davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
LIST OF DEAD
in EXPLOSION
REACHES TWELVE
Seven Missing Thought
To Have Perished In
Wreckage.
BY HENRY MINOT
Omitted Press Staff CORRESPONDENT


EVERETT, Mass, Feb. 1.-THE
death toll from an explosion that
wrecked one big gasoline tank at
the Beacon Oil company reached IL
today as workmen dug through the
debris searching for seven other
missing workmen.
Nine bodies were taken from the
wreckage. Three other workmen
died in hospitals.
More than 60 persons were in
jured, "a of them seriously. Six of
the more seriously injured were
near death.
The explosion was the most dis
astrous of II blasts and fires which
have occurred at the Beacon Oil
plant with the past seven years.
A triple investigation of the ac-
cident was opened today by the dis
trict attorneys office, the state
fire marshal and company officials.
In preliminary report the appar-
ent failure of low pressure vapor-
izer was given as the cause of the
explosion. .As0ye
The blast occurred with the eff
feet of an earthquake. Houses for
miles around trembled and windows
Were shattered.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
Large Merchant
Ship Arrives On
Pacific Coast t

SAN PEDRO, Calf, Feb. IL
The California, largest electrically
driven commercial vessel afloat, will
dock here tonight on her maiden
voyage from New York.
The California carries 705 cabin
passengers on the present trip,
among them many notables.
The vessel is the largest merchant
ship ever built in American. She has
q displacement of $4,000 tons, is COL
feet long and her 1900 horsepower
turbo-electric power plant gives her
cruising speed of eighteen knots.
The California is the first of three
$3,000,000 sister ships to be built
by the Panama-Pacific line for in
tercoastal express trade. The sec
end, the Virginia, is now under con-
struction.
The California will have capac
Ny of 750 passengers on its inter
coastal salings. She can transport
5000 tons of freight and has 100000
cubic feet of cool air and refrigerat-
ed space for citrus fruit and veget-
aEles.
The California will sail for San
Francisco Sunday morning.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
GAIN
LENGTHY DELAY
FOR HICK MAN
Sentence Postponed Upon
Oral Motion For New
Trial.
BY DAN CAMPBELL
Omitted Press Staff Correspondent

COU URTROOM. Los Angeles, FeD.
11.-William Edward Hickman
gained stay of life, from GO to
90 days today, through the legal
maneuvers of his attorneys.
BY an oral motion for new trial
sentence of "The Foxo for the
Staying of little Marion Parker,
which was to have been made to-
day, was delayed until Tuesday
morning.
At that time Defense Attorneys
Jerome Walsh and Richard Cantif-
Ion must file a written motion and
Judge j. j. Trabucco is expected
then to hand down his ruling.
In the event that the motion
for new trial is denied, which Is
probable, the defense will then give
notice of appeal.
The oral motion for a new trial
incorporated practically every rea-
son upon which a new trial might
be asked, including the following:
That the verdict is contrary to
law.
That the verdict is contrary to
evidence.
That the court erred in his deci-
sions on questions of law.
That the jury has received evi-
dence out of court.
That the court erred in denying
the defense additional peremptory
challenges.
That the court erred in denying
the defense motion to have expert
alienists appointed to examine
Hickman.
That the defendant had been
compelled to be witness against
himself. GIickman did not take
the stand, but his various eonfes-
sions were read into the records.)
That the jury had not decided
upon the guilt or innocence Of the
defendant.
Hickman arose and stood rigid,
his shoulders squared, as Defense
Attorney Jerome Walsh made the
motion.
He came into court smiling and
unconcerned today and appeared
more than ever the school boy.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
Wreck Fatal
To Engineer
BY United Press Leased Wire

by Onueu Iress Leased WIRE
SACRAMENTO, Calf, Feb. II.
Walter Shields, Sacramento engi-
neer, injured at Ben Ali last night
when the Eldorado flyer of the
Southern Pacific railroad struck a
mule and was wrecked, died at Sut-
ter hospital today.
Shields was rescued from the
wreckage by H. I. Downing of Rose
vile and Miss Ruth Gage of Sac
ramento, Downing's sweetheart at
the risk of their own lives.
Downing, passenger on the
train, rushed to the locomotive aft
er it crashed over an embankment,
and pinned the engineer inside the
cab.
Despite the warning from Elmer
Sweeney, the engine s fireman, that
"she's going to blow up" Down
ing entered and cab and worked for
two hours with n crowbar extricat-
ing Shields while Miss Gage climb
ed on top of the engine and held a
lantern over the wreck so he could
see through the steam.
Sweeney suffered serious burns
but all passengers escaped unhurt.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
Declares General
Sandino Through

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11.-Gener-
al Sandino, Nicaraguan liberal lead
er, is L" "tlrough' and is merely try
ing to escape, according to an of
fetal report from the commander of
the special service squadron in Mic
aragua which was read at a meet
ing of the senate foreign relations
committee today.
The committee is investigating
activities of the United States mar
ines in the Central American repub-
lie.
The dispatch which was dated
February 10, follows:
Indications are from the latest
reports that Sandino intends to
reach the northern coast of Hondu
ras. He was reported to be at La
puerta in the mountains northeast
of Jalapa, Feb. 4. There is ample
evidence that all the rifles SandinO
has were procured in Nicaragua
from men who failed to turn them
in (under the Stimson agreement).
Sandino's ammunition is practical
ly gone. Insofar as Nicaragua is
concerned he is finished and is
simply trying to escape.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
Auto Thieves
Busy in Valley

-Four automobiles We're reported
stolen at police headquarters here
last night, two reports being sub
nitted from Brawley while the other
two machines are alleged to have
been stolen here.
Nick Dolia made the first report
at 8 o clock last night, saying that
his Ford roadster, 1923 model, had
been taken from a parking place
on Broadway. The machine bore the
license number 69l-S92. The other
local machine taken was the pro
perty of j. l.. Warren. 1t was a
Chrysler roadster, 1926 model, bear
ing a 1927 Texas license.
The Brawley cars taken were re-
ported as Jalino Argiona, a 1924
Ford car. The other machine was a
Chevrolet roadster, 1925 model, bear
ing the license number 737-625.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
MAY ASK CONGRESS TO PROBE
CALIFORNIA PHONE RATES

phone and Telegraph company,
another subsidiary of the Ameri-
can organization.
Inspection of the books was
sought in a fight of Central
California organizations against
a proposed rate increase in San
Francisco and the bay dis
trict.
Shaw told the commission he
had gone to New York to place
the request before executives of
the parent company and then
voiced the ultimatum.
"Certain developments ex.
terror to this ease led them to
decide negativelys The commits
SION s request, l am authorized
to state, must be absolutely
denied.'
He refused to state the rea-
sons for the action.
Shaw announced that the COM
pany case for permission to in
crease rates was completed and
evidence from the cooperating
bay district cities was expected
to be within n few months.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
Coen's Hearing
Over to Tuesday

HANFORD, Calf, Feb. 1.-THE
murder trial of Perry Allen Coen,
accused slayer of George Mace and
Edna Artist, the parents of his 16
year old sweetheart, stood adjourn
ed today until next Tuesday morn
ing.
Assistant District Attorney Clar-
cncc Wilson brought yesterday s
session to climax with plea for
the death penalty after attacking
Coan's attempt to repudiate his
confession and pointing out that
jealousy, inspired by fear that
the Artists were weaving their
daughter away from him, prompted
the defendant to club the couple to
death with n crowbar.
Defense Attorney j. c. c. Russell
will present his argument when
court convenes next week and will
be followed by States Attorney j..
Frank Prior. Following the judge s
instructions, Coen's fate will be
placed in the hands of the jury.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
HAHN DECLARES
JUDGE TRABUCC0
EMINENTLY FAIR
BY S. S. HAHN
Noted Criminal Attorney

written OF L HIltu TESS
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 11.-Wil
liam Edward Hickman, convicted
murderer of little Marion Parker
cannot expect to be granted new
trial by Judge j. J. Trabucco.
The record in this trial is free
from prejudicial error, in my jud-
cement. Swift and terse as the judge
was in his rulings, yet he was fair
and invariably right on the quest
ions of law which called for his
decision during the trial.
The main point which the defense
is expected to embody in their ap-
peal for new trial, that has merit,
is the question whether the law
under which Hickman was tried and
convicted is constitutional.
The defense will contend that
Hickman never pleaded guilty to the
murder of Marion Parker, and that
he was never convicted by Il jury.
It will be their contention that Hick-
man was given trial by jury for his
sanity only.
And the defense will maintain
that under the constitutional guar
antee Hickman is entitled to q ver-
diet from jury on the guilt Or in
nocence for the murder before he
can be sentenced to hang.
The new law under which Hick-
man was so speedily convicted pro-
vides that when a defendant inter
poses plea of not guilty by reas-
ON of insanity, he thereby admits
the commission of the crime, and
| is not entitled to jury trial to
determine his guilt or innocence,
and is only entitled to a jury to de-
tcrmine his sanity.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
RESC()ERS''
HAMPERED
BY SMOKE
Efforts To Save Trapped
Canadian Miners Halted
By Lack of Equipment.
RELIEF A RIV E S
Fear 40 Men Caught in
Mine May Have Been
SuffOcated.
BY United Press Leased Wire

TIMMONS, Ont, Feb. II. - Fire
fighters who arrived here on a spe-
cial relief train from Toronto de.
scended into the shaft of the Hol-
linger Consolidated Gold mine today
and reported they had found five
men alive on the 675 foot level.
They will concentrate their eff
forts on reaching the $50 foot level
where between 40 and so miners
are believed trapped.
TORONTO, Ont, Feb. 11.-Fumes
and smoke pouring down a shaft of
the Hollinger Consolidated Gold
mine at Timmins today diminished
hope that two score miners trapped
on the $50 foot level could be saved.
Six men were known to be dead
of suffocation and it was feared q
similar fate had overtaken the 40
others. No further rescue work can
proceed until arrival of q rescue
car which is expected from Penn
sylvania about noon.
The limited supply Of oxygen for
the respirators worn by volunteer
rescue workers was being consumed
swiftly.
The rescuers themselves were
considered in imminent danger of
losing their lives from the fumes.
A canary which was lowered into
the shaft lived for only two min
utes.
The fire was still burning fiercely
and it was thought it might burn
for weeks before being controlled.
Hope was held by some that the
trapped men might find avenues of
escape in the myriad tunnels of the
mine but it was considered unlikely
that any portion of the shaft was
free of the deadly monoxide.
Families Await Word
c. c. Williams. general superin-
tendant of the mine was in charge
of rescue operations. Several times
he led rescue parties into Shaft No.
IL in hope of getting below the
fourth, fifth and sixth levels, where
the men are trapped Each time
they were driven back by the fumes
and dense smoke.
The fire was mainly at the $50
foot level but the fumes penetrated
to the 1900 foot base of the mine.
Rescuers succeeded in reaching the
800 foot levels. At one time Will
liams reached a level 100 feet a
bove the trapped men but was over
come and had to be rescued.
While the thus far futile rescue
work was going on, wives and chill
dren of the trapped men waited at
the shaft opening, weeping and
praying All work in the town was
halted and all available manpower
was marshaled for future needs.
Work in the Mcintyre mine which
is connected at the 400 foot level
with the Hollinger mine was sus-
pended as a precautionary measure.
The fire started by spontaneous
combustion in a pile of rubbish.
When the smoke and fumes belched
down the shaft a mad rush was
made for the exits. Many were
crushed and others were overcome
by the fast spreading smoke. These
were rescued, however, and resusci-
tated.
Five hundred men were in the
mine when the fire broke out. A
check-up showed that 40 were still
trapped near stope where they
had been working.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
QueZOn Visited
By His Family
By United Press Leased Wire

MoNRovIA, Calf, Feb. IL. -
Manuel Quezon, president of the
Philippine senate, who has been i'll
at the Pottenger sanatorium here
since December, was visited by his
wife and three children again to-
day.
The wife, Sonora Aurora Quezon,
and the children, Aurora, 8; Zeleida,
6, and Manuel Jr., 2, arrived here
yesterday from San Francisco where
they had landed from the liner
President Grant.
Dr. Antonio G. Sison and Repre-
sentative Nieto accompanied them.
Senorita Quezon and the three
children will reside here during
President Quezon IS stay at the san,
atorium. 1t was said that he would
remain here at least six months
longer.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
DE WITT MUST
SERVE TERM In
STATES PRISON

Marion De Witt, 81, of Meloland
district, was denied probation by
Judge A. C. Finney in superior
court, department two, this morn
ing.
De Witt was convicted on two
counts by a jury recently, the first
count being for unlawful possession
full possession of Intoxicating liq-
uOr.
The case is the first that has
been brought before the superior
court under the new ruling of the
state Legislators, making possession
of still felony.
After denying probation TO De
Witt, Judge Finney pronounced sem
tcnce. He ordered the defendant
committed to San Quentin peniten-
tiary for the term prescribed by
law, one to five years. The pre-
scribed sentence also carried with
it fine of from $1,000 to $4,000.
The Judge said that he would rec
ommend that the sentence be plac-
ed by the prison board at the mini
mum penalty.
In imposing the fine the Judge
fixed the amount at $1,000 with the
condition that if it be not paid the
defendant serve one day in the pen
itentiary for each $40 of the fine.
The judge, however, ruled that this
time could be served concurrently
with the Jail sentence.
The court then further sentenced
the defendant to pay a fine of 800
for the conviction on the charge of
unlawful possession.
He then ordered the defendant
turned over to the custody of the
sheriff for commitment to the state
institution.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
Missing Officers
Not Yet Found
BY United Press Leased Wire

LAFAYETTE, Ind, Feb. IL. -
Search for Deputy Sheriffs John
P. Grove and Wallace Mcclure, be-
lieved to have been kidnapped by
two prisoners whom they were TAX
ing to the state reformatory spread
over the entire middle west today.
No definite clew to the whereabouts
of either of the officers or their
prisoners had been obtained since
they left here early Tuesday for
the reformatory at Pendleton, 70
miles distant with two prisoners.
DECATUR, Ill, Feb. 11.-A tour
ing car, similar to the one driven
by two deputies who disappeared
Tuesday after starting from Lafay-
cite, Ind, for, Pendleton, Indiana,
with two prisoners was found in a
Decatur garage today.
Two guns were found in the ma
chine and hole in the windshield
was believed to have been made by
a bullet.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
Truck Plunges
Over Embankment

HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 11.-W. C.
Cardwell, 81, was perhaps fatally in,
Jured today when the sand laden
truck he was driving got out of con
troll on Cahuenga Pass and plunged
over a 40 foot embankment
The truck turned over twice on its
descent of the steep incline ana
was completely demolished. Card
well was backing the truck and did
not realize that the vehicle was
close to the edge of the ravine, it
was believed.
Cardweil was rushed to Dickev
and Cass hospital where it was said
that he was suffering from internal
injuries, fractures and injuries to
lis spine.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
Flood Control
In Spotlight

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-Two
important flood control develop
ments were recorded here today.
President Coolidge breakfasted the
secretaries of War and Commerce,
Chief of Army Engineers Jadwin
and Senators of three flood ridden
states.
The Senate commerce committee
debated whether, before ending its
flood hearings, it should call Secre-
tary of Commerce Hoover. Decision
was deferred until next Tuesday.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
ny United Press Leased Wire

SAN FRANCISCO, FeD. H.
California municipal attorneys,
fighting a proposed telephone in
crease looked today to con
grcssional Investigation to pro
vide means of forcing inspection
of the American Telephone and
Telegraph company books.
A flat "no' was the reply
of the company to the Calf
ornia Railroad commission s de-
mand that a state inspection be
permitted during hearing on
petition to declare the Ameri-
can 7. and r. company and its
subsidiary, the Western Electric
company, public utilities in Cal
ifornia.
In addition to the hope that
Congress will provide an oppor-
tunitv for inspection, declarat-
ion of the companies to be utili-
ties in California was seen as
an alternative method.
The company eidct was express
ed by James II. Shaw, vice
president of the Pacific Tele-
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
Observes
81st Birthday
by United Press Leased Wire

Ft. MYERS, Fla, Feb. il. =
Thomas A. Edison was 81 years old
today.
The municipal birthday party
planned in his honor he smilinglv
termed "just lot of poppycoek. -
He will grant his usual birthday
interview during the day and to-
night will resume for a few minutes
his boyhood role of telegrapher.
From a key in a downtown office
he will send instructions to offic-
ials in Bellingham, Washington, for
mally opening a new Edison light
ing system there.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
Continued on page 81
Continued on page 6)
Bourbon Leader
Supports Smith

FRESNO, Calf, Feb. lid. w.
Ewing, former chairman of the
Democratic state organization an.
nounced today his support of AL
Smith as the party's presidential
standard bearer.
Ewing, a Fresno attorney, led the
California delegation at the New
York convention four years ago sup.
porting McAdoo. He made known
his endorsement of the New York
governor candidacy in a letter to
II. II. McPike, his successor as state
chairman. Ewing wrote he did not
think the 18th amendment, the Vol
stead Act, religious beliefs or af-
filiations were party issues.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
REALTORS AT FRESNO

FRESNO, Calf, Feb. 11.-Real-
tors from all parts of the San Joa-
quin valley We're attending the sec
ond annual farm lands conference
of the California Real Estate Asso-
citation here today. Analysis of ag-
ricultural problems occupied the ses-
sion.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
SlAYERS
OF ROSS
ESCAPE
One of immigration Mans
Assassins Is Traced to
Mexican Border.
PARTNER VA.NISHES
Murderer Steals Three
Cars on Wild Dash to
Safety.

Intensive search throughout the
valley today, had failed to result in
capture of the two Mexicans who
late yesterday afternoon killed Nor
man G. Ross, inspector of the Unit
ed States immigration Border Pat
rol, on the Los Angeles highway be-
tween Kane Springs and Westmor-
land, about 430.
Ross had left Kane Springs at
4:15 to take two Mexican prison.
ers to Westmorland to turn them
over to Constable Cochrane. A
half hour later his body was found
in the back of the car, a dilapi-
dated Ford belonging to the Mexf-
cans, with q bullet hole through his
head. y
Ross had gone to Kane Springs
from Westmorland, where he was
living, with William Ferguson, a
brother officer and they had set up
stop sign in front of the service
station located there, conducted by
Charles M. Pollard One car was
checked through but the second car
which stopped for the Officers con-
tanned the two Mexicans. They were
directed to pull off to the side Of
the road by Ross. The officer then
proceeded to question and search
them while Ferguson returned to
the roadway to take charge of traf.
fic.
Ferguson explained that Ross
| talked Spanish quite fluently and
| therefore did the questioning. In]
| his search Ross relieved one of the
men of small automatic revolver.
After talking to them for a fewI
minutes he went over to Ferguson
and declared:
Zone of these fellows seems to be
all right but the other hasn't anyj
passport. I think I'll hustle them
into their machine and take them
in to Cochrane at Westmorland.
eco ahead,' Ferguson said.
Ross climbed into the back seat
of the machine, the two Mexicans
| taking places in the front seat OF
the car, the larger of the two taking
the wheel. They drove off.
About half hour later two men
drove up to the station from the
direction of Westmorland. They
told Ferguson that there was a man
in an automobile, about half way
to Westmorland who was apparently
having hemmorhage of some
kind. They said that there had
been small Mexican there and
that he had got into car with
some people and was driving toward
Westmorland apparently to obtain
aid.
Put Up Fight
Ferguson with Pollard, the service
station man, hoped into a car and
speeded toward Westmorland. Ar
irving at the scene they found Ross
in the back part of the machine.
his head lying over the side of the
car. He was dead.
Ross had apparently put up
battle for his life. Two gashes ON
his head indicated that he had been
struck by blunt instrument. There
were two small bullet holes just
| above the left eye. In. the front
| seat of the machine was found a
32 caliber revolver of make used
| considerably by Mexicans. Fergu-
son said that several such guns had
been taken away from Mexicans
lately by the immigration men.
As near as can be determined the
| Mexicans had the gun hidden in the
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
What's Doing
TONIGHT


Valley theater: MY Best
Girl"
Palace theater: "Dare DEVILS
Reward"
Junior College play, "The
Patsy high school, p. m.
Radio: KGEN, SO p. M.
TOMORROW
Services, all churches.
Baseball: Ell Centre All Stars
VS. Brawley at Brawley, $50.
Valley theater: Old Timer
Program and Beau Sabreur."
Palace theater: Brunk's Come
dians in "Too Much Mother-in-
Law
Radio: KGEN, 1902 p. m.
Golf: Ell Centre VS. Calexico at
Calexico.
MONDAY
History Section, 10000 Club,
meets with Mrs. o. J. Bradshaw,
$50.
P.E.o. luncheon, Las Flores, 1
p. IN.
Masonic luncheon, Hotel Bar
bara Worth.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
Expect Row
With Tilden
by United Press Leased Wire

CHICAGO, Feb. 11.-The annual
meeting of the United States Lawn
Tennis Association here this after
noon gave every indication of be-
coming battle royal between
William 7. Tilden III and the associa.
tion.
Illden's proposal for two Davis
Cup teams, one to play in Europe
and one in America next summer,
won unexpected support, but not IN
way designed to please Tilden.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
Levine's Plane
Has Mishap
by United Press Leased Wire

ROOSEVELT FIELD, N. Y, Feb
A. Levine and Wilmer
Stultz attempted to take off in the
monoplane Columbia for an endur'
ance flight today but the plane
grazed a motor car on the runway
and a tail skid and rudder post
were broken.
The craft had sped some 20C
yards from the starting point be
fore Stultz was forced to swerve
sharply to avoid the automobile.
The flight was postponed until
tomorrow to permit repairs.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
CAR HITS MAN

John Lorenzo. 40, of Fl Centro,
was seriously injured at 2;45 o clock
this afternoon when he walked into
the side of the Southern Pacific
motor train as it was pulling into
the FL Centre depot. He was rush
ed to the FL Centre hospital in n
dazed condition, his head being
badly split.
Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-11
Hurricane Again
Sweeps England
by United Press Leased Wire

LONDON, Feb. 11.-At least one
person was killed, a number we're
injured and many buildings were
damaged by a hurricane that swept
England early today.
Shipping and telephone services
were disrupted. The hurricane
reached a velocity of 104 miles an
hour at Liverpool.