davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
PAIR CONFESS
THEIR PART In
KIDNAPPING CASE
Minor Members OF Group
Tell Their Connection
In Donnelly Abduction.

KANSAS CITY, Mo, Dec. %.
{U.P)-Two men today confessed
their participation in the plot to
kidnap Mrs. Nell Quinlan Don
nelly, best-known of Kansas City's
business women.
Police promised the arrest of the
leaders of the gang who held the
millionaire garment maker cap
tive for 36 hours on a small
Kansas farm. The $4,000 ran
som they demanded was not paid.
Paul Scheidt, 20, Bonner Springs,
Kans., and William Lacy Browning,
AZ, Holiday, Kans., both farmers,
in a statement to police said they
did not take part in the actual kid
naping, but that they knew of the
plans.
1t was on Scheidt's 20-acre farm
near Bonner Springs, that the
woman and her negro chauffeur.
George Blair, were held, Browning
said. Scheidt admitted this.
Browning said that he had
known the leader of the gang four
months. They worked together in
a gravel pit near Holiday, Kans.
He said the man visited at his
house several times.
1T was through these visits that
got to know him." Browning
said. ut was not long until he
told me that he planned a kid
naping. He wanted a house TO
hold the victim in. He said that
if would find one, that was suit
able, would receive one-tenth of
the ransom.
To Share Ransom
AT that time I thought the ran
som was to be $4,000. I also
thought they were going 10 kid
nap Paul Donnelly, instead of his
wife"
Browning said he arranged with
Scheidt for the use of his house.
He said that Scheidt was to re-
ceiye $1,000 for this part. Scheidt
confirmed this.
Police said they had received the
information that led to the arrest
of the pair earlier in the day. It
was understood the plot to obtain
the $4,000 ransom was frustrated
at the time by John Lazia, Kansas
City political leader.
Lazia learned the identity of tht
kidnaperS and made them release
Mrs. Donnelly before they received
the money. He was recently ac-
quilted of prohibition law viola
tions when he was indicted and
charged with being a member OF
Kansas City's 100000 liquor ring
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
Seek Sender OF
Bomb To Actress

SANTA MONICA, Cal. Dec. %.
U.P) - Postal inspectors today
sought to trace the sender of an
internal machine discovered among
the Christmas presents of Marion
Davies, motion picture actress.
After a days investigation. dur
ing which the home of Miss Davies
was under guard, authorities said
they believed the bomb was de-
signed to disfigure, but not to kill,
the actress.
The box containing the home
made bomb was delivered to the
Davies home last week, and re-
manned unnoticed until yesterday,
when the actress instructed her
butler to open it.
Servants were frightened when
a puff of smoke emerged from the
box. Police discovered it was
device by which matches were to
be rubbed against sandpaper, ig-
hitting two small sacks of powder
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
JOHNSON
AT TACkS
PROGRAM
Moratorium Plan Object
OF Bitter Denunciati0n
BY Californian.
GROWS SARCASTIC
Hoover Charged With
Having Torn Up Con-
stitutiOn OF Country

: WASHINGTON, Dec %. UP
DSenator Hiram johnson, California
Republican orator, hurled jibes and
bitter sarcasm at President Hoover
and the Republican leadership in
two hour attack upon the Hoover
moratorium in the senate today.
johnson charged the President
with tearing up the constitution
and said that congress was travel
Ing the road to a dictatorship in
following the debt proposal
Making a last stand for the debt
opponents, johnson said Mr.. Hoover
was obviously working for reduc-
tion OF foreign debts. He figured
that the one year moratorium would
cost every taxpayer $50 and every
American man, woman and child
50.
When the Republican party does
this, he told the Democrats, the
country is safe for democracy"
JohnsonS speech opened what
was expected TO be the last day
OF the senate debate. but there was
no clear indication when the attack
upon the moratorium would sub
side. Leaders still expected a vote
tonight.
In closing his remarks, the CAL
ifornia senator called upon the
United States to follow the harder
path in this debt matter.
WASHINGTON, Dec. %. U.pl--
President Hoover has torn the
constitution into a thousand bits
and scattered it to the winds.r
Senator Hiram w. johnson. Re-
publican, California, shouted TO the
senate today as he resumed his at
= tack on the European debt mora
Dtorium.
johnson, who began his anti
moratorium speech Yesterday. re-
gained the floor soon after the
senate went into session. He
lashed the administration with bit
ing sarcasm.
The moratorium, Johnson said.
was negotiated. Ito utilize our gov
ernment in behalf Of foreign ma
tionS and TO impose increased tax
alton on the American people"
Johnson particularly resented the
concessions made to France. He
pointed out that experts met as
late as August II to perfect the
proposal.
Haste was essential" he said
There was crisis that had to
be met in extra legal fashion by
the President The miserable con-
gress could not be called In this
crisis.
You who arc jealous of your
prerogatives-if there are any such
hcre-recall that agreement OF
Continued On Page 81
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
SENATE'SREPORT
CHARGES CANNON
VIOLATED LAWS
Methodist Bishop Accused
Of Not Accounting
Properly For Funds.

WASHINGTON, Dec. %. U.P)-
The Nye committee of the senate in
report filed today, charged that
Bishop Jas. Cannon Jr., had violated
the corrupt practices act during the
1923 presidential campaign but
made no recommendations as TO
action to be taken.
The committee said it withheld
recommendation because of crim-
inal prosecution against Cannon
now pending in the District of
Columbia courts.
Through 10 bank accounts Of the
Bishop, the committee report traced
Sl33 900 raised by him to be used
in efforts to defeat Alfred E. Smith
for President in 1923. Out of the
maze of financial transactions the
committee developed the following
charges:
!. That only $58,558 of the S133.-
900 was accounted for in reports
filed with the clerk of the house
under the corrupt practices act
2. That none of the S62 800 con-
tributed by c. f. Jameson, New
York financier, prior to January l..
1929. was ever accounted for.
3. That the report filed with the
house clerk does not check with
deposits and Withdrawals shown by
the bank statement as regards nu-
merous important items"
The committee noted the refusal
of Cannon and Miss Ada l.. Bur-
roughs, his secretary to answer
questions, but said no recommended
tionS would be made in this re-
gard until conclusion of the bishops
trial on charges of violating the
corrupt practices act. The question
OF the constitutionality Of the COM
mittee'S action may be settled in
the court case.
Concerning fraud charges, tn e
committee stated.
Your committee finds that funds
aggregating $4,000, repres n e d
moneys contributed for political
purposes, were placed on deposit to
the credit of James Cannon, Jr., or
James Cannon. Jr. executor, prior
to the date of the general election
in 1928, and remained on deposit
to the credit of such accounts for
considerable periods subsequent TO
that election"
The committee confessed its in
ability to learn the extent of par
ticipation in the campaign by C.
Bascom Slemp, former secretary to
President Coolidge. 1t calls Slemps
relations with Cannon another un-
explained transaction indicating re-
ceipt Of funds from Mr.. Slemp
which are not accounted for in re-
ports"
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
TEACHERS INSTITUTE
is SUGGESTION OF GRUWELL

Teachers institutes have known
no such excitement in years as that
which prevailed yesterday when B.
M Gruwell, district superintendent
of schools, electrified the afternoon
session by introducing a resolution
petitioning for the diScontinuance
of the annual institute.
Since that time, the question of
the possible abolition of institute
has occupied the center of atten-
tion, groups of teachers arguing
busily for and against it. The res
olution will come up before the
Wednesday afternoon session for
adoption or rejection by the teach
ers. Certain of the district super
intendcnts and principals have al
ready announced their approval OF
this drastic step while others wish
to retain the present system.
In presenting the resolution Cru
well submitted the following state
ment to the institute.
The county institute is now con-
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22

Quoted as a holdoyer from he early
days in the state of California when
teachers were not required to 20
through special training in order
to obtain credentials. In those days
1t was necessary to devise some
means for training inexperienced
teachers. The institute provided
that means. The teachers of today
are required to go through a spe-
cialized training and, as a conse-
quence, that angle of the institute
has become obsolete; therefore. the
institute as now constituted is
merely a meeting place where one
inSpirational speaker follows an
other.
after the first day everyone is
fed up. The sectional meetings
have been provided as a part of the
program of the regular institute
These meetings are hurriedly gotten
together, presided over by teachers
Continued On Page 81
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
JAPANESE WILL
CONTINUE DRIVE
AGAINST BANDITS

MUKDEN, Manchuria, Dec. %.
U.H = Gen. Shigeru HOMO, COM
mandinE japanese expeditionary
forces, announced today that a
general offensive against bandits
will be continued until all Chi
nese forces arc driven from Man
churia."
His statement was regarded as
an indication that the long-feared
attack on Chinchow was impending.
General HOMO declared that
forces formerly commanded by
Gen. Chang Hsueh-Liang, resigned
Manchurian dictator. must be en-
tirely eliminated by force.
TOXIC, Dec. %. (U.PlThe Jap
anese punitive expedition against
irregular Chinese forces in Man
churia pushed northward frora
Mukden today with the capture of
Fakumen.
South Manchurian railway guards
dispersed 240 disbanded Chinese
soldiers at Koalimen station. %
miles west of Antung. One guard
and one Chinese employee Of the
railway were killed. The station
master and five employees were
wounded.
Gen. Shigeru HOMO, commonding
japanese forces at Mukden, said
the japanese army was compelled
to take decisive action for the pur-
pose of annihilating disbanded
Chinese and other elements num-
bering 100000 menacing the terri
tory west of the Lao river
Reports of the strengthening of
Chinese positions at Chinchow and
Tangyulin were received by the
newspaper Asahi from Shanhaik-
wan. on the border of the Great
Wall. Japan has demanded that
the Chinchow concentrations with
draw within the Great Wall. Gen
eral HOMO was expected to send
his troops southwark to Chinchow
after the present "anti-bandit cam
paign" is concluded.
The reports to Asahi said three
brigades of cavalry had been sent
to the Chinchow district from
Jehol, making the total of regu-
lars and irregulars opposing the
japanese. 100000.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
Couple Remarry
At Yuma TODAY

YUMA, Ariz., Dec. %. U.P)-Wil-
liam A. Wellman, 35, motion pic
ture director, and Marjorie B. Craw-
ford, %, Santa Monica aviatrix,
were remarked here today.
Wellman and Miss Crawford
came here a year ago today and
were married by a justice of the
peace, but because Wellman's for
mer wife, Margery E. Wellman,
Ziegfeld Follies beauty, had not re-
ceiyed her final decree of divorce,
the wedding was declared invalid.
Wellman, employed at the War
ner Brothers-First National Studios,
is himself flyer, and gained prom
mence in his direction of Wings,
one of the first spectacular sound
pictures.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
Mx& R1e~.
q 1879 NeNausAt Ryndlssts. isA
SHANNON CASE
AGAIN TAKEN TO
SUPERIOR COURT

Guardianship of two children and
the estate of James B. Shannon
again came into the lilnelight TO-
day in superior court when Dorsey
Whitelaw and Edward B. Patter-
son, as attorneys, resumed the bat
tie between the mother and step
mother of the children for their
custody and the right to admins
ter Shannon's estate.
The case already has been in su-
perior court once, when both Mrs.
Alta Shannon and Mrs. Florence
Monsees, the former step-mother
and the latter mother of the child
rem, petitioned for letters of ad-
ministration of the estate and guar
dianship for letters Of administra-
ton of the children.
After a lengthy hearing at that
time Judge A. C. Finney decided
Mrs. Shannon should have tn c
children. and denied the petition
of Mrs. MonSees for letters of ad-
miniStration.
Judge Vaughn N. Thompson is
presiding over the hearing today
Attorneys this morning argued on
the legality of Mrs. Monsee's petit
tion to revoke letters of administra-
ton granted Mrs. Shannon. White
law is attorney for Mrs. Shannon
while" Patterson represents Mrs.
Monsees.
Mrs. Monsees petitioned to revoke
letters of administration on the
grounds the entire estate was as
signed to the widow, and Mrs.
Shannon was not the widow. Mrs.
Shannon and Shannon never were
legally married, Mrs. Monsees con-
tends in her petition.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
VATICAN LIBRARY
SUFFERS DAMAGE
AS WALL FALLS

VATICAN CITY, Dec. %. U.p)-
The entire right wing of the Vati-
can library collapsed today.
The artistic loss was expected to
be tremendous.
The collapse occurred shortly be-
fore p. m. and most of the per-
sonnel had quit work short time
before.
The wing. part of the original
building built by SixtuS v in 1888.
contained two floors. The entire
fire brigade of Rome came to the
scene, the Vatican City firemen
being unable to cope with the Sit
uation.
Priceless frescoes decorating the
walls of the wing we're DESTROYED.
1t was feared rare books and
codiciles were lost.
A professor who was consulting
books at the time OF the accident
was missing.
Workmen engaged in restoring
the building escaped through a
breach in the walls.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
McFadden Given
Direct Rebuke

WASHINGTON, Dec. %: U.P)-
The administration today made Of
ficial its rebuke Of Rep. Louis Nc
Fadden, Repn., Pa.
Postmaster General Brown adj
viSed him the department neither
wants nor intends to follow his ad-
vice on postal appointments.
McFadden on the floor of the
house recently denounced President
Hoover in scathing terms. Subse-
quently Senator Reed. Repn., Pa,
announced McFadden would be de-
pNved of his patronage.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22

members were presented to the
commission in favor of the con-
tract, while opponents sent in the
names of GIT persons who have
large holdings.
Charles L. Childers, district
member, urged the commission to
approve the contract, claiming it
must be taken or left in its pres
ent form"
Seeking TO insert clauses in the
contract, opponents expressed ap-
prehension as to the methods of
financing the canal and whether
or not 1t would furnish enough
water. The canal is part of the
Boulder dam project.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
Another Stolen
Car Recovered

Other ailments undetermined.
was the footnote on a report by
Claiborne Poole, deputy sheriff. of
a stolen car which was recovered
last night where it had been aban-
doned two miles south of III Centre
on a country read,
The car was registered TO Baldc-
nero Rubio, and was stolen in
Brawley December 49, Rubio and
a representative of the Brawley po-,
lice force took the car back TO
Brawley today.
When found one tire was gone.
the battery missing, two tires were
flat, and other ailments undeter-
mined.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
HAS CLOSE CALL

MONROVIA, Cal. Dec. %. U.p)
Gasoline fumes. ignited by a Gig
arctic he lit while driving, were
blamed today by James N. Farley,
Hollywood attorney, formerly of
Hutchinson, Kans., for the explos-
ion which caused him to lose con-
troll of his machine and plunge 1000
feet over a steep mountain side
He is in a local hospital suffering
serious injuries. Semi-conScious,
Farley wandered "a hours, bleed
ing and burned, before searchers
found him late yesterday.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
Gasoline Tax
Shows Decline

SACRAMENTO, Cal, Dec. %.
Californias g. cent gasoline tax
yielded S3,253, ,708.08 during Novem-
bcr, a decrease of more than $780,
900 from the October assessment,
the state board of equalization re-
ported today.
Collections for October amounted
to s3,375, 1886 and the total for the
first II months of 1881 was S38, 1885,
3o5, the board reported. Of l09,-
$50, ,457 gallons of gasoline assessed
for November. 81 companies report
ed taxable distributions in excess of
100000 gallons each.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
POrtland's Bank
DepOsitOrs Shaky

PORTLAND. Ore. Dec. %. {U.P)-
Hysteria among small savings de-
positors in all Portland banks
since the failure of the Hibernia
bank, a 39-year-old institution last
Saturday, was met today by state
ments from the two largest banks
here requiring notice of with
draWal
Mild runs" were said to have
been experienced Saturday and
with somewhat increasing intensity
Monday. The Withdrawals, bank
officials said, were largely confined
TO small accounts.
Statements by the clearing house
and other banks have stated that
all other Portland banks are in
sound financial condition.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
@@&s!siR, r.:

TOXIC, Dec. %. (SpeciaD-
Peiping press cards no good Iii
China so advertiser relaying
through Toxic. Been bobbing
around for the last three days
on one of China'S oceans in a
boat just six inches longer
than Ford trying to get FROM
Manchuria here. Run into 6
storm and had to turn back
and go into Port Arthur har-
Dor for the night, but did get
here and finally found a
country worse off than we are.
How's that for an accom-
plishment? And for the same
reason as U. S.-over produc-
ton. Pardon me for trying to
get humor from serious sit
uation, but when country,
bigger and more fertile than
the whole state Of Texas.
changes hands, yet war not
declared on either side and
five months later the league
sends a jury out to see how it
Is done, now there Is a laugh
In there somewheres.
Yours,
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
Meeting Held By
Scout Directors

Members of the Scout executive
board met last night at La Ra-
mazda for chicken dinner and
business meeting, al which time
the district Scout activities were
discussed.
1t was decided to ask the re-
gional executive, Edward l.. Curtis,
to aid the local council in Febru-
airy in the work of financial drive
and other council organization
business. 1t was also decided to
hold the annual meeting on Feb
ruary Is.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
WHAT'S DOING
TONIGHT

TONIGHT
Institute banquet, $3.50, Bar
bara Worth.
LO.O.F., No. 397, 3, Davis
hall.
American Legion. 8, Vet
Grams hall.
Band practice, 7:45, court
house.
Troop ]. B.S.A., 1880, Elks
hall.
Troop 5, B.S.A., 1880, Seeley.
Choral club, academy of
music.
Voice lecture, academy of
music.
Fox Imperial theatre, Illus
bands Holiday"
TOMORROW
Junior chamber of commerce,
$50, Barbara Worth.
Teachers institute, $3.50, high
school.
Charity matinee, 2, Fox I'M
perial theatre,
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
Christmas Cheer
Not SO Merry

Los ANGELES, Dec. 22.
U,P)-Jostled by happy holi-
day crowds too busy to see
she was starving, pretty
Helen Knollmiller, 10, unem-
pIoyed stenographer, walked
the streets trying to sell
home made candy for a
woman who had rescued her
from a park bench.
a weeks work was climaxed
by sufficient sales for the girl
10 buy herself a plate OF
beans.
The first meal gave her
ptOmaine poisoning, and today
she was in the general hos
pitai seriously i'll.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
DAWES GETS NEW LOB

WASHINGTON, Dec. 81. U.p)--
President Hoover today announced
the appointment Of Ambassador
Charles G.. Dawes in London an
head of the American delegation 10
the league disarmament conferences
in Geneva, beginning February 2.
President Hoover also announced
that in all probability a woman
would be included IN the Americas
Geneva delegation.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
HICKMAN
CASE HAS
PARALLEL
Body OF Cincinnati Child
Found Hidden In De-
serted Cellar.
SLAYER is HUNTED
Marian Parker Case In
Los Angeles Recalled By
Fate Of Marian Mclean

CINCINNATI, o., Dec. %. U.P)-
The body of Marian MCLEAN.
blonde haired 6-year-old daughter
of Mrs. Mildred MCLEAN, was
found today in a deserted house
here.
Marian disappeared late last
Thursday after leaving her home
to play in the yard A wide
spread search had continued. Po-
lice worked on the theory she was
abducted by a mentally defective
man who had been seen in the
neighborhood of her home.
The body was in the cellar of
the house which was located a
block from the MCLEAN cottage.
The child had been attacked, off,
GERS said. The face gave evidence
of a head wound as possible cause
of death
Chris Stocker. a drug clerk, and
Charles Bishop, owner of the
house, sound the body. Bishop
had gone to the cellar for kindling
wood.
The house where Marian's body
was found is about 100 feet from
the place where she was last seen
alive by Julius Servizzi, II, a neigh
Dor boy =
Servizzi said Marian watched him
washing his motor car.
"a little while afterward," said
Servizzi, Il saw her with a tall
man going down an alley. He was,
dark man. foreign looking" =
Seryuzzis statement was borne
out by reports of children who were
Marian's friends. Several Of them
told of being offered sweets and
money by a stranger who, they
said, followed them when they left
their homes,
Bishop, who found the child. had
been saving wood in his celler by
the light of candle.
Bishop walked to a bin to see
how much wood he had. Marian's
body lay in a pile of boards near
the bin, face up, barely revealed In
the uncertain flicker Of light. The
torso was mutilated. The clothing
remained on with the exception Of
tiny tam-o-shanter which had
fallen from Marian's blande hair
and rolled aside.
Residents Questioned
Charles Diers. detective, said he
had visited the cellar late Monday.
The body was not there then, he
said
Detective Chief Emmett Kirgan.
after an examination, declared he
believed Marian was choked fol-
lowing an attack.
Police questioned residents of the
district hastily None had seen
any stranger in the district last
night or today whose actions we're
questionable.
Excitement in the neighborhood
caused officers to escort the grief
stricken mother from the surround
ings. She was taken to police
headquarters to be cared for by a
matron in the quiet of reception
room. -
The body was guarded where 1t
lay. Coroner M. Scott Kearns ar
| rived and announced death oc-
CURED not more than "a hours ago.
He began post mortem examina-
ton at once.
Joseph MCLEAN, father of the
child, was in Phoenix, Ariz. He
went there IS months ago to seek.
| work.
Reports from Phoenix during the
search here were that he was at
tempting, with aid of friends. to
collect enough money to return.
Mclean had been separated two
years from his wife. He sent word
he would return TO push the search.
+
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22

The state will acquire a park site
one-half mile north of Moro. San
Luis Obispo County. including $500
feet of beach frontage.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22

A car of Muscat grapes from
Kings sold November II at Jersey
City for Sl.87la per lug box. an
all-time record price.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22
First Ell CentrO
Lettuce Shipped

Fred r. Bright shipped the first
car of lettuce out of Ell Centre this
morning, according to the agri-
cultural commissioner office. Let
tuce cars have been shipped from
other points but this is the first
car to be shipped from FL Centre.
To date, SO cars of lettuce have
been shipped, the greater part
coming from the northend.
According to the federal-state
market news service in Brawley,
reports from the eastern lettuce
market state that lettuce sold to-
day from 81 to IS per crate. the
market strengthening somewhat.
So little lettuce has been shipped
that it is difficult to determine the
Imperial Valley lettuce market.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-12-22

Continued On Page 81