davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-19
DOOMED PRISONER
TAKES HIS LIFE

SAN QUENTIN PRISON, Cal,
July 10. W.H-William cred y
,O'Brien, Oakland bank bandit un-
der sentence to hang Friday, July
%, was found dead in his cell early
today.
1t was assumed the bandit had
taken poison. An inquest will be
held later in the day, prison authori-
ties said.
The bandit was stretched on the
bunk of his compartment in death
row. Prison officials, while not de
nving that O'Bricn committed sui
eide. declined to make any state
ment until after an inquest.
O'Rrien, it IS thought, took his
life during the night. just one week
before he was TO follow his two
pals in banditry up the Is steps TO
San Quentin s gallows.
O'Brien was not a morose pri-
soner, and the fact that he probably
committed suicide was the occasion
of much surprise. Another puzzling
factor is how poison possibly could
have been smuggled into the closely
guarded death row. a section isolated
from the general cell blocks.
Louis Laruras and George Costel-
10, companions of o 'Brien, were exc
cuted several months ago. The trio
was convicted of the murder of Will
liam MacFarland. Oakland bank tel
Ter. who was killed while O'Brien,
Costello and La2uras held up
bank in whicl, ne was employed
Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-19
MINE BLAST INVESTIGATION
AWAITS CLEARANCE OF GAS

LIVERMORE. Calf, July 10.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. waited today
for the poisonous gases that swirled
through the tunnel of the Hetch
Hetchy water project to clear be-
fore descending into the cavern
which l2 men were killed last
Thursday by an explosion that
rocked the countryside.
Before the onslaughts of deter
mined rescue workers the cavity
had surrendered all of the dead.
Many theories were put forward
in an effort to place cause for the
blame. Four miners who had en-
tered the tunnel shortly after the
explosion testified before Edward
q. Allen, attorney for the state in
dustria, accident commission.
These men declared they had
found the safety lamp of John Mic
hols, shift boss who perished with
the rest of the crew, broken with
Il large hole in the glass.
This led to the belief that a sud
den burst of gas had crashed the
glass and been quickly ignited by
the flames.
IL was also pointed out that a
spark from an uncovered machine
Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-19
Appoint Roster
To Grape Board

WASHINGTON, July 10. W.H-
Selection of Frederick X. Roster,
San Francisco, as the twenty first
director in the proposed cooperative
organization of the California grape
industry was approved today by
the federal farm board.
1t also announced that headquar-
tcrs for the new organization will
be established at San Francisco.
Twenty other directors have al
ready been named, divided equally
between the fresh and raisin grape
growers of California.
In telegram to Roster, c. G.
league, federal farm board mem
Der, urged his acceptance of the di-
rectorship and said the problem of
organizing the grape industry pre-,
sented great difficulty because of
factions in the industry.
league added that a man of out
standing ability whose fair-minded-
ness will be recognized by all fac
tions is required and he said Kos
ter's selection was "a most happy
ona" The appointment will be-
come effective when the grape or
eanization is established after 50
per cent of the California growers
have signed membership papers.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-19
Crack Sprinters
Will Head Card
At Jockey Club

Aqua CALIENTE, Baja Cahfor-
mia, July l9.-leaded by Baron
Longs flcct-footcd California-bred
youngster Ervast, practically all OF
the crack sprintcrs racing here at
the summer meeting of the Aqua
Caliente Jockey club, are to head
line the Sunday card in the two fea-
ture events, the second stake race
If the meeting, the Zaragosa Claim
ing Stake, and the Montczuma Han
dicap. They will both be over a
distance of six furongs.
The handicap, with c. i. Irwin 5
great lronsides, that sold for Sloo,-
600 as Il youngstcr, asking for
weights to be pitted against the
Long Streak of Tightening, and
either speedstcrS, such as Good and
Hot, Nusakan, Seth S Hope and sun
spero, in the cards as starters, prom
iscs TO outshinc, in the matters of
"class,' the Xaragosa Eleven IN
all are expected to face the starter
In the opinion of Walter Fenwick,
trainer for the Baron Long stable,
Ervast is once again in prime con
dition and quite willing to meet all
comers. The horse which local clock
crs have nicknamcd "Thc Western
Extcrminator stepped ON a stone
shortly before the summer meet
opened, right at the time when he
was keyed up to concert pitch.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-19
SEARCH UNDERWAY
FOR CUNMAN WHO
shot AT OFFICER

san BERNARDINO, Calf, July
10. U.P)-A widespread manhunt
was in progress today for the gun
men who attempted to assassinate
Charles w. Hunt, 80, city traffic
officer, last night by the Chicago
method of putting him on the
spot"
Hunt was lured by a hoax let
ter to the outskirts of the city, and
while he waited there an automo-
bile sped past and n machine gun
opened fire. One of the bullets
pierced his abdomen, and physicians
at hospital here were doubtful if
he will survive.
1t was believed that the intend
ed Staying of Hunt was to be an
object lesson to prevent other Off
GERS from molesting rum runners
between here and Los Angeles. The
letter to Hunt. found in his door
yesterday morning, Informed him
that cargo of liquor was to enter
San Bernardino in a large car by
way of Rialto, place near here.
Los Angeles authorities joined in
the search for the machine gunners.
They fired at Hunt for $50 yards
after passing him, but only one
bullet struck him, many others
lodging in his motorcycle.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-19
Mentally Sick
| College Youth
Returned Home

Los ANGELES, July 10. U.P)-
Bernard Swalley, 81, the ''mentally'
sick college student who wrote ex-
tortion letters to Mrs. F. ". En-
cry, wealthy San Marino woman,
was on his way back to his parents
in Birmingham, Ala, today.
EXtortion charges against the
former Pasadena student were dis
missed in superior court here upon
motion of the prOsecutionr but an
insanity complaint was held in force
until word was received of his safe
arrival.
Aliensts who examined him re-
ported he was "mentally sick but
not dangerously insane"
Swalley wrote two letters to Mrs.
Emery, demanding money on
threats of death and destruction of
her home. He said he wanted the
money to continue his studies.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-19

SUFFERss
IN EAST
Excessive July Weather
Extends From East To
Middlewest.
Sc V Err AL DEATHS
Principal Crop Damage
Reported In Illinois;
Drought Ruins Corn.
By United Press

An exclusive July heat wave, ex-
tending from the eastern coast to
the Rocky mountains and apparent
" centering in four mid-western
states, brought suffering today to
millions of people.
In Southern California n six-day
heat wave apparently was ending,
in the Rock mountain regions cool
weather prevailed, the extreme
south enjoyed a moderate but not
unseasona bic heat wave, and in
the east, southeast and midwest
the situation was severe.
The only deaths reported were
in the east, principally in Massa-
chusetts, but scores of prostratiOns
were reported in Iowa, Missouri,
Kansas and Illinois where the wave
semeed to center.
The principal crop damage was
reported in Illinois, where long
drought and the intense heat of
this and last week caused corn to-
shrivel up in the fields. Crop dam
age also was reported in other
north-central states and in Canada.
Rhode Island and Maine also re-
ported drownings. One occurred
in each state yesterday.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-19
COMRADES ACCORD
FINAL TRIBUTE To
NOTED AIR PILOT
Graham's Ashes Scattered
over Mountains He
Crossed So Often.

LOS ANGELES, July 10. (U.P-
Maury Graham sped through the
early morning hours today ON his
last airmail run across the noun
tains between Los Angeles and Salt
Lake City.
Somewhere along the route, Fred
w. Kelley, Graham IS best friend,
reached for n little urn entrusted to
him as the mail was loaded. He
opened the urn and scattered the
ashes of his fallen wingmatc to the
friendly winds.
Kelley's last service to his com
radc was shroudcd in the peaceful
gloom of Il summer night, far diff
fercnt from the angry storm through
which Graham flew to his death
across the same mountains last Jan
rary. The plane sailed evenly along
its route in contrast TO the blizzard
that sent Graham s ship crashing to
earth.
Graham, unhuft by the forced
landing, died from exposure when
he was unable to reach civilization.
His body, still encascd in a heavy
flying suit, was found in secluded
dell near Cedar City, Utah, and
brought back to Los Angeles for the
final homage of his fellow pilots.
Funeral services for the flyer nj
Wee Kirkc o the Heather yesterday
were attended by Mrs. Graham and
her two small children, whose wish
it was that Graham's ashes be of
fered to the mountains he crossed
so often in his years as a Western
Air Express pilot. Fellow aviators
of the airline paid a final tribute
to Ora ham when they scared their
planes high over his funeral cortege,
cut their motors, and glidcd for
minute in silence.
Graham, one of the noted World
War pilots, died last January but
his body was not located until tins
week. His wrecked plane, its T3oo,,
600 mail cargo intact, was found
three weeks ago, five miles from In"
body.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-19
PETITION
GIVEN TO COURT

san FRANCISCO, July 10. U.H)
With the pardon petition of War
rem X. Billings in their hands,
justices of the state supreme court
today planned conference Monday
10 discuss their right to consider
the case.
Billings. convicted with Tom Moo
nev of the Preparedness Day bomb
ing of 1916 and now serving life in
Folsom prison, requested the court,
through his attorney, Edwin Mcken-
zie, to revise their recent recommea-
dation against his pardon. He
further asked that they hear the
testimony of John Macdonald, ad-
mittcd pcrjurcd. now cnroute t.
California, whose statements at the
trial helped send him and Mooney
to prison.
Members of the court declared
they were not prepared to state what
their actions would be on rehcar-
ing of the Billings application. They
pointed out that the ease was eN-
tremelv unusual and that there were
not sufficient provisions under the
California laws 90 cover the situ1-
ton.
Governor G. G. Young refused to-
dav to discuss the case of Mooney
and Billings until Macdonald had
arrived within the state.
The petition attacked the supreme
court 5 stand that if Mooney and
Billings did not plant the bomb they
knew who did and further charged
that the conviction was based ON
false testimony during the trial.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-19
TYPHOON DEATH
TOLL MOUNTING

SHIMONOSEKI, Yamaguchi. July
10. U.P,-The death toll was mount
ing rapidly as the typhoon that yes
terday struck Korea and the island
of Kyushu, south Of here, continued
20 devastate the countryside.
The typhoon, which already has
killed more than 100 persons, was
reported to have arrived in the Wei
nifty of Nladivostok. Scores were
reported missing, and property dam
noe was estimated at many thou
sands in Kyushu, one of the princi-
pal islands of Japan, and Korea.
Four steamers had not reported
and it was feared they were lost.
Many smaller fishing crafts were
sunk and their crows drowned.
The typhoon, which started south
of Kyushu and was today sweeping
up the North Sea, has left a wide
swath of wrcckage in its wake both
to crops and buildings.
Relief organizations were assemhl-
ing rescue forces and sending help
10 the cities of Nagoshima, Sasebo,
Nagasaki, Tshushima and other
cities on kyushu.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-19
SENATOR
SCORES
SHULE
Rochester Blames Pastor
For Sewing Seeds OF
Hatred.
MENACE TO CITY
Says Minister Should "Be
Shown Up For What
He Really Is

LOS ANGELES, July 10. W.H-
The Rev. Il. p. Shulcr, Methodist
Episcopal pastor, embroilcd IN Il
row over evidence in the courtroom
shaving of Motley II. Flint, "should
be shown up for what he isl State
Senator George w. Rochester said
az he entered the controversy today.
Rochester, broadcasting comment
upon Shulcr's pamphlet "Juiian
Thieves" found in the pocket OF
Frank u. Kcaton after keaton's ar
rest as the killer, scored the MN
lister for "Scwing the seeds OF NAT
red in the community"
"Thc poor, miserable creature
Kcaton. who now is awaiting trial
for the murder of Flint, may or
NAV not be accountable for his
acts" Rochester said. 81 ask all to
withhold Judgment so he may have
a fair trial 1t is significant how
ever that this man did, according
to police, have IA copy of the book
Julian Thieves
"Shulcr is now insinuating that
the book was planted by his enc
mics to cmbarrass him. the sena-
Tor said. "This is but one instance
of his adroit and bold cunning
"Now, submit that If we are
to take these statements literally
we would come TO but one eonelus-
ion. That is that the bankers OF
our city are thieves and rascals; I;
that they wrecked the Julian Pc
troleum Corporation; that that
500 900 900 loss that was caused
TO the 10000 stockholders went into
the pockets of bankers, that Motley
Flint and other bankers were the
guilty parties.
Creates Dissension
81 do not say that keaton, who
had gamblcd in bank stocks and
who suffered substantial losses
caused bv the decline of these bank
stocks with which Motley Flint had
nothing to do, was influenced to
commit this terrible crime by the
reading of these false and scandal
ous statements concerning the I'M
ancial leaders of our community.
"But do say that Bob Shulcr
has created more dissension, i'll
will, suspicion and distrust toward
our public officials than any one
source or individual in our entire
community.
at occurs to me that this man,
who has become Il greater menace
than the imaginary monster which
he claims to be combating, should
he shown up for what he really ls.'
The senator also recalled that
Shuler attacked him when he in
troduccd a bill in the state legisla-
ture making false and malicious
statements over Il radio punishable
by fine of imprisonment. He said
the pastors speeches over his own
radio were $50 wanton and unjust
that | received scores of letters
threatening me with bodily harm"
Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-19
Elimination OF
Luxuries Sought
By Tree Sitter

HOLLYWOOD, July 10. W.P-
This tree sitting craze spread rap
idly throughout the film colony to-
day in spite of demands by pioneer
contestants for rules to eliminate
the luxuries enjoyed by some of the
Young perchers.
Salvatore Scarpitta, IL year old
stage and screen actor, first of Hol-
lywood's Youngsters to climb aloft,
announced he intended to remain
in his favorite tree for go hours,
or until a week from Sunday.
Perched in the crotch of limb,
Salvatore decried the current prac-
tice of what he termed taking
things too easy" in this nationwide
event of events. One tyopngster
was living the life of Riley in a
tree house and another was perched
in Il cushioned chair, Salvatore de-
clared.
"This should stop" he said. 81
sit in the tree itself and expect to
stand it 10 days. There ought to
he a law"
Supplied with drawing board
and plenty of food by his "man-
ager," X. c. Beaton, prominent col
umnist, Young Salvatore found the
time passed swiftly. He takes two
baths daily, the ground crew turn
ing a garden hose on him when
he descends to a lower level.
Salvatore started something by
his pioneer work, for today another
boy, Weeks Sellers, u, was sched-
uled to mount a lofty bow and Il
third boy prepared to start within
a few davs
Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-19
FOSTER BROUGHT
BACK TO CHICAGO

CHICAGO, July 10 WH-Frankie
Foster, former owner of the gun
that killed Alfred j. Lingle, was
brought back to Chicago in man
acles today to be arraigned on an
indictment charging him with the
Lingle murder.
Foster was taken off the Santa
Fe Chief, when it stopped at the
station at Thirty-first street and
Western avenue. thus cluding what
ever gangsters may have peen wait
ing to "rcscuc" him.
The two police Officers who
brought Foster back from Los An
gcles said they had experienced no
trouble en- route. They were met
at the outlying station by n squad
of police who escorted Foster to the
criminal courts building.
There the only man thus far IN
dicted in the murder which caused
such sensation in Chicago's jour
alistic circles was taken into the
offices Of States Attorney John a.
Swanson where he was questioned
by Pat Roche, chief investigator
for Swanson.
Fosters wife was said to have
left the train at Joliet
Later Foster was spirited away
in an automobile and il was believed
that the authorities had taken him
to some secret office for further
questioning. Under the law as "A
prisoner indicated on charges of
murder he would have to be placed
in cell at the county jail by sun
down.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-19
Opera Star Seeks
To End Marriage

LOS ANGELES, July lS. (U.H-
The second suit of Mary Lewis
Metropolitan opera star and former
Follies beauty, to end her Ideal
marriage" with Michael Bohnen, al
so noted singer, was on file IN
superior court here today.
In a divorce action filed two
wears ago, and later dismissed, Miss
Lewis charged Bohnen had used her
as punching bag despite the fact
that he was known as one of the
superb lovers on the operate stage.
Her new suit charged Bohnen de
serted her on July |, 1929. He was
said to be in Germany at present,
where his name has been mentioned
frequently in dispatches along with
La Jana, danseuse, the complaint
said.
The singer has been engaged in
making a talking picture i'll Holly
wood for several weeks.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-19
SHARP REVERSAL
OF TREND NOTED
ON THE EXCHANGE
Repeated Selling Attacks
Uncover Distinct Lack
Of Demand.

NEW YORK, July 10. W.H-A
ON the stock exchange today as
repeated selling attacks uncovered
distinct lack of demand. Losses
ranged from one to 10 points.
Despite the extent of some of the
losses, there was little feature to
the trading and dealings took on
a typical midsummer aspect. Ac-
tivity approXimated three quarter
million shares.
Declining tendencies were due
more to lack of buying than to
any concerted selling and leading
stocks were allowed to seek their
own levels. Most traders were in
clined to withdraw pending compile
tion of the corrective movement
and price movements were not re-
garded as significant.
j The downward movement was
stubbornly resisted for a time, when
q heavy buying movement in Steel
Common carried it nearly a point
higher to the best levels on the cur
rent movement.
Strength in steel, however, was
Short lived and the issue fell frac-
tionally. Selling operations in
other sections of the list made more
headway. Near the close Auburn
was down nearly 10 points and
losses of to ) points were gener-
al in shares like j. |. Case, Ameri-
can Telephone, A. NJ. Byers, Allied
Chemical, Worthington Pump and
Westinghouse Electric.
The downward movement was
fairly uniform although the decline
was checked from time to time by
appearance of buying in some of
the leaders.
Losses in recent leaders such as
Radio Corporation, Radio-K Keith,
General Motors and Warner Broth
ers Pictures were generally held to
less than a point while strong sup
port was again in evidence in deal
ings in General Electric.
Firmness in the commodity mar
kets were grains advanced nearly
a cent and cotton nearly - cents
a bale had comparatively little in
fiuence on the market.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-19
PAIR EXECUTED
FOR THEIR PART
IN BANK MURDERS

CANON CITY, Colo, July 19.W.H
Royston were executed on the gal
lows at the state penitentiary here
last night for their part in the La
mar bank robbery murders.
Like their leader, Ralph Fleagle,
who was hanged last week, they
paid the supreme penalty without
show of emotion.
Both embraced the Catholic faith.
They were baptized by Father Regis
Barrett, prison chaplain, and re-
ceived the last sacraments of the
church.
Warden Francis f. Crawford
asked the pair who wished to walk
to the gallows first.
Abshier, composed, stepped for
ward. He was led to death room,
the moose was adjusted, and at
$40 p. nj. the trap was sprung.
Thirteen minutes later he was pro-
nounced dead.
Royston, 6 foot, inch giant, who
had .iOked in the shadow of the gal
lows, followed half an hour later.
He never flinched. The black hood
was placed over his face at 1896.
\ minute later he was dangling
from the moose. He was pronounced
dead at 1882.
The two men had been pals since
boyhood. They made special re-
quest of Warden Crawford before
they were taken from the death
hnt h.,
asked to make a last statement. 1t
was granted.
1t came time for them to part.
As they embraced, Abshier said, . |
will wait for you in the bosom of
Christ, 'Heavy.'
With strained smile, Royston re-
piled, "All right, Abby III be
with YOU soon
\ final haudshake and they
parted.
Abshier, bespectacled little "pro-
fesSor, maintained a stole philoso-
ply to the end. T,ovston, jolly,
carefree, never became serious until
several hours before he was exc
cuted
Both men denied at their trial they
had killed anyone in the 100000
robbery of the First National Bank
of Lamar May %, 1928.
Rovston S body was cnroute to rel
atives at Richmond, Calf, today for
burial. He was World War vet
eran, twice decorated for bravery on
the battleficlds of france.
Warden Crawford planned today
10 ask the Canon City American
Legion post to bury Abshier, who,
because of previous army experience.
was kept in this country during the
war to train troops.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-19

might easily have caused the ex-
plosion had it come in contact with
combustiblc gas.
Herbert Johnson in charge of the
locomotive used in the underground
Work stated that the battery used
on his machine was covered and
that while it was possible to pro
duce spark by reversing the
switch suddenly this was never
done.
Irony was introduced at a meet.
ing of city officials when it was
revealed ) that compresSorS and
pumps recently arrived from the
east and awaiting installation the
following day would have averted
the tragedy had they been in use.
This equipment was pressed into
service Immediately following the
explosion and although ii aided res
cue workers in their heroic efforts
il could do nothing for those al
ready dead.
NJ. NJ. OShaughncssy, city engin-
Ger, issued statement in which he
denied rumors that there was "a
lack of safety devices in the tun-
mel.
Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-19
Death Verdict
For Wife Slayer

Los ANGELES, July 10. up
Convicted of numbering his wife
when she refused a reconciliation,
William Burkhart, Young gas com
pany employee, will appear in court
here Monday to hear a sentence of
death.
The iury's verdict, returned last
night after - hours deliberation,
did not recommend the clemency
which would have permitted the
court to impose life imprisonment
Burkhart'S defense to the strong
case of circumstantial evidence
built up against him was that he
had been drinking the night of the
killing and knew little of what hap
pened.
Neighbors testified he came to
their door and asked for help, say
ing his wife had "passed out" They
found the young wife, Ann Me,
Knight Burkhart, lying dead on the
sidewalk. Blood stains we're on
Burkhart's hands, they asserted,
Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-19
Cleveland Forest
Districts Closed

On account of the high fire
hazard in the Cleveland National
Forest of San Diego county Ger
tain portions of the district are
closed to the public, according to
the touring department of the Ma
tional Automobile club. ALI forms
of public use are barred, except by
special permission from the forestry
officials.
Residents of the district, howev.
er, are allowed to 90 to and from
their homes. A maximum fine of
$500 or II months imprisonment, or
both( is provided for violation of
the order. Eight persons were
found guilty and sentenced by a
federal .court in San Diego for vio-
lations of a similar order during
the summer of 1929.