davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11
LAST WISHES OF
MRS. WILLIAMS
TO BE FULFILLED

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. IL. W.P)-
A lavender ribbon will be put in
Joan'S hair and she will be dressed
in her lavender dress. Sonny will
have on his new yellow romperS and
Mrs. Florrine Walz Williams will be
dressed in simple black, with her
wedding ring left on.
All requests made by the widow
of Earle Williams, former movie
Star-before she joined her mother,
Mrs. ClarisSe WalZ, go in a suicide
pact in which she also killed her two
children, Joan Constance, 7, and
Earle Jr., Sonny" will be grant
ed officials and friends said today.
The bodies of the four were found
Sunday in their apartment, chloro-
form and poison had been used to
wipe out the family.
Mrs. Williams had lost the for
tune left by her husband and was
threatened with arrest, after almost
constant troubles since Williams
death.
Shocked friends of her better
days declared they had been in
readiness to continue helping the
widow and her relatives.
The inquest probably will be de-
layed until the latter part of the
week, pending a chemists report
to determine whether Mrs. Williams
killed herself with chloroform or
poison.
Then the babies and mother will
be cremated and the ashes sent to
Brooklyn, N. Y. where the body of
Mrs. WalZ also will be buried.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11
Shuler's License
To Be Renewed

WASHINGTON, Aug. IL. tU.P-
A report recommending that the
license of the radio station of the
Rev. Bob Shuler in Los Angeles be
renewed was submitted to the fed
eral radio commission today by
Chief Examiner Ellis A. Yost.
In making hk recommendation
Yost said he believed Shuler had
been indiScreet in some of the
broadcasts from Station KGEF but
that public interest would be served
by granting the application for re-
newal of license.
The report said that some OF
Shuler's broadcasts apparently had
been made before investigation and
inquiry to determine correctness of
statements about citizens under at
tack by the crusading Los Angeles
clergyman.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11
ALFALFA BILL
C Gets ; IS SUPPORT PI
FROM OUTSIDE
Texas Governor Threat
ems TO Follow Action In
Oil Field Closing.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Aug. II. U.P)
Recruits from all over the south
western oil lands flocked today to
the banner of Governor William H..
(Alfalfa Bid Murray in his war TO
boost the price OF crude oil
Although no other state actually
had followed Murray's example i'll
closing down wells under martial
law to stop production and send up
prices, such action actually was
threatened in Kansas and Texas
and in both those states and
Wyoming many new supporters fell
in behind the Murray drive.
Governor Ross Sterling of Texas,
who previously had wired Murray
his congratulations, threatened to
follow the fiery Oklahoma's exam
pile and call out troops to close the
wells in this state, including those
in the East Texas field, which glut-
ted the market and were largely re-
sponsible for bringing about the
present situation.
In Kansas, Thurman Hill, chair
man of the public service commits
sion, openly threatened to close all
wells unless the purchasers OF
crude oil this week extend to pro-
ducers the same consideration they
are granting to producers OF Texas
crude"
Shutdown orders also were con-
sidered in Wyoming, but that state
faced an additional problem in that
it has no control over government
oil lands within its borders. The
department of interior yesterday de-
MED the request OF Acting Cover
nor A. M. Clark that a minimum
price of 81 a barrel be set on gov
ernment royalty crude oil from
Wyoming fields. With this refusal,
forced closing of Wyoming's wells
would result in the oil being drained
by the government wells.
In Oklahoma, Governor Murray
gave no indication of allowing the
flush fields to reopen and kept his
soldiers in the fields. Stripped
wells, which would be destroyed If
shut in, were allowed to operate.
Despite all this activity, prices
stood at SO cents, an advance of
only two cents since Governor Muir
ray issued his ultimatum that the
price must go to 81 barrel.
Production throughout the coun-
try also increased, according to the
Oil and Gas Journal. The daily
average for the week ending August
g was 2,551 ,807 barrels, an increase
of 81, 1886 barrels, the journal said.
Governor Sterling's threat that
troops might be called out met with
favor and hundreds of kilograms
from producers and civic organiza-
tionS we're on his desk urging him
to act.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11
Women Surely
Are Oddities

LOS ANGELES, Aug. IL.
U.P) A wife SO unreasonable
she protested having cracker
crumbs stuffed down her back
was no wife for him.
Admitting her eccentricity-
about the cracker crumbs
Mrs. Lorene Coffey asked to-
day for an annulment or di-
vorce.
She was only IL when she
married Merrill J. COffey, She
complained. Shortly after the
marriage, Coffey developed the
cracker crumb habit, she said.
At first bewildered, later an
nOyed, she protested, whereup-
on he beat her for her intract-
ability.
If the annulment Is not
granted she wants a divorce,
she said, the main thing being
to establish separation of two
persons who are SO irrecOncil-
iably incompatible on the
cracker crumb and other ques-
tiOns.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11
GENERAL SHERMAN DECLARED
BIGGER THAN GENERAL GRANT

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. IL.
U.P)-So General Sherman took
the nod over General Grant,
but Grant got cheer.
After all these years of ar
guing and measuring and esti-
mating, it has been decided
that General Sherman, Giant
SequOia in General Grant Ma
tiOnal Park. is the largest liv-
mig thing in the world.
General Grant. however, is
the oldest-but he hasn't lived
right and didn't grow SO big.
The state chamber of COM
merce had announced the de-
cision today, after more than
1000 transit calculations had
been made BY IL men working
constantly for a week.
General Grant hasn't lived a
protected, sheltered life, as has
his opponent. engineers found.
He's been burnt up several
times.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11
Severe Quake
In Kurile Isles

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. Aug. IL.
U.H)-The Kurile islands, north OF
Japan, may have been the center of
a severe earthquake recorded at the
Harvard seismograph station late
yesterday, Harvard seiSmologistS be-
lieved today.
Though the exact location could
not be established, the local record
suggested the Kurile island as the
approximate point of origin.
Harvard officials said the local
record was comparable in intensity
to that of the great Japanese
earthquake in 1923. The record be-
gan at 4:32 p. m. EST. yesterday
and lasted Az hours. The time the
quake started at the point OF origin
was estimated at 4:19 p. IN. The
point of origin was believed to be
approximately 1900 miles from
Cambridge.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11
TWO GIRLS AND
ESCORTS FOUND
SLAIN In AUTO

YPSILANT1, Mich, Aug. II. U.P)
The badly burned bodies of two
young Cleveland girls and two Yp-
silanti youths were found in a
charred automobile on the out
skirts of the city today.
The four had apparently been
robbed and attacked and the car
fired by their roadside assailants,
police said.
The dead: Vivian Gold, Is,
Cleveland; Anna Harris, II, Cleve-
land; Harry Lore, Is. Ypsilanti;
and Thomas Wheatley, l6, Ypsi-
lanti.
One of the girls slippers was
found in the ditch near the car.
Evidence of furious struggle was
found about the machine, together
with blood soaked earth.
The four victims had not been
heard from since they left togeth-
er to attend movie at $3.50 p. m.
last night.
The girls were visiting at the
home Of LoreS parents, who are
relatives of one of them.
The interior of the car and the
bodies apparently had been soaked
in gasoline before match was ap-
piled.
One of the bodies, none of which
was recognizable, was in the back
seat OF the fire ruined machine.
Another was on the floor between
the front and back seats and the
others were in the front seat.
A heavy wrench was lying across
the neck of one of the victims.
The crime was discovered by
Harvey Santure, farmer, who saw
blaze rising from the roadside
and moment later heard the roar
of an automobile leaving the scene.
Tire tracks indicated that two
automobiles had driven up together
at the side of the road. The tracks
of the supposed slayers' car, dis
closed it had been turned around
and headed south from the scene.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11
LINDBERCH TRIP
INTERRUPTED BY
FORCED LANDING
Flyer And Wife MarO0ned
BY Fog EnrOute To
Nome Reported Safe.

NOME. Aug. II. U.P)-Fog and
poor visibility continued to hold
Colonel and Mrs Charles A. Lind
bergh at Kotzebue Sound, 100 miles
northeast of here across Seward
Peninsula. nearly seven hours after
they had been forced to land there
on their flight from Point Barrow.
The signal corps radio station.
which established contact with the
Lindberghs radio, kept them ad-
vised of weather conditions here,
and they were expected to complete
their hop to Nome as soon as the
fog lifts.
NOME, Alaska, Aug. II. UP)-
Colonel and Mrs. Charles A. Lind
bergh sat huddled in their mono
plane on Kotzebue sound, 100 miles
away today, while Nome made car
nival to celebrate their expected ar
rival here later in the day.
The Lindberghs, on a hazardous
523-mile trip over rugged land in
their pontoon equipped plane, land
ed in Good Hope Bay. Kotzebue
sound, on the north side of Seward
peninsula at 1920 a. m. 1920 a. m.
PSTD because of heavy fog.
Just as cody as her famous hus-
band set down" the plane on the
tossing waters in heavy fog, dim
inutive Mrs. Lindbergh tapped out
q radio message TO the Nome coast
guard, telling where they were.
Except for headwinds, the trim
yellow and black Lockheed Sirius
monoplane encountered no bad
weather on the first 400 miles of
its flight. The airway led due south
west over rugged peaks and snow
covered flats that afforded few
emergency landing places for d
plane equipped for water landings
only.
When the Lindberghs reached
Kotzebue sound-the only stretch OF
water between Barrow and Nome
fog was encountered 1t grew
steadily worse in the IS minutes the
plane required to cross the sound.
Uncertain as to landing condi-
tions at Nome Roadstead Nome, the
flying colonel landed in Kotzebue
sound as his wife sent out a radio
message telling Nome OF the change
in plans.
1t was the first unscheduled
landing in trip that SO far has
led from New York through the
most barren and rugged part of
Canada and Alaska.
The plane left Point Barrow at
1852 p. m. psf, last night.
Through the half dusk of the
night hours in this season of the
waning midnight sun, it sped
straight as an arrow on its course,
against continual headwinds, until
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11
YANKEE FLYERS
HAVE TROUBLES
WITH JAPANESE

TOXIC, Aug IL. U.D - Don
Moyle. Los Angeles "jail or glory"
flyer, today again entered the lists
OF those preparing to fly across the
Pacific. Customs officials granted
him an extension of time for pay
ment of duty on the plane City OF
Tacoma, brought here and left by
Harold Bromley.
The plane was to have been sold
at auction.
Moyle and c. A. Alien will re-
model the plane, they said. and
plan to start as soon as possible.
In the meantime, Clyde Pang-
born and Hugh Herndon. Jr., con-
tinued to face the possibility OF a
fine for having flown over restrict
ed territory in their flight from
Russia to Toxic They also we1e
impatient to be on their way over
the Pacific.
Moyle faces possibility OF a jail
sentence in Los Angeles on charges
of driving while intoxicated. Sery-
ice OF a sentence of one month was
postponed until October !, TO give
him a chance to make the flight
Aviation authorities here, In addi-
ton to granting extension OF time
for payment of the customs fees.
have agreed to permit the attempt,
although the plane twice has failed
in previous efforts.
Herndon was examined for an
hour today by Japanese officials.
who seemed to attach considerable
Importance to the fact that pic
lures he took on the flight showed
views of japanese naval bases.
Both Herndon and Pangborn
have been summoned 10 appear
Wednesday for further questioning.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11

Board feet in the General
Sherman tree total 600,l20, in
General Grant 542,74S. Gener-
al Sherman is 272.4 feet tall.
circumference at the base is
SO feet. General Grant is stout
er, with Il 92.9 foot waist line.
If you owned General Sher-
man you would have as much
lumber as Is contained in 30
acres of average pine forest.
You would have lumber enough
to build 40 five room houses,
equivalent of three city blocks.
A train of 80 cars would be
needed to haul the trunk alone.
one limb is seven feet in dia-
meter-quite a tree in itself.
Two other upstairs that had
challenged the masters were
put in their places by the en-
gineers. The Boole tree was
rated third largest and the Hart
fourth by the engineers.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11
Building
Lightning Rod

NEW YORK, Aug. IL. U.P)--
The new Empire State build
ing, towering 1850 feet into the
clouds, proved itself the worlds
largest lightning rod when Ii
was struck three times by
lightning during last nights
thunderstorm here.
A great bolt hit the metal
mOoring mast at $50 p. m.
causing a flash of flame seen
for many blocks, and a deton-
alton as of thunder, but no
damage was done to the build
ing, power and telephone lines.
Telephone operators on the
86th floor said a sheet of flame
shot past the windows down
to the ground.
Experts have proved the
Empire State building Is a
giant lightning rod" Edward
Carney, superintendent said.
ut protects nearby buildings
from lightning damage"
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11
CUBAN REVOLT
CONTINUES TO
TAKE IT'S TOLL

HAVANA, Aug. IL. U.R)-Brisk
fighting between rebel and loyal
government forces was reported
near the capital today as the death
toll in the Cuban revolt reached 10.
President Gerardo Machado
signed a decree suspending constitu-
tional guarantees. A state OF siege
continues in the province of Hava-
ma and Pinar Del Rio.
The government maintained its
rigid military grip on the island.
Five more revolutionaries and one
government rural guard were slain
in a battle last night at Guanaba-
Goa, - miles outside Havana. Three
rebels and one policeman lost their
lives in earlier outbreaks.
The engagement, the first en-
counter during the revolt, resulted
in President Machados issuance OF
the decree suspending constitution
al guarantees throughout the re-
public.
The presidents action followed
authorization from congress grant,
ing him extraordinary powers to
suspend the guarantees. Rigid rule
under a state of siege already was
established in Havana and Pinar
Del Rio province.
CHICAGO, Aug. IL. U.p) The
Chicago Daily News today quoted an
unidentified Cuban citizen as say
ing in an uncensored long distance
telephone conversation that "the
city of Havana is ominously quiet"
The people are remaining with
in DOORS the News said. THE dis
tant reports of exploding aerial
bombs can be heard from the har-
Dor, where airplanes have been fly.
ing low searching for rebel boats.
The aviators had orders to destroy
certain steamers known to be in the
hands of the rebellious forces, but
it is known that they violated these
orders and dropped their bombs in
the water.
1T is reported that the aviation
section OF the army is leaning
strongly toward the rebel party, led
by Mario G.. Menocal, former presi-
dent"
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11
DRY LAW
ATTACKS
PLANNED
Prohibition Certain To
Be Vital Campaign Is
sue Next Year.
SEEK MODIFICATION
American Federation OF
Labor Would Have Beer
Made Legal.
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER

United Press staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Aug. II. WHThe
irrepressible prohibition question
has forced its way TO the front
again from the temporary obscurity
into which the economic depression
threw it. An effort to get modifi-
cation of the Volstead act as an
economic relief measure Is being
waged by prohibition groups.
Prohibition is expected to con-
front the administration, congress,
and many candidates in the next
campaign in two phases. Both are
being affiliated with a sudden burst
of activity.
One question is whether the grape
industry shall continue to be al
lowed to market product and Serv-
ice it in homes even to the final
bottling Of the resultant sauterne,
claret, burgundy or other favored
wines. This issue finds Mrs. Mabel
Walker Willebrandt. once acclaimed
as the Joan Of Arc of the dryS, now
supplying the astute legal brains
guiding the chief grape concentrate
concern, Fruit Industries, Ltd,
through the legal mazes SO success
fully that thus far Prohibition d.
rector Amos w. w. Woodcock has
not even brought test case against
that company.
The other question centers on
beer. Appeals are being made to
modify the Volstead act to permit
up to per cent beer, claimed by
vets to be Notwithstanding, as q
means of relieving economic depres-
sion and adding to federal revenues.
These two issues are tied together
by some who protest it is unfair to
grant virtual government protection
to home wine making while forbid
ding beer. In its prohibition report
the Wickersham commission held
the government was inconsistent In
forbidding beer while financing
wine through the federal farm
board. Some drys want to suppress
home wine making. Many anti
prohibitionists want to give beer
legal status. AT present beer must
contain less than y of l per cent
of alcohol. Fruit juices" must be
merely Notwithstanding"
Seeks To Halt Wine
Senator Morris Sheppard, Demo-
crat of Texas, plans to reintroduce
his proposal to strike out Section
90 of the Volstead act-under which
homemade wines are permitted.
Prohibition Director Woodcock
says unless sales are made from the
home, an arrest is impossible, and
even then it would have to be
proved that the wine had intoxicat-
ed someone. The marketing organ
ization is immune unless 1t should
be found guilty of intent" to vio-
late the law, which is difficult to
prove, according to Woodcock.
And" he adds, you can't con-
yict person for violating the spirit
of the law"
Representative L. C. Dyer, Re-
publican Of Missouri, who will be
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11
Youth Stricken
By Rat Fever

BEAVER DAM. Ohio, Aug. IL.
U.P)-A mouse bite suffered by Rus
sell Lutterbein, IT, today was re-
ported to have developed into rat
iever"-one of the rare maladies OF
medical history.
The youth was bitten by the small
rodent which he seized by the tail
on his fathers farm near here. He
developed violent pains about the
stomach, recurring several times a
day.
AT first mystified by the disease,
doctors finally diagnosed IL as rat
fever" which they believed to be
one of the first CASES on record IN
the state. They said the victim will
survive it but it will take six months
before the malady runs its course.
The violent attacks recur only
during the day when his fever runs
lO4. At night the patient rests
comfortably, his physicians reported.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11
MYSTERIOUS GUN
INTRODUCED AT
CLARK'S TRIAL
Eleven Weapons In All
Have Been Mentioned
In Staying Case.
BY GEORGE Ii. BEALE
United Press Staff CorrespOndent)

LOS ANGELES, Aug. IL. (U.P -
Offering no explanation of the ex-
hibit, the defense today introduced
another gun at the trial of David
H Clark, former deputy district at
torney and recently a candidate for
municipal judge, now accused of the
murder of Herbert Spencer, editor
of a political magazine.
The weapon, a double-barrel Al
caliber derringer, was brought into
the case while the defense was
cross-examining Ray Radke, conf
Dental secretary to Charles Craw-
ford, the politician who was shot
down at the same time Spencer was
killed.
Did you ever see this gun be-
fore?" Defense Attorney w. l. Gill
bert asked Radke.
Radke answered in the negative
and Gilbert, without any word Of
explanation had the derringer mark
ed for identification.
The appearance of the weapon
and the mysterious manner in which
Gilbert produced 1t gave rise to a
tremendous amount of speculation
since defense attorneys have, since
the start of the trial hinted that
Clark might plead self-defense.
All state witnesses who had ac-
cess to Crawford's Hollywood Of
flee, where the shooting took place,
have been questioned carefully by
the defense to determine if any
guns were found in Crawford's Of
flee after the SlayingS.
The answers always have been III
the negative and Radke had just
finished testifying for the state that
he found no weapons in Crawford'S s
office when he rushed there immed-
lately after the shooting.
Attorney Silent
Radke had identified two guns
previously entered into evidence as
those belonging to Crawford. The
weapons, it was testified by Craw-
ford's widow, were found by her in
their home.
Did you ever see Crawford with
any other gun?" was the first ques-
ton Gilbert asked for the defense.
NO. answered Radke.
do you think he had other
guns?"
Il don't think So"
At this point Gilbert brought out
| the derringer and asked Radke
about it and then asked that it be
marked for identification.
Gilbert failed to explain the pres
entation of the gun in court and
to the queries of newSpapermen he
said only that he was not yet pre-
pared to offer any explanation.
Since the day of the shooting,
May 20, the absence of any guns
in the death room has been a mys-
terry.
1t was known that Clark pur-
chased a gun the day before Crow
ford and Spencer were slain and
Crawford and Spencer habitually
carried guns.
What happened to Clark's gun
whether he was in Crawford's office
May 20, or not-never has been ex-
planned The state has tried from
the first to prove that both Spencer
and Crawford were unarmed on
May 20.
The derringer brought to IL the
number Of guns mentioned in the
trial so far, and to eight the num-
Der actually presented in the court
room.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11
Reject POrter's
Board Appointee

LOS ANGELES, Aug. II. U.P) -
Mayor John c. Po"ters appoint
ment Of Frank j. Waters, attorney,
10 the water and power commission
was rejected by the city council
today by vote of 10 to S.
Waters was the mayors selection
TO succeed o. T. johnson, Jr. His
rejection was made OH the recon-
mendation of councils water and
power committee.
Virtually no discussion concern
ing Waters took place and the only
attempted explr alton came from
Councilman Charles Randall who
said 1.-The mayor failed to keep fairh
with council"
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11
Action Against
Actress Delayed

LOS ANGELES, Aug. IL. U.D -
Marlene DIETRICH, German film &C
tress, probably will not appear in
court until october at least to an
swer damage suits totaling 100000
which have been prepared by Mrs.
Josef Won Sternberg. who claims the
blonde star alienated the affections
of her director husband.
Mrs. Won Sternberg has withheld
filing of the suits in New YORK
courts until the October session,
awaiting a possible settlement out
of court, her attorneys said.
One suit. charging alienation of
affections, asks 100000, while the
second demands 100000 for assert
ed libel.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11
PROMOTER ARRESTED

LOS ANGELES, Aug. IL. UP
Wendell McMahill, 49, who is spon-
soring television show to be held
in Hollywood bowl on August 10
was held in Jail today on fugitive
warrant from Detroit charging that
he passed a worthless check in the
amount of $l0l.95.
McMahill was said to have
claimed that Governor James Rolph
Jr., was coming to Hollywood to
open the television show.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11
New Difficulties
For Submarine

TROMSOE, Norway, Aug. IL. WP)
After an suspicious start fol
Spitzbergen today, Sir Hubert VIII
kins' polar submarine Nautilus ap-
parently ran into new difficulties.
Seven miles north of TromSoe the
Nautilus halted 1t then continued
another two kilometers Slightly
more than a mile) and again halt
ed. Following the second stop
there were no answers to radio calls
from shore to the Nautilus.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-11
Singers Guilt
Matter OF Doubt

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. II. U.P)
Irving Kennedy, radio singer and
entertainer held on murder charge
following the mysterious shooting
to death of his fiance, Mrs. Pauline
Hopkins, was released on bail to-
day.
On the ground there was a pos
sibility that the shooting might
have been accidental, as claimed by
Kennedy, Municipal Judge Alfred j..
Frit set bail at $4,000 bond or $500
cash when he appeared for prelimi-
nary hearing.