davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27
SIX OFFICERS
DEAD IN DUEL
N TENNESSEE

SOUTH PITTSBURGH, Tenn, Dec
26 R-With virtually all local law
enforcement officers of Marian coun
ty, Tenn, dead or disabled, national
guardSmen tonight policed this sec
ton to prevent further disorders
growing out OF a gun fight last night
between city and county authorities
in which five were killed and four
were wounded, one fatally.
Although military officers said the
situation was well in hand, q more
militiamen were ordered here from
Chattanooga late today to reinforce
the 35 men called out last night after
the two factions had "shot it out"
on the downtown streets. Adiutant
General w. G. Boyd left Knoxville
to take command OF the force.
The guardsmen were ordered here
by Governor Horton responding to
appeals from local business men,
under a state law which prohibits
their ushe in quelling disturbances,
but permits them to act as peace
officers.
The death in a Chattanooga hos
pital today of Chief of Police James
Connor brought to six the number
of fatalities in the street battle which
was said to have climaXed q feud
between police and sheriff's officers
growing out of recent strike at a
local manufacturing plant in which
the respective law enforc menC
, agencies supported opposing sides.
Details we're meager of the shoot
ing, which shattered the Christmas
quiet Of virtually deserted streets and
then subsided as suddenly as it
started after O. nlomentary exchange
of shotgun and pistol fire. A state
ment from one Of the principals,
i however, developed that brother was
arrayed against brother in the fatal
| feUd
Thomas Connor, a deputy sheriff
and brotheE of Police Chief Connor.
whose account furnished the only
known coherent story of events lead
ing to the shooting, said that city
officers had drawn pistols on him
, in an encounter earlier in the eve
ming, and that the fight began when
Continued on Page Eight)
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27
SCIENTISTS MEET. IN NASHVILLE,
COURTEOUS ABOUT EVOLUTION

may be a fundamental hypothesis in
biology, it is only one of the innumer-
able and important subjectes investi-
gated in the broad field of science.
In the absence of DR.. l.. H. Bailey
of Ithaca, the retiring president of the
association, who is recovering from a
severe illness, the place on the program
which traditionally goes to the scient-
ist holding that office was given to
DR.. Sylvanus c. Morley, famous an
thripologiSt of the Carnegie institu-
ton of Washington
Dr. Morley for some years has been
in charge of the Carnegie institutions
investigation of the remarkable civiliza-
ton developed by the Mayas 1000
years ago on that part of the con-
tinental bridge now occupied by Mex
leo and Guatemala. 1t was, he said,
''the most brilliant native American
civilization of pref Columbian times"
"In architecture and sculpture, in
painting and ceramics, the lapidary
art, in the sciences of astronomy,
chronology and mathematics, in the in
Continued on Page Eight.
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27
WOMAN'S BODY FOUND IN CANYON
HINTS MURDER AT SAN FERNANDO

the length Of the right hand fore
finger, appearing as though the finger
once had been split from knuckle
to tip.
The deputies reported the hands
and feet were tied with old window
sash cord. They said the woman
apparently net death by violence, but
Dr. Webb, assistant autopsy surgeon
of Los Angeles county, said there
were some indications that the woman
had been drinking heavily. The pre-
liminary investigation uncovered no
clue to the identity OF the woman.
The only article OF clothing reported
missing was the shoes.
The body was discovered by two
San Fernando ranchers, Jack Lepoile
and D. Pellis, who said they stumbled
upon it while walking into town. They
Immediately reported their gruesome
find to the San Fernando police. The
Los Angeles county sheriff was noti-
fled, and Immediately sent deputies
here, which is 20 miles northwest OF
Los Angeles.
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27

SAN FERNANDO, CAL, Dec. 26 lq9
The body of a woman about IS
years Of age, wrapped in old canvas
with the hands bound across her
breast and the feet bound and
drawn up behind her back, was found
in Lopez canyon, 500 feet east of
Mulholland avenue on the outskirts
of town today Sheriff's deputies ex-
pressed the opinion the woman had
been dead about "a hours
The mark of a blow from blunt
weapon was discovered on the
woman's forehead, but investigators
said it did not appear to have been
severe enough to have caused deaJll.
An autopsy was started Immediately
to determine the extent Of the injury
and the cause of the Woman's death.
The body was dressed in a black
crepe de chine dress. The woman
weighed about 145 pounds and was
five feet four inches in height. She
had blue eyes and brown hair. AM
other identifying mark was scar
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27
Rescue Craft Including
Vessels and Dirigible
MobiIized for Work.
RADIO Is HEARD
Fear Passengers May Per-
ish from Cold If Craft
Remains AfI0at.

BOSTON, Dec. 26 R)-Search by
naval vessels for Mrs. Frances Wilson
Grayson's transatlantic plane, the
Dawn, was started today
The navy destroyers, Sturtevant
and Mahan, left Boston and Province
town respectively late today under
orders to search the seas from Cape
Cod, where the Dawn was last sight
ed, to Sable island, Off Nova Scotia
where the Canadian government
wireless station picked up what were
believed to be radio signals from the
Dawn's emergency sending apparatus
Inasmuch as the sDawn's emergency
wireless set had maximum sending
radiOuS Of SO miles, naval Officials
in charge Of the search planned to
concentrate most of their efforts
within that radius of the Sable island
station which heard the calls. They
planned to keep a close watch, how
ever, for any traces of the plane
which might be found between here
and the island.
The Mahan, in command of Lieu
tenant Commander George N. Baker,
left ProvincetoWn, where she had been
ion S-4 salvage duty, this afternoon.
The StIlrtevant, carrying Commander
I. I. Stewart, the officer placed in
charge of the search, also cleared
from the navy yard at CharlestoWn
here.
The Mahan was under orders to
steam slowly across Nachias bay and
watch for any traces of the Dawn,
until she was joined by the Sturte-
want. Both destroyers were then to
steam north at 20 to rs knot clip
keeping in close radio touch with
each other and reporting any dis
coveries to the navy yard here. z.
On reaching the island they will
separate and circle the entire shore
line during the daylight hours At
night, the search must be restricted,
while fog will force the vessels to
heave to until visibility becomes high
enough to continue the hunt.
! The Los Angeles, according to adj
vices received at the navy yard here,
left Lakehurst under orders to pro-
ceed up the coast, across Cape Cod
and directly on to Sable island,
keeping a close watch all the way.
Capable of a speed OF 86 knots, it
was, expected she would arrive over
ProvincetoWn at Z o'clock tonight and
at Sable island at a. m. tomorrow
Except for one terse message re-
ported by the Canadian government
! Continued on Page EighO
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27
Lone Eagles Mother Also
Starts for Home in De-
trOit, from Mexico City.
TUNES UP PLANE
Probably Will Include Por-
to Rico in His Good Will
Tour But Not Certain.

MEXICO CITY, Dec. 26, (R9-Col.
Lindbergh and his mother, Mrs.
Evangeline Lindbergh, will fly away
from Mexico City Wednesday morn
ing. The son goes towards Guate-
mala City, which is flight of
probably nine hours; his mother
starts back to her homeland
After the quiet Christmas day
spent with his mother at the United
States embassy, Col Lindbergh went
out to Valbuena Field today and
amused himself with the Ford plane.
He carried aloft several of the men,
bers of the embassy and their wives,
as well as Joaquin Amaro, minister
of war and marine, with his wife.
The flier wore civilian togs and an
ordinary hat
Lindbergh hopes to hop off for
Guatemala Wednesday, and as soon
as the Spirit of St Louis gets away,
the Ford nonoplane will be brought
out in the field for the takeoff for
Detroit. Mrs. Li1ldbergh and party
plan to make stops at Tampico, San
Antonio and Indianapolis and they
hope to reach Detroit Friday eve
ming
In all Lindbergh made four diff
ferent flight today in the Ford plane
remaining UP ten or fifteen minutes
on each occasion and taking up,
among others, Mrs. Morrow, wife
of the ambassador, who made the
first flight of her life. The secretary
Of war, Senor Amaro and his wife,
also made their first flight
Crowds Hinder Fliers
A crowd of about 1000 persons
gathered at Valbuena flying field and
surged around the big Ford, It was
perilous work taking off under such
conditions and several times the
spectators had to be forced back
from the plane, as they were in
danger of being killed or injured
by the propellers.
Once Col Lindbergh left the plane,
plainly indicating his annoyance. He
threatened to abandon the flights,
but officers rallied around and drove
back the crowd and the visitor re-
turned.
Lindbergh will devote Tuesday in
preparing the Spirit of st. Louis for
his Central American tour.
The American flyer utilized every
spare moment today in gathering in
formation about the country over
which he will fly on his Central
American tour. In company with
American military and naval attaches
and Mexican aviators, he again
pored over maps. Among his con-
sultants was Major Emilio Carranza.
first air man to make a nonstop
flight from Mexico City to Juarez
The first leg of tour between the
Mexican and Guatemalan capitals
will be over rough and largely un-
settled country Lindbergh esti-
mates the air line distance as 675
miles and feels that he can make
+ it in not less than nine hours, even
under unfavorable conditions. He will
take $50 gallons of gasoline, which
] he believes will be sufficient. He will
spend all of tomorrow going over
the spirit of ST. Louis although
the machine apparently is in perfect
condition
Two Days to Place, Schedule
Lindbergh expects to remain an
average of two days in each Central
(Continued on Page Eight)
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27
Makes New Confession AS
He Travels Back to Los
Angeles to Face Crime.
GIRL
Version Eliminates All Ac-
completes, is Report Of
ficials Give Out.

ON BOARD THE CASCADE
LIMITED, OAKLAND, Calf, Dec.
26 tP--WilIiam e. Hickman today
confessed that he alone killed
IL year old Marian Parker of Los
Angeles, the day after he kidnapped
her single handed.
In confession, amazing for its un-
rivaled details of brutality, the 10 year
old youth said he Strangled the child
with a piano wire and cut her body
into pieces in the bath tub of his
Bellevue apartment in Los Angeles.
After the strangling, Hickman said
he realized that he must have the
body to produce to the girls father,
Perry M. Parker, Los Angles banker, or
he could not collect the ransom. So
he devised the scheme of rigging her
eyelids with, wire to prop her head to
make it appear she was alive.
The confession completely eliminated
the mythical accomplice, one Andrew
Cramer, for whom the police have been
searching since the youth made his
first confession after his, capture near
Pendleton, where he sought to throw the
blame on an accomplice. He had no
aid. 1t was a single-handed piece of
work, the latest confession made today
revealed.
The confession today removes from
Hickman the last shield upon which
he relied to save him from the gallows.
When he enters the superior court in
Los Angeles tomorrow, he will go
through the formality of entering a
plea to murder and kidnapping based
on his signed confession to both.
The mask of mystery which Hick-
man sought to throw over the killing
of the little girl was torn away in the
course of grilling he underwent as
the special car upon which he was
being taken to- Los Angeles was near
ing San Francisco.
Hickman gave his reasons for kill
ing the girl as follows:
IT was afraid she would make a
noise"
Behind locked and closely guarded
doors of the compartment in which
Hickman had been held since he left
Pendleton on Sunday morning, ques-
tioning by Los Angeles officers pro-
ceeded, laying before the prisoner the
gruesome details of evidence which had
been gathered at the Bellevue apart
mnt.
Hickman steadily maintained until
tonight that while he had been in
volved in the kidnapping he had not
committed the actual killing.
Upon his arrival here Hickman was
taken in the club car of the Cascade
| limited, where he faced battery of
cameras for several pictures.
HOLD TRAIN FOR PRISONER
OAKLAND, Calf, Dec. 26 tF)-"The
Padre" fast southern Pacific coast
train to Los Angeles, was held at the
Oakland pier here tonight awaiting the
arrival of the Cascade Limited from
Portland, carrying the special car in
which William E. Hickman, girl kid
naper and slayer, was riding The
Cascade was late, racing into Oak
land pier at $50. "The Padre" was
due to leave at 8:45 tonight, but was
delayed until the special car carrying
Hickman could be attached for the
journey south.
(Continued on Page Eight)
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27
Prisoner S Attempt
To LeqUe Jail May
Cost Him His Life

y CARLISLE, Pa, Dec. 26 (R)-- y
y Welding apparatus was found 3
y necessary to free an inmate of y
y the county Jail here when he be- y
y. came caught in the iron cased y
y window of his cell during a :
y. Christmas Eve attempt to escape. $
Il George w. Starner, 10, of York, 4
s. the prisoner, suffered injuries =
q that may cause his death. He is
*: awaiting trial On six larceny s
81 charges. i
81 Starner made his attempt to y
- get through the window five and i
H half inches wide. !
y )
:. * * ~ & y * y II y IF j. y X =
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27
R. N. FRENCH, AN
ATTORNEY HERE
26 YEARS, DEAD

Robert Napoleon French, for more
than q quarter of century a
practicing attorney in Douglas, county
attorney of Cochise county from 1919
to 1921, during which time he gained
general prominence because OF his
handling of the Bisbee deportation
cases in which featured the Wooten
trial, died at his home, 1901 Seventh
street, Monday morning at 3:35 fol,
lowing an illness OF some three weeks
Mr.. French was attacked by heart
trouble not long since and his case
had been considered critical since
that time, so that death had been
regarded as imminent for some days.
The plans for the funeral have not
been completed, being dependent upon
word to be received from relatives
in other places.
Attorney French first came to
Douglas in 1901, from West Virginia,
making the move because OF his
wife's health Selection Oh Douglas
was probably due to the fact that
his father, the late Col. James
Milton French, and a brother, Writ
French, had preceded him and en-
gagged in the practice OF law here.
So when he first came to Douglas
he at once entered upon the practice
of his chosen profession and con-
tinued- in the practice until the
time of his latest attack OF i'll health,
He had been an active MEMBER OF
the bar here for a quarter of a
century and in 1919 he entered upon
the duties of county attorney of
CochiSe county, as the result of his
election lin 1918, SO that he came
into office at time that brought
him into wide prominence because
of the Bisbee deportation cases.
After having handled that case in
which one, Wooten, was the central
figure in the litigation. French
retired from office at the end Of
the term and since that time had
given much effort in reducing to
a historic record the facts of the
case. He had set his mind upon
leaving the history OF the case in
book form, and after a Iaborious
work he had finally gotten it into
the hands of the printer and it
will shortly be Off the press in a
EOOk VI dppIOAl1lldOCly 1OO pdSCo'
Robert Napoleon French was born
at Bland, in Bland county, Virginia,
on May II, 1861, the son of Colonel
James Milton and Rhoda French.
both now dead. He was the oldest
Of a family of seven children. His
early education was in schools OF
his native state including preparatory
academies, and he finished his legal
education. in the law department. OF
the University OF Virginia. His
father was lawyer and had held
judgeship in Virginia and his
brother, the late Writ French, at
one time an attorney in Douglas, also
was engaged in the profession.
French was twice married. His
first wife was Miss Victoria French,
of West Virginia, their marriage
occurring at Princeton, IN that state,
in 1880. Her health failed and in a
vain hope of finding health improve
ment, they moved to Douglas in 1901,
in the autumn. In May, 1903, Mrs
French died, leaving her husband
and four children, the children now
surviving the father. They are:
Milton r. French, OF Moundville, w.
Va: Writ M French, Douglas; G. K.
CONTINUED on Page Eight)
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27
y
Christmas With
So BeIoU Zero At
Circle, Alaska

y CIRCLE, Alaska, Dec. rs R--
\. A valiant battle against the most
y. severe storm in interior Alaska in
y 20 years was successful when mail
4 sled driver Jewell arrived with
y the Christmas mail on time yes
X. terday from Chatanika. Braving
* the weather of So below zero to
* bring holiday greetings to this
y arctic outpost, Jewell arrived on
y schedule, but with his hands and
:* race severely frozen and his team
:* of dogs suffering from cold.
y
:. * X X * * * * * * y * :F H )
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27
Child Gives Life
To SaUe A Doll
Santa Brought Her

x BALTIMORE, Dec. 26 (R-Lit-
- tie Verna Chance gave her life
* today to save her Christmas doll
* from fire.
y The child had crept downstairs
y to mother" her little gift, and
~ found that its clothing had
y caught fire from an overheated
~ gas stove. In her attempt to
y extinguish the flames, Verna's
~ dress became ignited and she
y died shortly after being taken to
*. hospital, from burns.
r.
y * * y y y y X * y y y * *
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27
PRINCE m AUTO ACCIDENT

LONDON, Deo. 26 (H9-The Daily
Mail says today that Prince George,
second son of the king, narrowly es-
capped serious injury while motoring
to Sandringham Friday evening to
join the rest of the royal family for
Christmas.
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27
Killed By Dump Truck

GLOBE, Ariz., Dec. 26, tR-Dave
Spehar, about SO years old, was
killed at the Coolidge damsite this
afternoon when he was run over by
la dumping truck, according to in
formation received here from Gener-
al offices of the construction COM
pany in charge of the work at the
dam.
The truck, in backing up, struck
Spehar, knocked him to the ground
and ran over his body. He was a
former resident of the Globe-Miami
district
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27
Cornice of Church Broken
and Priest Injured
Houses Damaged.
POPE NOTES IT
Worst Area 20 Miles From
Rome in Rocca di Papa
District.

ROME, Italy, Dec. 26 CR-Rome was
shaken today by an earthquake of
unusual violence, lasting about four
minutes. The first shock was at 4:07
p. m.
A fissure was opened up in the
populous quarter of the city, the cell
ings in several houses fell and the
cornice of church broke off, injuring
priest who was passing by. The
priest was removed to hospital
The tremors were distinctly felt at
the Vatican. The pope, in his private
study, was surprised to see books and
papers moving perceptibly and the
furniture Wobble in the room. Ser
wants ran in to ascertain if any OBJ
jects had fallen near the pontiff. /
The shock varied from five to six
degrees, according to different localit-
les in Rome itself, increasing to seven
or eight degrees at the towns of Rocca
Di Papa and Velletri.
Spectators at football game in the
Appian velodrome felt the shock dis
tinctly, stampede was threatened in
the stands, but officials quieted the
half panic stricken fans
Reports from Naples Avezzano, Flor
ence and Milan indicate that there
was no shock at those centers.
The central point of the disturbance
seems to have been in the Rocca Di
Papa district, about 20 miles from
Rome. AT that place and Velletri, as
well as several other small towns, fis-
sures were opened both in the streets
and in number Of houses, and the
inhabitants were for time in a panic
A few walls fell.
In Rome firemen were quickly sum-
moned and took measures to prevent
accidents through the cracks caused
by the quake, and they also cleared
sway much of the debris.
Rome was visited by slight earth
quake on October II last The center
of the quake at that time was Avez-
zano. No damage was done in The
eternal city, although houses were
rocked and the streets quivered under
f11
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27
Man and Wife Murdered

COLUMBIA CITY, Ind, Dec. &c,
tR-Mr and Mrs. Floyd Mosher
were shot to death at their home
six miles north of here early to-
night by Newman Harper of North
Manchester, who later ended his
own life a short distance from the
MoSher home. Officials could as
sign no motive for the double mur-
der and suicide. All three of the
dead were 80 years of age.
HEALTH POOR, ENDS LIFE
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 26l Up
(Continued on Page Eight)
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27
TRAGEDY MAKES
HOLIDAY GLOOM
in MANY HOMES
rive in FamiIy round Dead

Five in Family Found Dead
PATERSON, N. j., Dec. 26, Up
Five members of family of six
were found dead in their home here
today. They had been asphyxiated
by gas after entertaining friends
last night at Christmas celebra-
ton. The victims were Peter Scarp-
elli, So. his wife, Jennie, SO, daugh-
ters Rose, 81, Eleanor, IL and son
Ralph, g. Another son, Anthony, "a,
was the only member of the family
to escape death. A leaky kitchen
stove fixture was the cause of the
tragedy.
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27
ouarreIs With Girl. KiIIs Self

QuarreIs With Girl, Kills Self
GLOBE, Ariz., Dec. 26, P-Des-
pondent over a quarrel with Rosie
Caldera, 10, his sweetheart, Edmundo
Calderone, "a, miner employed at
Ray, took his own life by shooting
himself through the right breast at
7:3O o'clock tonight. The shooting
occurred at Ray.
Calderone, and his fiance, according
to the sheriffs office, had planned
to attend a dance, but quarreled
whe nthe young miner called at
the girls home. He was angry when
he left her house. A short time
later he shot himself.
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27
CHARGED with Killing Fathter

BECKLEY, w. Va, Dec. i26, (R--
Walter Crewes. ID, charged with
shooting and killing his father, Sam
uel Crewes, As, was held without
bond for grand jury action today.
The elder CreWes was shot while
with his son after drinking par
ty. A sister, Tessie Crewes, was
slightly wounded in the wrist. Wal
ter Crewes declared his father shot
himself.
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27
Ends Fight with Poison

PHOENIX, Ariz., Dec. 26, Up
Crippled, in poor health and des-
pondent over recent business reverses,
James Breton, of Oakland, Calf,
committed suicide today at his hotel
by drinking poison. He left let
ter addressed to his mothter, Mrs
E. Breton, 1910 Hopkins ST., Oak
land.
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-27

Copper steady; electrolytic,
spot and futures, 14-14.12c;
lead steady; snnt 6.50c.