davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1930-01-04
Indict Pair For
Shooting Officer

SACRAMENTO, Jan. 4. U.P-In-
dictment of Mr.. and Mrs. South of
Napa on charges of asaulting a fed
eral officer with a deadly weapon
while making a raid under search
warrant is expected Monday, fol
lowing federal grand jury session
here last night.
Witnesses were presented before
the jury who told that Robert D.
Freeman, federal agent, was shot
during a raid on the South ranch
near Napa Sunday. 1t was alleged
that South started to destroy some
liquor and Freeman tried TO pre-
vent it. In the fight that resulted
South is alleged to have fired two
shots into Freeman's body.
Mrs. South was also declared to
have fired one shot from a double
barreled shotgun. Freeman is still
in critical condition at n Napa hos.
pital.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-01-04
OFFICIAL TELLS
new ANGLE IN
TAYLOR DEATH
Continued From Page One)

CONTINUED From Page One)
ton with Peavey's statement tc
Buron Fits. district attorney at Los
Angeles if requested to do so.
The official saiG 7eavey's account
Of what happened the night of the
ourder was approximately as fol
lows:
I went to Mr.. Taylor's home
bout o'clock in the evening, tc
heck out for the day, as was Gust
omary.
Clearing loud voices which l rec
.gnizod as those of Taylor and -
naming person prominent in mo
ion picturesl, l remained outside
the door.
al stood there tc4' 10 minutes, lis
tening TO the furiously angry voices
berating Taylor. didn't want tc
wait any longer because / had ar
engagement downtown, so knocked
on the door and opened it.
ain the room | saw Taylor and
-, whose voice / had recognized
told him l was leaving for the
pht, and closed the door and wen,
out.
"raylor driver told me later
hat he Lad telcphoned from down
.own as usual at 7:oO p. m. He re-
.eived no response to the call. Ar.
living at the Taylor house, he found
dark and got no response to rings
1t the doorbell."
Time Of Crime Fixed
This would seem to fix the time
If the shooting at between 1:lO p
n. when Peavey left, and the as
erted furious quarrel was in pro,
ress, and 7:2Q p. m, when Tavlor's
.hauffeur telephoned.
Douglas Mac Lean, motion picture
comedian and occupant Of an ad'
dining bungalow in the same court,
estified at the inquest that he had
teard a noise like 4 muffled shot
at about that hour.
This was corrobOrated by Edna
7urviance, former leading lady for
'harlie Chaplin, who also lived in
he picturesque court on Alvarado
treet.
Peavey asserted that he heard
,nough of the quarrel to establish
motive for the murder.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-01-04

weight champion Of the U. s. Navy,
challenged the winner. Dado accept.
ed after the fight and the boys will
put on the main event here next
week.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-01-04
Bandit Charges
Against Youths

SANTA BARBARA, Calf, Jan.
4. U.H-Two youths charged with
attempting to hold up q drug store
in Los Angeles last night were ar
rested by authorities here today.
According TO deputy sheriffs the
pair set out for San Francisco by
motor coach after they were chased
away from the store when one of
them was wounded
A telephone call from Los Ang-
eles led to their intereeption. Police
said the bandits went into the drug
store Of l.. B. Weeks in Los Angeles
and ordered him to give them all the
money in the cash register.
Weeks had a revolver near the
register and he picked the weapon
up and opened fire. His first shot
struck one of the pair in the arm
and both fled from the store.
The wounded bandit was identi.
fled as Joe Carlton, 20, and his com
panion as Robert Cunningham, 90.
They win be returned to Los Ang.
eles tonight.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-01-04
YOUNG PLANNING
ACTION AGAINST
OIL TAX FRAUDS

LOS ANGELES, Jan. i. U.H-
Governor c. c. Young has asked the
state equalization board for all data
which may bear on the alleged gas
tax fraud, asserted to have cheated
the state out of three to five mil
lion dollars in the last fiscal year
That body is charged with the
responsibility Of administering the
law under which the tag ieries Gre
made.
BY reporting gasoI.ne as shipped
outside the state which in realty
was consumed within the state. and
therefore subject to three cent tax
on each gallon, several oil companies
assertedly avoided tax payments.
The investigation ordered by the
governor is expected to lead to the
criminal prosecution Of those respon
sible for the alleged fraud, and
civil suits to collect the loss to the
state through the manipulations.
Rumors Of "oil seandal,o origin.
ating following the indictment by
the Los Angeles county grand jury
Of four oil men, have been prevail.
ent since the jury'a report Deeem.
Der 81.
The four men under bond facing
charges OF evading the gas tax arc
Glenn A. Smith, general manager OF
the Export Petroleum Company
j. \. Austin, and Warren G. Bacl
oil brokers and Jack Allen.
No QuashInx
Thus far investigation has cen.
tered about small companies. The
larger companies including Stand.
ard, Richfield. Associated, General
and Shell have volunteered assis
tance with the statement that they
would welcome the investigation.
81 am told that an attempt has
been made, or will be made to try
to quash any investigation Of this
natter Governor Young said. cit
is needless to say that no influence
and no consideration will be effec.
tive in preventing thorough sud
complete investigation
Buron Fits, Los Angeles district
attorney, declared that he has not
been approached either directly or
indirectly in regard - qIashinc
these cases.
Governor Young will leave to-
night for Sacramento where he will
confer with u. s. Webb. states at.
torney, concerning the 1urported
frauds.
:
Imperial Valley press., 1930-01-04
Court Learns
Who Is Boss

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4. U.D--
Superior Judge John L. Fleming
was peeved, and said so, when he ap-
peared in court in boots and hik-
ing clothes to be confronted hv
nine pairs Of silk stockings an"
French heels
The jurist had ordered nine WON
en- jurors to come to court yester
day in hiking shoes and breeches
because OF an inspection trip to San
Gabriel river bed in connection
with 4 condemnation suit they were
hearing.
~ ought to fine you all for con-
Tempt the judge said.
81 hate hiking elothes,'' one
spoke for all
And that seemed to settle it, so
today there are French heel marks
in the San Gabriel river bed.
Three men iurors wore hiking
shoes.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-01-04
Norma Shearer
In n eW Film

Their Own DESIRE, sta.rinr
Norma Shearer. with an excellent
supporting cast, comes to Fox I'm
perial theater as the Sunday attrac
',on, offering 4 wide variety G. en-
tertainment TO picture patrons.
There Own nesire,' relates tn,
-oac:ion OF n thoroughly modern girl
When she finds her father is ready
to t.s card her mother in favor OF
another and younger woman. An un
expected complication arises wher
the girl falls in love with the sol
ot her fathers new flame. Al! the
parents oppose their desire TO get
married and the opposition results
n a near tragedy which finally
traightens out difficulties all
-ound.
Pelle Bennett, Lewis Stone, Ro
ert Montgomery, Helene Millard
une Nash, Mary Doran and Henry
Herbert are in the supporting east
Tonight Hoot Gibson, famous
western star, in an all talking thrill
cr Of the good old type, is booked
for the Imperial. "Courtin Wild
ats is the name of the film. From
wild rider, Hoot has graduated to
wild auto driver and is alsG Ii
.ensed paine pilot, but limits his
vlldness in the current picture to
ONE high and mighty ear driving
Imperial Valley press., 1930-01-04
OFFICERS OF
KIWANlS CLUB
DULY INSTALLED

The installation of new Officers
dor the coming year occupied the
attention of the kiwanis club at IT.
regular meeting yesterday noon
With Dave Roberts, lieutenant gov.
ernor for the Eleventh district
Which embraces San Diego and the
Imperial Valley sections, as install
ing officer, the ceremony was well
carried out.
The following were installed as
officers: Sem Bacon. president
William Reid, vice president: Her
lert Anderson, secretary, and Roy
Nomack, treasurer. \ board of d.
lectors was also installed.
Roberts installed each officer sep.
arately aud outlined to each one the
york he is expected to do both with.
an the organization and the com
naunity. Much credit is due Roberts
for the splendid manner in which
he presided over the installation
ceremony.
The newly elected president in
accepting his office, thanked his
fellow members for the honor they
had conferred upon him ana asked
for the undivided assistance ot each
,nember in order that 1880 might be
nnc of the best years for kiwanis.
lie closed his acceptance speech by
:ppointing his committees for the
year.
Earl Jones. retiring president, Phil
liodgkin, retiring secretary and
Julia Foncannon We're each present
ed with suitable gifts and they re
sponded with appropriate speeches
Of acceptance. Jones told the mem
aers that he was greatly elated over
the able assistance which had been
given him during the year and that
,e was convinced much, would Be
accomplished during the coming
tenn.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-01-04

The highest grade cow in Kings
county in November yielded s2.i
pounds OF butterfat while the
highest purebred gave only GA
rounds.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-01-04
Huge Crowd
Sees Fights
Continued From Page 81

CONTINUED From Page o.
towel relieved the referee Of the ne
eessity of making count.
Canada and Mexico made it an
International affair in the special
vent when jock MeLoughGn and
reo. Munson put on their bout. 1t
vas MeLoughlin's scrap all through
md had his timing been better the
crap would have ended long before
the fifth round. Jock was too anx-
ions and missed many chances to
nut over the haymaker. He floored
Munson twice in the second round
md the Mexican scrapper was dazed
throughout the remainder of the al
air. A hard right to the jaw put
lin out one minute and 50 seconds
ter the opening of the fifth round.
The preliminary between Matio
aihoney and Joe Abendino furn-
she'd plenty Of excitement for the
FANS. eagerly awaiting the main
vent. 1t served as an appetizer for
the big dish. Both boys were will
ng and fought until both were SO
tired they could hardly swing mitt.
Maihoney won the decision although
he took plenty of punishment during
the four rounds. ..
Between Rounds
What n mob. By Sis every seat
vas taken except those at ringside.
Even the aisles We're preempted by
the crowd. g..
When the first bout opened there
WIS not an empty seat in the arena.
Outside an equally large crowd
sought in vain to gain entrance.
Rumor has it that close to thous,
and were turned away.
No "Knockouts" sold last night
but the pop dispensers did rushing
business before the scraps started.
The crowd was extremely orderly
while waiting for the opening gong
and waited patiently for the menu
TO be dished up.
Abendino is sure a tough hombre.
He took enough punishment to put
down an ordinary serapper but every
time waded right in for more.
Mclaughlin wouldn't hit Munson
when the Mexican was against the
ropes. He had chances twice, but
SAILED and let Munson get away.
Referee Bill Taeket retired after
the second bout, due to illness, and
was succeeded by Bill Lorenz Of Ca
lexico.
The greeting given Dado when ht
entered the ring was unexpectedly
calm, and not what champion j,
accustomed to hearing.
A barrage Of cushions greeted the
close of the bouts, expressing the JOY
of the Filipino customers. No one
was injured in the exchange however
and so the evening was voted sue
cess.
Valentine jumped about the ring
as if on wires. He made many mo
tions which did not mean so much
but furnished some extra amusemen,
TO the crowd.
All during the preliminary, the
fans kept time with each blow with
piercing screams which could have
been heard in the next county. Blow
scream, ow-scream, just like an
echo.
Majhonoy and Abendino develop
ed system all their own. Eacf
would grab the other around the
neck and then sock. Exciting, bu,
hardly according to Hoyle.
just before the main event II wal
announced that Jimmy Lucas. fly
Imperial Valley press., 1930-01-04
Prince OF Wales
Gets Seasick

ABOARD THE s. 8. KENIL-
WORTH CASTLE. AT SEA, Jan. 4.
The Prince of Wales as well as
half of his fellow passengers enroute
TO Africa failed to appear in the din
ing room for luncheon today as the
Wentworth Castle tossed in 40
mile headwind.
Spray was flying over the ships
bow as she backed the wind and
the pitching and rolling affected the
appetities Of most of the passengers.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-01-04
Girls Accuse
Army Officer

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. UP
Lieutenant Colonel Frederick ]. Os-
termann of the California national
guard will face court procedure on
January Il, on charges based on the
asserted annoyance Of tive, ljvcar-
old girls.
Ostermann was arrested Thursday
after Kathleen Molineauy and Be.
atrice Bressi told police that the
army officer followed them from a
motion picture theater here, and
tried to entiee them to enter his
machine.
Major General John l.. Hines has
ordered military investigation Of
the charges against Ostermanu.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-01-04

70-Horsepo,rer, Studebaker- Built
Motor-II4-inch Wheelbase-MO-
tor Cushioned in Live Rubber-Neso
Burgess Acoustic Muffier-Lan-
chester Vibration Danapcr-Double-
Drop Frame-Nes0 Type Erskine-
Bendix DuO-ServO FOur-WheeJ
Brakes-Timken Tapered Roller
Bcarings-AdjustabLe Front Seat
and Steering Colunn-Chronium
Plating-lO Miles Per Hour Eoen
When NEW.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-01-04
THIRD DEATH IN BOMBING

WASHINGTON, Jan. /. W.P)-
The death toll in the New Years
day "gift bomb' outrage at Seat
Pleasant, Nd, capital suburb. was
increased to three today when
Dorothy Hall, 4, died at Sibley hos
n'tal. Her sister, Mrs. Naomi Hall
Brady, IS, and brother, Samuel
Hall, 10 months, are to be buried
near Mitchellville, Nd, this after
noon
Imperial Valley press., 1930-01-04
Pasadena Paper
Wins State Gun

Los ANGELES, Jan. / U.P'-At-
fractivenes and content of the edi.
torial page Of the Pasadena Star
News have won for it this year the
cup awarded by the California
chamber of commerce among news
papers outside the metropolitan
dailies of the state.
The ward. Won last year bv the
San Bernardino Sun, was based on
newspapers of November 90.
Newspapers whose editorial pages
received honorable mention were the
Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Long
Beach Press Telegram and the Stock
ton Record.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-01-04
MISS BLUETT DIES

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4 U.H' -
Funeral services will be held nere
Monday for Miss Alice P!uett.
member of the pioneer family when
established the firm Of Mullen rnd
Rluett. Miss Pluett. native NJ Lo-
Angeles, died in San Diego after sne
suffered a paralytieal stroke
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-07

"Here the chief bids the dancers halt. He
breaks into a sort of chant exhorting his fol-
lowers, suppose, not to lose faith Then he
gives the signal, and the long line of dancers
follows him into the pit without evincing the
slightest hesitation
II must confess that my heart skipped a
beat as watched those bare feet come in con-
tact with the rocks. had been told that no
special preparations were used on the feet and
I have reason to believe this. In fact, looked
at the feet Of several Of the dancers before
they entered the pit. They certainly bore no
traces OF any special treatment, being merely
tough skinned feet such as one might expect
any savage to possess.
Without once ninching, the dancers entered
the pit behind their chief circled IL once at
q slaw jog, then returned to earth watched
carefully, half expecting to see the dancers
writing IN pain. But not one of them gave
his feet so much rs glance and certainly
none Of them was suffering pain.
"The dance ended the tribesrnan closed Che
ceremony by throwing woven bands Of twigs
over the pit, burying the rocks Why this Is
done no one Is quite certain least of all the
sayages, It has always been done; It is done
today.
"One Of the dancers caught my attention
through an exceptional grace of movement
through my interpreter pointed this dancer
out TO the chief, and was amazed to learn that
had been watching girl walk the hot rocks.
.fIt was the first time in the memory of the
oldest tribesman that Q woman had dared to
take part In the fire dance. Not only had no
woman ever dared, but none would have been
given the permission had she dared This girl
however. was the daughter Of . chief and
direct descendant Of the ancient chief who
won the regard Of the god She had expressed
desire to dance the IRE dance and, knowing
Of her noble birth. the chief felt iuarelied tn
grant her wish and did So
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-07
Barefoof
OverHot K ocks,
Without Burning
or BHstering the
Feet, Stills the
Greatest Faith Test
for FIJI Islanders.


Nor Tan the oldest tribesman tell of GER
tainty just what the great favor was, although
he will spin a yarn if yarn is desired. The
fact remains, however, that the legend has per-
sisted up through the ages
Whether it is remnant Of some ancient
Hindu law, or whether the ancient Hindu Law
is an outgrowth of a still more ancient custom
of the South Sea savages, is a problem for
anthropologists to puzzle over.
The legend is that the god. desiring to repay
the chiefs favor, said:
From now until the end of all things,
you shall be free from the pains of fire, and
your chiidren's children shall also be free, if
they walk the fire with faith" %
So the god showed the chief just how to
prove faith by the ordeal of the hot rocks,
which in after years developed into the pic
turesque fire dance. &a
"a PIT perhaps II feet wide is dug In the
EARTH" related Pillsbury "This hollow
is Allied with wood and a fire started The fire
is permitted to burn until the pit becomes
blazing inferno.
"As the flames mount upward tribesmen toss
rocks into the pit, few at time so as not to
disturb the fire. The rocks gradually become
glowing hot.
when the heat of the rocks reaches the de-
sired point and the dance is about to begin,
the savages reach into the pit with long pliable
roots and looped like hairpins and jerk out all
loose limbs. These would impede the progress
of the dancers.
Nov the pit presents glowing surface of
hot rocks. not unlike a gigantic charcoal
brazier. Below the rocks the fire still burns.
and the smoke creeps upward between them.
The rocks are terriically hot.
3.
"MY effort to pick up one Of them half an
hour after the dance resulted in scorched
fingers .ar1
IT tossed bits Of wood onto the rocks and
watched them reduced to ashes within Q few
minutes e.t-t s"e
"The rhythmic beat Of tom-toms marks the
beginning Of the dance It is the barbaric or
chestral prelude to this strange rite
Next the dancers come bursting from a
nearby wood. They are CARRIED In gorgeous
tribal costumes, fashioned from thin strips of
some sort Of bark and colored Their bodies
swaying in harmony with the native drums,
they advance to the edge OF the smoking pit.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-07
AFy in the Ointmens.

he youngster who shudders at the thought
OF cod liver oil can find q great deal of
satisfaction In the reports of production for the
Quarter ending September 30, for during that
time there were only 266,775 pounds manufac-
sured. while the consumption was well over
S010DOO pounds, but lest he be too eneaureaed
ny these figures the reports 60 stiN farther and
indicate more than 100000 pounds in storage.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-07

MOVING my story would be accepted In
some quarters with an uplifting Of eye
brows, photographed the feet of the IRE
dancers. In fact. I tried every test that I
could think Of
But there simply was no answer to It all
Perhaps those savage dancers. with their primi-
tive mentaiities, have been able to bring their
faith to the point where fire win not burn
them.
Suffice it to say that no participant In the
nre dance was burned nor had any been burned
In the memory Of the oldest tribesman
The riddle of the South Seas remaiss a
riddle still"
Walking through fire is very ancient ordena
ana many variations Of the practice have been
known. None of the recorded incidents. how
ever, served to throw any light on the Mbengha
incidents observed by Pillsbury. A good many
OF them are legendary and no actual data can
pe mad But In many cases fake appears likely
In Bulgaria fire walkers called Nistarines stiN
perform the rite but at its conclusion they
place their feet in mud puddles to lessen the
pain and counteract the effects of the burns.
Among savages walking through fire is some
times done after gradual course of toughening
the skin as test of religious zeal Probably
the pain Is mitigated by producing a sort Of
frenzy In the subjects. hut it is there and the
terrible burns which result are no less real for
being undergone with fortitude In the case Of
the Mbenghas no effect Of fire was discernibIe
despite close examination
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-07

-she came on with flying coIors, too. tust
as did the men"
If this was surprise to Pilisbury he was due
for greater one. Before the twigs were cast
upon the hot rocks the chief offered to lead
him across that blistering surface
"If the white man will take my hand" said
the chief through the interpreter, land have
great faith, he win be able to walk the rocks
without injury He would be the first white
man to accomplish this feat"
PILLsBURY politely but emphaticalIy de-
ciined. In the beginning his trained mind
had suspected trickery. and he had inves.i-
gated the rocks very carefully They were
hotter than the surface of a kitchen range
at dinner time. His faith, therefore, was not
equal to the test. Sorrowfully. but very prompt
ly, he declined the honor
Now that the dance was ended Pillshury
went about the business Of examining the soles
OF the dancers feet. Permission to do this was
readily granted by the chief. In fact no OBJ
stacles were placed in the way Of Piisbury's
investigation. He was welcome to make any
test his mind might DEVISE
His examination told him nothing. He knew
that even tough skin will Scorch as viii leather
or green hide But there was not the slightest
mark on any one of those dark-skinned feet
to indicate that they had, but q moment be-
fore. walked on rocks hot enough to burn q
steak to . crispI
There was no trickery In this dance and
III stake my reputation on It," declared Pills
bury. 7 can give no logical explanation of
the Fijians' ability to perform the feat save
that of the chief.
Faith was his explanation. II there n
better one. no one has been able to End IL.
least Of all myself
Il honestly believe the chief thought I my
self could walk across that pit barefoot and
escape without q burn. But there was no such
faith in my being-not after had completed
my tests. Nor had any other white man ever
essayed the feat, to the best Of my knowledge.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-07

CIENCE has failed in an effort to solve
' the mystery Of q savage pageant Of
the South Seas known IS the Fire
i Dance.
~ Just why certain tribe of Fijians