davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
THOMAS LEADS
BALLOT WITH
943POLLED
Downtown Parade IS
Staged Following
Vote Count

Gradually adding Co a Lead of Al
majority for mayor. found in the
first report made by the judges
from the four Brownsville rcxes.
the Rentfro ticket last night gradu-
ally added TO it. lead ln that par
ticular race until final returns given
to The Herald showed Rentfro
elected mayor by majority OK l73
votes. and the entire ticket elected.
Thomas led the entire ticket with
"a majority of 225, with Aldridge
scoring second in this respect with
220. AS the returns we're received,
about every hour. Commissioner
Reed remained the only candidate
with very much doubt as TO election.
He held q consistent lead, but al
ways within easy reaching distance
OF his opponent. COb0lini. until the
final returns showed that he had
emerged with a majority Of IA votes.
This was the only place where AZ
appeared that a final split ticket
might result.
Wards three and four were the
only places. where "a split ticket did
result, and IN each OF those Rentfro
won for mayor by one majority. In
Ward NO. s, the Starck ticket led tn
all the commissioner races. while In
Ward No. 4 Besterio led Desha 257
10 23l. and Schmeling led Thomas
246 20 242.
In rendering this decision at the
ballot box, Brownsville polled the
heaviest vote I'm the history OF the
city the highest count being In the
race between Aldridge and Hinkley
where a total of 1854 votes were
tabulated. This number voted out
Of a possible 2,486.
Final results OF the race were OBJ
tanned about Ill o'clock. An In
tense interest was exhibited by the
public. Although the polls did not
close until " O'Clock calls started
coming into the Herald office nc
$50 o'clock and continued at the
rate of one every ten seconds, with
four telephones In constant use.
BY 8 o'clock a large crowd had
gathered In front of the Herald
building and the results were an
nounced to those waiting. Follow
ing the final announcement OF the
Rentfro ticket as the winner u
downtown parade was staged. with
automobile horns going to resemble
IA New Years night celebration.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
JURY BLAMED

LUBBOCK, Dec. 11-tPy-ATuch
TO his own disgust with the jury.
Clay Lester. convicted Of numbering
hs wife. Virgie. 50, today faced a
term Of 90 years Imprisonment.
Had been sitting on that jury"
Lester said, when the verdict was
read last night. II would either
acquitted the defendant or sent him
to the chair. II was the most cold
blooded murder + ever heard Of.
If I was sane when I committed the
crime. should have been sent, to
the chair"
Testimony at his trial showed
that after shooting his wife. he
pounded her in the face with his
gun. The defense claimed he did
the act under the combined influ-
ence Of drugs. paranoia and jeal-
ousy.
The Jury returned its verdict.
which kept Lubbock county's record
Of mo death penalties" clean. after
six hours deliberation.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
Wife Complains
Of Bunny-Hubby

CHICAGO, Dec. 1l-tPl-Mrs.
Charles Flynn deposes that her
husband liked to think him
self a rabbit. His crying regret
was he couldn't wiggle his ears.
He'd sit on the floor. like a
rabbit, and brush his whiskers.
He'd demand alfalfa for bed
ding. He insisted upon eating
raw carrots.
Mrs. Flynn complained to
Judge Max Luster. She said
she was not temperamentally in
clined to enter into the rabbit
game with enthusiasm. She ex-
pressed the opinion Charles must
have drunk something that did
Mt agree with him.
The court knew Of no place
to put Flynn where his rabbit
habit would find. sympathy, so
he suggested the psychopathic
hospital.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
Wholesale Prison
Break Is ThWarted

HUNTSVILLE, Dec. 11-tPj-Of-
ficials Of the state prison today
started a search for an artist whose
excellent imitation of a building
pier was discovered just in time to
thwart what might have been a
wholesale prison delivery.
The pier. originally Of brick, but
made Of wood in the imitation. was
discovered under the white tuber-
cular building at Wynne farm 1t
had been cleverly painted so that
its presence would not have been
discovered had not officials been
tipped Off a break was planned
and started an intensive search for
the means Of egress.
The pier was hollow. AT one end
was q trap door leading into the
room where three convicts were
lodged.
The tunnel was about fourteen
feet long and four feet wide when
discovered.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
Song Dance ReDue Girls
Burned in Big 7heater Fire

NEW YORK, Dec. li-Fl-Au-
thorities sought 10 learn from sur
vivors today the cause Of the fire
in the Manhattan Film Studio In
which 10 members Of Q talking pic
ture company lost their lives and
1B were injured.
Four Of the dead were chorus
girls in the cast OF a song and
dance revue being filmed by Pathe
Sound Studios, Inc.
The dead: Edna Burford, chorus
girl; Catherine Porter, chorus girl;
Jola Sparks. chorus girl: Norine
Byrne. chorus girl; Joseph Bishoff,
make up man; Charles Koerble,
electrician: Carl Kramer. electri-
clan; Robert NusSman. electrician;
Jack Quinn. property man: and Err
nest Wilson. bookkeeper.
Two theories for tina cause OF the
fire were advanced.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11

IN WeSlaCO.
Trains n Feature
One OF the striking features Of
the birthday party was the two
trains stationed at the intersection
Of the highway and Weslaco's main
street. One train was the first TO
drive into the city ten years ago,
an old S. B. a. r. q. ". engine and
dilapidated coach. while facing il
was a new and powerful M. p. loco
motive with freshly painted cars
Boy Scouts were in the two cabs all
day ringing the bells.
s. Nj. Patterson, secretary OF the
Weslaco Chamber Of Commerce,
stated that the party was a huge
success from every angle, but that
the crowd would have been twice
the size If the weather had not
been cloudy and threatening. APP
proximately 2.5O0 persons we're IN
the town. T. G. Cressner was chair
man OF the committee responsible
for the affair.
HarIingen Winner
During the afternoon Harlingen
high school. Class B district cham
pions. defeated the Robstown Cot
ton -pickers 2l-7 on the Weslaco
high school gridiron.
The days festivities began at 600
a. m. at the Community Playground
the opening features being a cro-
uuet tournament and horse shoe
pitching contest. At 10 o'clock the
town stood in silent prayer for one
minute. giving thanks for Weslaco's
fortunate past and for a bright fu-
ture.
AT one minute after ten. pa
rade circ1ed the town. One OF the
outstanding floats featured huge
birthday cake made Of automobile
tires, wrapped In paper, and giving
the appearance Of a layer cake
II was topped with ten enormous
candles. Another interesting siEnl
was a number Of solid blocks OF
ice. in which had been frozer
oranges and flowers.
Many Speak
Speaking began at 10:45 at the
platform located at Texas boulevard
and Fourth street. The principal
speakers we're Mayor Dave Kirgan
who gave the welcome address. and
Bob Fern. Lon Hill. Luther Hughes
president of the chamber Of com
merce, and A. 3. Carlisle. Rev. w
L. Sheppard delivered the benedic-
tion et 1918.
Between the hours OF 1890 anC
500. when the football game be-
gan, the crowd was entertained bJ
Continued on page 81
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
Full Crew Law Said
Violated BY Railways

AUSTIN. Dec. 1l-fPl-The State
Railroad commission today sent let
ters to officials Of six Texas Rail-
ways asserting those roads were
violating the full crew law as in
terpreted by the Attorney Generals
department.
The fun crew law. as interpreted
by the Attorney General, provides
that each train must have a mini
mum crew Of four. In some in
stances Of one car motor trains,
the train is manned only by a con-
ductor and motorman.
Letters we're sent to Missouri
Pacific. Gulf. Colorado and Santa
Fe. Southern Pacific. Chicago. Rock
Island and Gulf Panhandle and
Santa Fe, and st. Louis Southwest
ern.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
Maurice Costello IN
Suit By Musician

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 1l.-tRl-
Maurice Costello, one-time idol of
Broadway and now gray-haired
member Of Hollywood motion pic
ture veterans ranks, today prepar-
XVI to combat I'm superior court N
500. 900 breach OF promise suit filed
yesterday by Miss Vivienne Sengler.
youthful musician. author and ar
tist
The girl declared they mutually
agreed To be married last April a.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11

witnesses told officials a glowing
spark was seen TO drop from the
carbn Of a sunglow arc-lamp a
moment before a mass OF scenery
and drapes burst into flames They
said the burning particle fell into
a velvet drop.
Peter G. Spence, chief or the fire
prevention bureau Of the fire de-
partment. said he believed the fire
probably was the result OF a cigar
ette.
He said an order for the. INSTALL
alton or q sprinkler system in the
old studio building which Is located
in Harlem at Park Avenue and
l34th street had been issued last
May. but because not more than
five reels Of film we're stored in the
building at one tir1e. the depart
ment was powerless To enforce the
order.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
BEST RULING
MAYOR'SAIM
Possible Changes Tn City
Staff Not Discussed

My sole aim is TO give the city
Of Brownsville the very best govern
ment that I possibly can. and that
is also the aim Of my fellow-com-
missioners." was the gist OF state
ments made by r.. y. Rentfro. VIC
tor in the race for mayor in the
Tuesday election.
II want to thank all those who
voted for me, and who supported
me during my candidacy. and 10
reiterate my promise TO live up to
the platform upon which I made
the race"
Business Stressed
Our object, first and foremost,
as stated in the platform, IL to
give the city a businesslike and
progressive government. AS to our
first actions on taking office, I feel
that ~ Is a little premature 10 dis
cuss them. especially any possible
changes in the personnel Of the
staff employed bv the city, he de-
clared in response to questions as
10 the probability Of a shake-up in
this direction which many have
considered a certain result of the
election, whatever the outcome.
Salient points of the policies out
lined call for holding the city water
and light plants, the employment
Of an efficient and experienced city
manager. taking the Chamber OF
Commerce out or politics. limita-
tion Of issuance OF city warrants,
and regular auditing OF the city
books.
Rentfro declared that as II am
only one Of five. ] do not feel that
I should announce any detailed
program until ! have actually taken
office. and met officially with the
commissioners"
Cole GratIfIed
"I am highly gratified with the
result Of Tuesdays election, not fol
any personal reasons. but because
believe that 1t IS BY far the best
thing for the CITY," Mayor A. B
Cole stated Wednesday morning. ir
commenting on the victory OF n
B. Rentfro in the race for mayor.
IL think that the city will have
two years or harmonious and ef-
ficient government under the adj
ministration Of Mr.. Rentfro and tho
chosen commission as will be highly
conducive to development. NJ
high esteem for the newly elected
Mavor ~ we'll known 20 citizens IL
Brownsville. and 7 am sure that IN
will carry into the handling Of citl
affairs the same interest In tho
advancement or Brownsville. anc
the same conscientiousness which
have characterized him In private
life"
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
Indictment Wording
Wins Man New Trial

AUSTIN, Dec. U.-lFl-Berapse
the indictment stated the defend
ant had voluntarily killed the de-
ceased. instead of using the term
with malice af0rethought." John
Swilley, under life sentence from
Liberty county for the murder OF
TX. J. Hendrix. was granted a new
trial by the court OF criminal ap-
peals today.
Bohbie Davis. ir., given fifteen
years by a Harrison county Jury for
the murder of Chapman FARRELL,
won d reversal The killing occur
red In Pamela county on September
10, 1923.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
ISLAND SOLONS
PROTESTACTION
Next Fortnight May See
Leathernecks
Leaving

WASHINGTON. Dec. 1l-tPl-
Many attorneys Of Port-Au-Prince,
Haiti, have signed a statement char
ging that the deployment Of armed
American forces has thrown the city
into a condition OF agitation and as
serting that they will refrain from
pleading the island courts until "a
new order" has been instituted.
This was reported TO the state de-
partment last night by Brigadier
General John III. Russell. American
high commissioner. who simultane-
ously made a vigorous denial Of the
charges Of the lawyers.
He said that quiet prevailed. with
Continued on page Eight
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
Mad KILLER
TELLSSTORY
OF MURDER
Youths S atem en- t
Gives Gruesome
Details

WAxAHACHIE, Dec. 1l.-tF)-A
purported statement from Herman
Riley. 19. telling how he shot and
killed his father while he slept
shot his mother to death when she
fled. and attempted to kill his
younger brother was in the hands
Of officials today.
Authorities claimed Riley made
and signed the statement in the
presence OF County Attorney "A. ID.
Emerson. his jailer and newspaper
men. In it two motives we're ad-
vanced for the slaying-anger be-
tween father and son and desire
OF the son to obtain the family's
meagre goods.
Prior to the night Of the shoot
ing. the elder Riley reprimanded
Herman for bending a plowshare
against q stump.
Mad at Father
Il got mad at my dad in the
field" the statement said. because
he got mad at me. Ny folks got
along bad was one reason want
ed to kill them"
The murder. according to the
statement, was planned before
hand. Young Riley purchased q
pistol, and Friday night stayed
away. from home until certain his
folks we're asleep. Then he went
into the room where his mother
and father were sleeping.
Shoots Mother
'I bent and struck a match" the
statement said. Ito see how to shoot
and 1t went out. and I got within
about two and one-half or three
feet Of my dad and I shot him IN
the head. Then my mother jump
ed UP and ran into the yard and
when she came back in shot her.
Then I went into the room and
my bud was fixing to get up, and
I shot him and tried to kill him.
He fell off the bed and got my
clothes bloody putting him back"
Walter Riley was shot IN the
face. He is recuperating in a Waxa-
hachie hospital
The statement continued that Ri
ley changes his clothes. hid the
bloody ones and walked several
miles to his uncle's house to re-
port that he had returned home
and found the bodies He was ar
rested when the bloody clothes
were found and identified.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
GRAND JURY
GRINDING ON
Hidalgo Election Pro b e
Enters Third Day
Of Investigation

The federal distric. grand jury
continued TO grind away wednesday
hearing testimony relative to the
November 1928 election in Hidalgc
county. This was the third day that
the grand jury had been at work In
an effort to determine whether there
were irregularities in the hotly
fought ballot.
About 20 witnesses In all were tc
appear before the inquisitorial body
before 1t concluded its deliberations
and returned indictments, II there
are to be any.
Many Testify
No inkling as to what was being
done, or what the trend II the testi-
mony. was allowed TO trickle from
the grand jury room. A number OF
high political powers OF Hidalgo
county has appeared before The body
III indictments are returned. they
will probably be handed TO Judge J.
c. Hutcheson, Jr., late this week.
The investigation is being con-
Quoted by Fred Horowitz. special as
sistant to the u. s. attorney general
who was sent here for that prom
Use.
Bitter Fight
In the election under the scrutiny
OF the grand jury. A. Y. Baker, tic
ket was returned 70 office. Baker
himself, was reelected sheriff The
election was one of the bitterest in
border history. Rangers were sent
by Gov. Moody just before the polls
opened. Since there has been con-
slant wrangle between the admins
trations and proponents OF the
Good Government" league.
The grand jury can act only In a.
far as alleged irregularities affect
ed federal offices.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
Tram Wreck Injuries
20 Persons In Dallas

DALLAS, Dec. l1-sR-Bel1eved
to have struck some metallic OBJ
ject on the track, a twc-car inter-
urban train. bound from Fort Worth
to Dallas jumped the rails two miles
west Of Dallas last night. Twenty
people were injured, four seriously.
Nineteen Of the injured were
brought to hospitals in Dallas by
ambulances rushed TO the scene. One
woman returned TO Fort Worth, only
slightly injured.
Belief the train was thrown from
the tracks by some object on the
tracks was expressed by motorman
J. S. Joyce of Handley.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
HUNDLEYLEADS
AT HARLINCEN
All Incumbents Reelected To
Office In Hot
Campaign

HARLINGEN. Dec. 1.-THE Har-
lingen city commission seeking re-
election was successful today, with
w. M. Hundlev receiving 544 votes
J. NJ. Green 4S4. r. b. Hamilton SOL
The others running for the city
commission were ID. N. Day, who re-
ceived 395 votes. Ira ELS. $40, and
Gerold McKenna. 3l6. j. M. Palmer
got As votes and w. l.. Moody polled
so.
The votes polled were unusually
large in number. and the election
was one Of the hottest HarlIngen has
experienced in many years.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11

tineers. had been slain, while re-
naming members OF the little group
Of desperadoes remained barricaded
in the back hall of the prison. sur
rounded by hundreds OF state troop
ers. National Guardsmen and city
police.
The known dead were principal
keeper George "A. Durnford. slain at
the outbreak Of the rnutiny. and
Henry Sullivan. convicted in Erie
county OF robbery. Sullivan was
serving an original sentence Of 90
to 2l years. later heightened after
he had escaped from Auburn pris-
on early this year. Two slain con-
victs we're not identified.
Three guards were wounded one
probably fatally, during the battle
which resulted in the rescue Of the
warden and the guards
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
Rate Hike Seen

WASHINGTON. Dec. ll.-tR)-
Predicting attempts by railroads TO
increase their valuations and ulti-
mately their freight rates. Senator
Howell, republican. Nebraska. today
introduced a resolution proposing
that congress sanction the valuation
methods Of the Interstate Com
merce Commission which were null
lifted BY the supreme court In the
famous o'Fallon decision.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
Texas, Wool, Mohair
Still Unsettled

SAN ANGELO Dec.ll-lPl-Texas
wool and mohair warehouse repre-
sentative. at the national conven-
ton Of wool growers here at which
the national marketing association
10 cooperate with the federal farm
board was formed, today appeared
as far as ever from agreeing with
the cooperative. although they were
on record as approving It ideal.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
Cotton Marketing
MAY Follow Grain

MEMPHIS, Dec. ll-tP The
evening Appeal says today 1t has
learned decision has been made az
the cotton congress TO organize a
government controlled, centralized
cotton marketing agency. similar 20
the grain organization in the west.
Three federal farm board men,
bers met with $50 representatives Of
the cotton industry in executive ses-
sion and discussed the proposed or
Canization.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
Three False Alarms
Attend Elections

Outside Of three wrecks and three
false alarms. Brownsville's election
Tuesday was one Of the Quietest
ever held, according to police.
No one was injured In the wrecks
and only small damage was done to
cars
Evidently ceIebrants took to yank-
ing fire alarm boxes to express their
pent-up feelings. Three alarms
came in after midnight.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
Board Splits On Site
For Proposed Pen

AUSTIN, Dec. ll-tPl-The prison
Capitalization commission will re-
commend three sites To the legis-
lature for construction Of the pro-
posed new central pentientlary
plant.
There will be two minority re-
concentrations, one proposing re-
Mobilization or the walls at Hunts
vile, and the second supporting the
Imperial farm. twenty miles south CT
Houston. for the new prison
The tcur members not coinciding
with the ma jority. which favors a
site with twenty miles OF Austin,
the State Capital. were divided two
and two.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
Man Leaps To Death
From High Bridge

CLEVELAND. Dec. ll.-tPl-A
man identified as James w. NauEh-
ton. assistant cashier of the U. a.
Fidelity and Guaranty company
leaped % his death from the high
level bridge here today. Tie plung-
ed 10 feet to a pavement.
The death leap was made within
view NJ hundreds of motorists cross
inc the bridge
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
Youth Robs Bank

KANSAS CITY. Dec. 1l-[Pl-
Armed with "a sawed off shotgun
a young unmasked man today rob-
bed the Blue Valley Bank OF Leeds
Mo. a suburb, OF approximately
$1,000. locked five persons in the
vault, and escaped in sn automo-
bile.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
Prison Mutiny Downed
Second Uprising In Six Months Spreads Terror
Throughout Auburn Pen

AUBURN ". Y, Dec lFor the time within months
desperate convics Auburn Prison
tinted today death throughout the
whom they held
Within four hours Warden Edgar
had been snached safety by behind
Including
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
$500 in WesIaco Fete
Many Entertainment Features Turn Streets
Into Gala Attraction For Hours

wESLACO, 1-Youhfl weaco playful its tenth BIRTH
celebrated December 10th with speeches. dances music contests
games.
The atractrey palm Valley
district oped off allow the
establishment
profusely restricted
iees and Jams made
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
THE WEATHER

For Brownsville and the Valley
Partly cloudy to fair and continued
mild temperature tonight and Thurs
day. Increasing southerly winds on
the west coast probably becoming
fresh.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11
TIDE TABLE

TIDE TABLE
High and low tide at Point Isabel
tomorrow, under normal meterolo-
Rical conditions:
High ........ i:39 .. m: ll:46 .. m.
Low ...... 6:32 a. m; $50 y. m
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-11

RIVER FORECAST
There will be no material change
in the river during the next few
days.
Flood Present I4-Hr. 2A-Er