mccoy, erstwhile prize ring hero,
lost the first round of his fight for
life here today.
Motion of the defense for 4
second continuance of Mccoy 5 trial
on q charge of killing Mrs, Tersa
Mors, his paramour, was denied by
Judge Charles S. Grail.
The defense plea that some neces-
sary witnesses had not been found
showed "lack of diligence, the
court ruled Consideration fo'
nearly 100 witnesses of the state
and defense who were on hand pre-
vented another postpouement of The
trial, Judge Grail held
The decision that the trial must
proceed came after the defense re
quest had been opposed by Deputy
District Attorney Fricke in N'gor'
Gus terms.
Selection of the jury Svas started
Immediately after Judge Grail S de-
cision. 1t is expected this viii take
most of the week.
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
MORE RAIN this
SEASON SO FAR
THAN LAST YEAR
General Rainfall Over
State of Immense
Benefit
Hy United Press Leased Wire


SAN FRANCISCO, Dee. s. The
Pacific coast was drying out today
after one Of the heaviest rainstorms
in several seasons.
The sun was trying to shine here
today and even along the coast
where storm warnings have waved
for several days, better weather was
reported.
Snow fell heavily in the noun
tains during the past three days.
More rain and snow have fallen
since the beginning of the season
than fell all of last year, the wealth
er bureau reported.
Rainfall for the past "a hours was
reported as follows:
Oroville. S5, Paso Robles .45, Point
Reyes 40, Pomona 10, Porterville
40, Red Bluff .68, Redlands .06, Riv-
erside 10, Rocklin "a, Sacramento
80, San Diego .0l, San Francisco
.72, San Jose 80, San Luis Obispo
80, San Pedro 10, Santa Barbara
80, Santa Rosa SO, Stockton 40,
Bakersfield .06, Chico 70, Colusa
.04, Corona 30, Escondido .OS, Eu-
reka. 80, Fresno 40, Lindsay. 0l,
Merced .37 and Orland .73.
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
&c PER CENT OF
s. P. employees
VOTE TO STRIKE
ny United Pres. Leased wire

( SAN FRANCISCO, Dee. s.
Ninety six per cent of the members
! of the enginemen S union on the
Southern Pacific railway system
have voted to strike unless the rail
road management consent to con-
ference "to effect a peaceful set
tlement of the matters in contro-
versy,D union officials announced
today.
The railroad management has been
been informed of the men S decision.
The statement issued by S. G.
Griffing, grand chief engineer of
the brotherhood of locomotive en-
gineers, and d. B. Robertson. pre-
sident of the brotherhood Of loco
motive firemen and enginemen,
follows:
"The strike vote taken among
engineers. firemen, hostlers and
hos.lels helpers on the Southern
Pacific. the Ell Paso & Southwest
eru and the Arizona & Eastern rail
roads have been canvassed and
show that 96 per cent of the men
involved have voted to strike, if it
is found necessary in order to secure
4 conference to obtain q satisfac-
tory settlement of the matters in
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
FIND AGED TRIO
AT CITY DUMP
MAKING LIQUOR

Three old men, living in old shacks
on the citN garbage dumping
grounds several miles northeast of
this city, wore arrested Saturday by
Sheriff Gillett and Deputies Evans
ard Corneilson, and are held at the
Jail for trial, charged with ill'gal
possession of liquor.
When booked at the Jail the men
gave their names as T. j. Hartman,
20 years old; c. C. Johnson, SO years
old, and A. Lewis, ga years old
They were living under horrible
conditions, the place reeking with
the odors of decayed garbage. which
to phase the three ancients. Nor
were they bothered by the appear
ance of husky rats, which every now
and then scooted about the place.
In the yard adjoining each hovel
the officers found barrels of mash
useI in making liquor, and shudder
ed to think of people drinking stuff
made in such revolving surround
ings. The officers stated that every
where they poked they would brins
to light bottles of liquor and smash
cd so many they were unable tt
keep count of the amount. Only
sufficient liquor was kept to cnabl,
u conviction to be made.
AS the Officers approached tn,
novels occupied by the men the lat
ter attempted to drive them away
stating they were employed by th'
city to keep strangers away from
the property. This statement die
not bother the officers half as mucl
as the desire for gas masks, ant
| the three men were placed undel
arrest without any trouble.
The mash found near the houses
was also destroyed, this job calling
for almos. super-human effort OF
! the part Of the Officers.
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
"TWO-TIME MAN"
HELD HERE SAYS
PRISON WARDEN
MayO's Arrest Proves to
Be Of Great
Importance

Additional information received
last night by Sheriff Gillett from
Warden Smith Of Folsom prison
regarding Joe Moeis, alias Joe Lu.
go, who is held at the county Jail
states that the latter has twice been
sentenced 10 PRISON for murder, each
time n 90 years penalty being i'm
posed.
The first record Of Lugo, OF
Moeis, rs he is called, shows that
he was committed to- San Quentin
prison August 81, 1902, from Yea.
tura county for second degree nur-
der, to serve 90 years.
The information does not state
how much of this sentence Moeis
served, nor whether he was paroled
or escaped.
On January 12, 1923, Moeis was
nt'eived at Folsom peniteli iary
to serve a GO year sentence for see.
ond degree murder, also from Ven
tura county. He escaped from the
prison ranch on April 7 1924 and
has since been sought by prison Of
ficials.
--a~A reward of $50 was offered for
the return of Moeis TO the prison
authorities. and this viii probably
be paid TO Officer j. b. Mayo OF
the FL Centro police, who arrested
Moeis in this city last Sunday. not
knowing that he was "A badly want
ed man.
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
KILLS HER TWO
CHILDREN; THEN
TAKES OWN LIFE
by United sress leased wire

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Dec. 8.
Apparently in fit of mental de-
preston, caused by neurasthenia,
Mrs. Rosemary Carnarvon-Spark-
man, wife of Colley +. Sparkman,
assistant professor of modern lam
guages at the University of Utah,
killed her two children and then
committed suicide at their home in
this city some time between Satur-
day and Sunday night, Bodies OF
the victims We're discovered by the
owner of the house occupied by the
Sparkman family Sunday night.
The double murder and suicide oe-
cured during a temporary absence
of Professor Sparkman. A note
found in the clothing of Mrs. Spark
man simply said that she desired foo
be laid quietly away, that she had
no friends and have never had any.
Investigation showed that the
mother had chloroformed her two
children, Wilford, aged 8, and Lorna
Doonc, Z, as they lay asleep ~ theif
beds The mother had then turned
on the Jets of gas stove, stretched
herself upon a rug ana inhaied the
gas until she was dead
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
LOCAL SCOUTS WALK OFF WITH
PRIZE HONORS AT BRAWLEY FAIR

Troop 3 of the boy scouts of FL
Centre is the proud winner IF tb~ce
first prizes at the Brawley MG@SWin-
ter fair. awarded for the general
troop exhibit, the best individual
exhibit which was won by Emmett
Whitney, and the best individual
photography exhibit which was won
by Victor Hetzel, Hoth of Troop 5.
The second prize for the general
troo pexhibit was awarded to Troop
IL of FL Centre. Troop 3 won $50
III prizes, while Troop l6 was given
So rs heir award.
The troop exhibit presented by
Troop 3 was one of the finest eX-
hibits ever presented in the county
and contained numerous Interesting
features. The large knot board hav-
ing 6S different kinds of knots dis
played with over ll5 yards of rope
used to accomplish this feat, caused
the most comment, and was made by
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
FIRE BULLETS TO
HALT FLIGHT OF
NORTHEND MAN

Jesus Banales, 81 years old, is
held at the county jail on a charge
of illegal possession of liquor, fol-
lowing his arrest mt Westmorland
Saturday night by Deputy Sheriffs
Oswalt and Corneilson.
1t was necessary for the officers
to fire several shots at Banales af-
ter he discovered their approach, in
order to induce him to hiatt and sub
nit to arrest. Upon catching sight
of the officers, Banales took to his
heels and according to Oswalt,
burned the ground,'' in his fran
tie endeavors to get away from the
Officers.
When shots fired in the air failed
to halt the fleeing man, Oswalt and
Corneilson sent several bullets past
him, these proving effective and
Jesus came to an abrupt halt.
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
EXPERT HERE TO
help UNRAVEL
MYSTERY SKEIN
Woods Disappearance
Accounted For BY
GruesOme Find

District Attorney F.. r. Utley, and
f. 0. Heinrich, a criminologist from
San Francisco, are today in Brawlcy
attempting to unravcl additional
threads in the skein of mystry
which surrounded the disappearance
of Barney Woods, town character
in Brawley, two years ago last Sep
tember, under suspicious circum-
stances.
The first tangible evidence that
might help solve the mystery came
to light last week, with the discovc-
ry of u skeleton, supposed 80 be
that Of Woods, on the ranch, where
ha formerly lived near Brawley.
For several years Woods, who was
around 60 years old, had made his
home alone in a little shack on the
ranch which was located several
miles northeast of Brawley. Though
unkdmpt in appearance, and appar-
emily with little funds, he was re-
puted to carry large sum of money
on his person the greater par. Of
the time, refusing to have anything
to do with banks.
When he failed to visit his usual
haunts for several days, two years
ago, friends went to the house he
had occupied, but were unable to
locate any trace of the man. Tho
matter was reported to the, police,
and for several weeks a search of
the SURE unding country was made,
in the belief that Woods had wand
i cred away somewhere and met with
an accident.
Continued searching failed to re-
veal any trace of him, and though
! at one time several parties in
! Brawley were under suspicion of
knowing something about the case.
nothing ever developed. Woods
was without relatives, as far as
known, and when he had been miss
ing 90 days, DR.. +. ID. Peterson, 4
! friend of the man and at that time
coroner of the county, was appointed
administrator of his estate. which
amounted to several hundreds dol
lars. The matter was thea forgot
ten and was filed away as one of
the many mysterious cases which
frequently arise in any community.
In the years since Woods disap-
peared, the land on which he lived
changed hands. Some lime ago it
was flooded, III preparation for q
crop. When it had dried off, the
present owners who were running a
line of posts through the field, no
ticed Il sunken place about the di-
mensions of an ordinary grave.
Find Skeleton
The district attorneys office was
notified, and last Friday, together
with Coroner Lemons and Br:wley
Continued ON Page %
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
Suspect Watched
in $4,000 Ransom
Threat on Girls
By United Press Leased Wire

WATSONVILLE, Calf, Dec. S.
An unnamed man was under surveil-
lance here today suspected of being
the author of letter demanding l..
Z. Citkuth, retired apple dealer, to
pay $4,000 or have his two pretty
daughters kidnapped and sold into
slavery.
Police refused to name the man
and are delaying arrest in the hope
that he may betray his confederates.
They admit possibility that the let
ter writer might have intended only
a ghastly joke.
Citkuth told police of the letter
Saturday and revealed that the
writer demanded that he throw the
money from "a train as il passed a
point near Twin Lakes where an
American flag would be flying.
A dummy package was tossed off
the train stopped and police search,
ed the vicinity but found no one.
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08

Emmett Whitney. An excellent as
sembly of pictures taken and fin
ished by the scouts of the troop
was shown, and an oak bed and fire
building outfit We're among other
features. 4 number of fine me.
chanical drawing had also been
completed by the members of the
troop.
Emmett Whitney won the indi-
vidual prize with the unique knot
board which he had made. Victor
Hetzel was given the first prize
for the best collection of pictures.
Scoutmaster n. f. Dupont is in
charge of Troop 3, which was just
recently organized as an older boys
troop.
Troop 10 is directed by Scoutmast-
er George w. Finley and an exhibit
of mounted butterflies oceasioned
mach interest in their exhibit
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
Fire Scare In
New Courthouse

Oil overflowing into the pit sur
rounding the heating apparatus at
the new court house, which became
ignited from the heat of the fur
mace, caused a fire alarm to be sent
in shortly after 6 o clock this morn
ing.
When the fire department arrived,
the flames from the oil were leap
ing about the heater, but were quick
ly extinguished with chemicals
Aside from slight smoke stains
about the heater and the ceiling
there was no damage done. The
concrete floor and walls eliminate
practically all chance of a serious
fire, nevertheless Chief Ferguson
warned the engineer to be careful
with his fuel supply and take proper
precautions to prevent it from over
flowing.
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
One KILLED, IL
SAILORS BURNED
IN LAUNCH FIRE
Tragedy at San Pedro
When Boys Return
From Shore
By United Pre.s Leased Wire

SAN PEDRO, Dee. S.--Plans for
the removal Of II sailors, painfully
burned when sI passenger launch
exploded in the harbor, to the Nav
al Hospital at San Diego went for
ward today as naval officials start
ed an investigation Of the acci-
dent.
One sailor, as yet unidentified,
died from burns received in the
blast. while two civilians operating
the boat were also injured.
Another sailor is reported miss
ing and service men in small boats
are seeking his body.
The accident occurred as 4j mem
bers of the Pacific fleet were re-
turning to their vessels aboard the
water taxi, La Moync. About half
way down the channel the engine
backfired and set fire TO the craft.
Other small boats rushed to the
scene and removed the sailors, but
not before many had been burned
by the spreading flames.
George Sands and Melvin
Sprague, operating the La Moyne,
were the civilians aboard.
The injured sailors were treated
on the L. S. S. Pennsylvania and
the L. S. s. Tennessee. The dead
sailor is also on the Tennessee. The
naval tug Brand will take the in
iured to San Diego, made necessary
by the absence of the hospital ship
Mercy, in the north.
Included in the sailors burned in
the explosion were:
Seaman Mccormick, of the Penn
sylvania.
Seaman Krisc of the Maryland.
Seaman Richards of the Tennes-
see.
Seamen Holland, Vogel, Gallagh-
er and BansaZent, of the New Mex
leo.
Fireman G. #. Lawhorn, of the
Arizona.
Seaman J. A. Pratt, Fireman G.
j. Cowan and Cook l.. Noedotya of
the Oklahoma.
Ensign Cromwell of the Tennes
see.
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
WHAT'S DOING

Business and Professional
Woman's Club meess tonight,
Dunaway Building.
F. and A. M. No. 384 meets
tonight.
I'm Hollywood with Potash
and Perlmutter,' at Valley the
atre tonight.
Manhattan at Palace the
atre tonight.
Borrowed Husbands at
Tulane theatre tonight.
American Conservation Club
meets tonight, Imperial District
office.
Missionary Society, st a tie
Street Christian Church, meets
church tomorrow afternoon.
Presbyterian Guild and Mis-
sionary holds all-day meeting
Tuesday, at church.
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
Unmasked Quartet
Holds Up Bank;
Gain $4,000 Loot
ny United Press Leased Wire

LOS ANGELES, Dec. s.-Four
bandits today held up the West
Adams State Bank, herded 25 pat
rons ana employees into vault and
escaped with $4,000 in currency.
The men, all unmasked, dashed
into the b1sk and ordered every,
one into the vault. They closed
the safe door but did not turn the
combination.
One of the quartet threw oil Iot
the currency in sight into a black
bag while Others watched the door
The quartet escaped in an automo
bile, the license number of which
was obtained.
Passersby released the pris
and called the police.
The same bank was robbed ;
year ago this week by Hairy j
Dunlap, "badge bandit who Sc
! cured $1,000.
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
Skeleton Find Reveals Two Year Old Brawley Murder
Cotton Crop Much
Bigger This
Year
BY United Press Leased Wire

by United Press Leased Wire
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-The
cotton crop this year will total
13,153,OO0 bales, compared with
1O,139,671 bales last year, the
department of agriculture esti-
mated today.
Cotton of the 1924 crop ginned
up to December / totalled 12,
225,O2 running bales Counting
round as half bales) against g.
243,380 bales ginned in the cor
responding period last year, the
census bureau reported in sim
ultaneous statement.
The average weight per run
ming bale this year was estimated
at 1898 pounds gross, against
1885 pounds in 1928 and an aver
age of 5o4.4 pounds gross for the
five years preceding 1922.
The price per pound of lint cot
ton to producers on December l
was 22.8 cents, compared with a
December / price Of 81 cents in
1928, 23.8 cents in 1922; 1872
cents in 1921, 1879 cents in 1920
and $3.50 in 1919.
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
LIGHT RAINFALL
in MANY PLACES
by United Press Leased Wire

Los ANGELES, Dee. Slight
rain is falling in many Southern
California sections today, and the
possibility of more precipitation
was admitted III the forecast of DR..
II. B. Hersey, local observer.
1t is generally cloudy, the re-
port said, the soaking showed of the
weekend being widespread.
Santa Barbara. with .33 inches,
received the most rain during the
past "a hours.
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
Actor Kerrigan
Cut in Smashup,
Girl May Succumb
Ny United Press Leased Wire

by United Press Leased Wire
DIXON, ILL.,, Dec. 81. War
rem Kerrigan, moving picture
actor, suffered serious cuts
about the head and painful
bruises today when his automo-
bile collided with another here.
Miss Alma lockwood, Amboy,
Ill, driver of the other ma
chine may die. The accident oc-
CURED in a heavy fog.
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
HAWAII UNIVERSITY
DEFEATS OCCIDENTAL

HOLULU, Dec. s,-The universi-
tv of Hawaii football team defeat
ed Occidental College of California
here Saturday, IS to 8. Occidental
scored field goal in the first
quarter but Hawaii came back
strong and rolled up a good lead
with two touchdowns, "a field goal
and a safety.
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
BLAMES FATHER FOR
CHILD'S DISAPPEARANCE
Nv United Press Leased Wire

BERKELEY, Calf, Dec. S.-Ver-
onica Baird, aged 3, has disappeared
and her mother, Mrs. Maxine Will
mans Baird, society woman, blames
the child's father Benjamin Baird,
world war aviator, for hiding her
away after threatened with divorce
proceedings.
Mrs. Baird told police she had
last seen the little girl in her faith
er's company. The Bairds were mar
ried in 1920.
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
Indian Chief Is
All At Sea
Over Honor
by United Press Leased Wire

PENDLETON, Ore, Dec s.
Jim Manine, big chief Of the
Walla Walla Indians, refused to
accept Il certificate from PreSi-
, dent Coolidge, thanking the
Walla Walla Indians for their
aid to the United States during
the war. Similar certificates
were presented Friday to Chief
Amos Pond of the Umatillas and
Captain Sumpkin of the Cayuses.
Jim Manine said he couldn t
understand it.
~ have never been in 4
war; he said. 81 am going to
Washington and there | will
find out about this certificate. -
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
NOMINATIONS MADE
BY PRES. COOLIDGE
py United Press Leased Wire

WASHINGTON, Dee. 81 --The fol
lowing nominations were sent to the
senate by President Coolidge today:
To be members of the Interstate
commerce commissions
Balthasar ii, Meyer, Wisconsin,
and j. b. Campbell, Spokane, Wash,
(reappoimtments),
To be brigadier general officers
reserve corps-Cornelius Vanderbilt,
New York.
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
PEACE COUNCIL MEETING in ROME
England Balks
At Details of
Present Plans
BY HENRY WOOD,
(United Press Staff Correspondent

ROME, Dec. Sat q Drivate
session of the council of the League
of Nations in the throne room of
tho imposing Doria palace, Austen
Chamberlain. British foreign secret.
ary, outlined today the objections
of his government TO the proposed
protocol of disarmament and aecuri-
ty which was the product Of the
league assembly ut Geneva in Sep.
tember
Carabineers in brilliant full dress
trappings of red aud blue formed
n colorful escort for delegates to
the council meeting as they arrived
at the palace.
The council members originally
were summoned TO prepare for a
disarmament conference in June,
ls23. and to put into effect the
protocol signed by Ramsay Mae
Donald and pfemier lIerriot at
Geneva.
Since the cali for the lnor.ing,
however, Great Britain has baked
at the terms of the protocol which,
in effect, would obligate the Brit
ish navy to enforce tho agreement
which was 20 have been realized in
June.
Chamberlain came to Rome in
person 10 see that the council ac-
eepts his suggestion that formal ae.
iion looking towards eonsummation
Of the protocol be postponed. The
council undoubtedly will agree rs
che protocol would be mere scrap
of paper without British support
Much Depends OH Outcome
During the present session and in
other secret conferences, Chamber
lain is expected to place before the
council members his government :
intentions toward ehe protocol.
If the British foreign secretary s
disclosure admits possibility or re-
vision of the protocol 10 submit 10
Great Britain, the league will re-
tain leadership III the next step to-
wards world disarmament.
II not, the league will be forced
to permit the United States TO re-
gain the role of peace maker ex-
traordinary.
The way would then be opened
for President 10 summon the powers
TO the United Statos TO discuss dis
armament and the possible perman-
ency of peace.
The Dominions are backing the
British government in its objections
to making the grand fleet the league
watchdog. 1t has been pointed out
that under the terms of the protocol
the fleet might be called upon TO
blockade ports in Central America,
thus interfering with American
trade.
Other Items on the councils pro
gram include "a league plan for co
dification of international law. dis
tribution of liability for the Otto
man debt and consideration of an
Italian project for an international
federation FOR mutual assistance in
time of earthquake or famine.
The council, after hearing Cham
berlain, decided not 10 discuss his
request for postponement OF action
on the protocol until after the ar
rival of Premier Benes of Czecho-
Slovakia, who is the league s rap
porteur' on the subject.
ATLANTA, Ga, Dee. S.--Drastie
disarmament of all the nations of
of the world as tho surest means to
universal peace was urged today by
William Jennings Bryan in an ad.
dress to the federal council of
churches in quadrennial session here.
"The church should urge IN in
ternational agreement for the re-
duction or armamems until the arm
ed forces shall only be sufficient
for police service
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
|U. S. Vice Consul
Dies From Wounds
ny United Pres. Leased Wire

WASHINGTON, Dec. s.. Harry
A. Dayton, american vice consul
ut Belgrade, died last night as q
result Of wounds received when shot
last Thursday by q Lithuanian wot
man, according to word received at
the state department today. Dayton
formerly lived In Auburn, N. Y.
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
NEWSPAPER PLANT
WRECKED BY BLAST

COFFEYVILLE, Kan, Dee. s.
Police today were investigating the
cause of the explosion that wrecked
the newspaper plant of the Coffey'
Vile Daily Dawn shortly after mid
night last night.
Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-08
SCORES OF PASSENGERS
SHAKEN IN CAR CRASH
By Press staff Correspondent

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. S-Thom
as Fitzmaurice, gripman of a Cali
fornia street cable ear, was slight
ly injured and scores of passengers
were badly shaken here early .oday
when a Divisidero street electric
ear and the cable ear crashed dur
ing the morning rush hour.