davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
EXTENT OF FIJI
ISLAND DAMAGE
NOT YET KNOWN

SUVA, FIJI Islands, Feb II. U.P)
Days and possibly weeks may
elapSe before full details are known
of the disastrous hurricane which
swept across the Fiji Islands. leav-
ing in its wake a toll of at least
100 death and heavy damage to
buildings and crops.
The hurricane drove great wall
of water before it and flooded huge
areas in the Lautoka, Ba and Rewa
districts. Practically every building
in Lautoka was damaged and many
were demolished.
The roof of a hospital was torn
off, hampering relief work among
the injured and homeless.
The hurricane began the night of
February 81, disrupting communi-
cations so that word of the disaster
was kept from the outside world
five days. Little yet is known of
the devastation wrought in the re-
mote sections of the $50 islands.
There was no authentic news
from the district, although it was
known one entire village had been
inundated.
One river rose 40 feet during the
flood, destroying bridges, tramlines
and roads.
Relief ships with food clothing
and medical supplies were dis
patched to the interiors. 1t was
believed the death toll was confined
chiefly to Fijians and East Indians.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
Senate Votes To
Question Hyde

! WASHINGTON, Feb. 81. U.P)-
! The senate today adopted without
a record vote a resolution by Sen
|ator Caraway, Democrat, Arkansas
asking Secretary of Agriculture
Hyde to inform the senate why
loans for food and other purposes
provided in the $20000,000 drought
relief compromise had not been
made available.
Hyde was in Cincinnati today.
but almost at the time the senate
was passing the resolution, the agri-
culture department announced fur
ther loan arrangements had been
completed. The department said
it would be able to receive applica-
tionS for loans next week.
Under the plan announced today,
half of the $20,000,00O will be set
aside for loans to farmers who
subscribe to stock of agriculture
and livestock credit corporations.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
Holden Given
Term In Prison

LOS ANGELES. Feb. 81. U.P) -
Phillip Holden, scion of wealthy
Chicago family, today was sentenced
to serve from one year to life in
San Quentin prison for his part in
bank hofdup here.
Evidence pictured Holden, called
the millionaire bandit as the
lookout man for Tom Coffee and
Delbert Hudson in the robbery OF a
branch bank to which they con-
fesSed.
Holden was seriously wounded by
Gordon Corson, service station at
tendant who frustrated the robbery
in gun battle with the trio.
Coffee and Hudson pleaded guilty
TO first degree robbery and were sem
fenced to serve from seven years to
life N prison.
The jury which heard Holden S
case based their verdict on second
degree robbery although testimony
revealed Holden was armed with a
shotgun at the time of the holdup.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
TIP FROM YUMA
RESUMES SEARCH
FOR LOST GIRL
Letter To Brooks Family
Says Virginia Held In
Mountain Cabin

YUMA, Ariz.. Feb. 81. UP)-Re-
ports that Virginia Brooks, 10, miss
ing San Diego school girl, was hid
den in a mountainous region OF
northern Yuma county, sent j. F..
Brooks, the girl IS father, and a par
ty of searchers into the district ear
ly today.
Brooks, acting on "tip" that his
daughter was held in a cabin by
"an old man, arrived here yes
terday from San Diego, and accom-
panied by Sheriff Campbell Of I'M
perial county, California, Sheriff j..
C. Hunter of Yuma county, Ariz.,
and newspapermen, left for the
scene.
Because the party will have to
travel over the worst part of the
Arizona desert, it was expected that
no news would be received until late
today.
Virginia dropped from sight Feb
ruary IL while on her way to school.
She was reported seen in various
parts of the southwest during the
next 10 days, but no definite trace
of her could be found.
Hopes of the San Diego family
and friends of Virginia Brooks, 10,
who disappeared while on her way
to school February IL. and that she
may yet be found centered today in
the little mining camp of Quartzlte
on the Arizona desert many miles
from Yuma.
j. F. Brooks, father of the girl,
headed searching party to the
mining town, acting on a letter he
had received purporting to be from
a man who knew of a mountain
shack in which the girl was I'M
prisoned.
Brooks appeared in FL Centre yes
terday afternoon, showing the let
ter to Sheriff George l.. Campbell
and asking his aid Sheriff Camp
bell accompanied Brooks to Yuma,
where the matter was brought to the
attention of the Yuma county sher-
ifs office. The Imperial county
sheriff returned here, leaving his
deputy, S. T. Robinson, to accom-
pany the searching party.
IN the party are Brooks, Robin
son, Sheriff J. C. Hunter OF Yuma
county, and newspapermen.
Because the party will have to
travel over the worst part OF the
Arizona desert, it is probable that
no news of the search will be re-
ceived until late today or tonight.
The letter which Brooks received
while in San Diego stated that his
daughter was held by an old man
in mountain shack near Quartzite
and asked Brooks to come to that
town. He was not to make him.
self known except to the writer
of the letter, it directed. The writer
promised to show him the shack In
which Virginia is held prisoner.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
PARIS POLICE
FIND BOMB In
ENJOYS AUTO

PARIS, Feb. 27. (U.P)-Police to-
day seized high powered grenade
which had been placed in the auto
mobile of Count Manzoni, Italian
ambassador to France.
The explosive was discovered by
the ambassador s chauffeur before
Count Manzoni entered the automo-
bile.
A police investigation was start
ed Immediately.
Meanwhile, officials were retlcent
concerning the discovery as the am
bassador had asked them not TO an
nounce the affair
At the same time there were in
dications that the French Secret
Mobile police were prepared for ar
rests in connection with the series
of bombings on the Riviera in re-
cent months.
Examination of the bomb material
revealed it was of the same material
as about 10 other bombs which have
caused damage and deaths on the
Riviera in the last three years Po-
lice said the explosives we're made
by an expert who is now being
trailed.
The investigation extends back 10
July. 1877. when an attempt was
made against the American consul
late at Nice, and then against the
italian consulate.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
Ventura Twins
Are Flyers Now

SAN ANTONIO, Tex, Feb. 81.
Brigadier General G H. Danforth,
commander of the Army All Corps
training center today presented 66
diplomas at the spectacular grad
uating exercises here of the West
Point of the Air" at Fort Sam
Houston.
Unusual among the class Of so
cadets we're twins. l.. Merrill and
Maurice c. Williams of Ventura.
Cal. All cadets received reserve
commission in the Army Air Corps.
The graduates included.
California-Elmer q. German,
Huntington Park; Harold +. Black
burn, Los Angeles. Jay X. Mont
gomery, Los Angeles. Alfred g.
Reed. Los Angeles; Phil A. Horner,
Santa Barbara; Lewis w. Hunter,
San Fraacisco; Thomas Z. Nettle-
ton. San Pedro; l.. Merrill Williams,
ton, San Pedro; L. Merrill Williams,
Ventura.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
WARDEN LAWES
IS OPPOSED TO
DEATH PENALTY

SACRAMENTO Feb. 81. U.P) -
A message from Warden Lewis 4
Lawes of Sing Sing prison to the
California legislature, urging that
body to abolish the death penalty
in this state and substitute cer-
tainty of punishment for uncertain
barbarity,'' was made public here
today.
Urging enactment Of the Horn
blower hanging bill, which
fixes life Imprisonment without
parole" as the penalty for first de-
gree murder, Warden LaWes charged
that the gallows has proved in
effective as a crime deterrent.
I'm l2 leading state, during seven
years, there have been 10000 homl-
cides with 1886 executions said
Warden LaWeS.
I'm California. with approx
mately $50 murders annually, you
have an average of fewer than 10
executions.
cit is a punishment reserved tor
few of the poor and friendless
without the means to employ able
attorneys. The defendant of wealth
and position seldom, if ever, goes
to the electric chair or the gallows.
In other words, only the helpless
hang
Assemblyman Hornblower an
nounced that an effort will be made
to have Warden Lawes come to Cal
ifornia and appear before the leg
islature during hearings on the bill.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
Short Covering
Rallies Wheat

CHICAGO, Feb. 81 U.P)-Short
covering toward the last rallied
wheat about one cent from the bot
tom of the board of trade today and
prices closed unevenly steady. Chi
cago followed Winnipeg closely and
the latter market was quite strong.
Local prices had averaged lower
most of the session in light trade,
July being within SIC of the seas
on s low. The farm board is re-
ported to have sold some wheat to
Antwerp around l0c under Chicago
May. Corn was under pressure
throughout the day. A rally with
wheat toward the last met selling
and the close was lower. Oats was
easy with corn and on liquidation
of March.
At the close old wheat unchanged
to sc higher, new wheat sc lower
to sc higher, corn was sc lower to
sc higher and oats were Il to :,
lower Provisions were steady to
strong
March wheat old closed at .79,
March corn old at .602i, and March
oats old at .30%.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
FAIL TO IDENTIFY
ACCUSED WOMAN AS
MIDWEST SLAYER

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7. up
Efforts to identify Mrs. Esther Carl
son, 81, accused of the poison mur-
der of Carl August Lindstrom, 81
year-old retired lumberman, as
Belle Guinness, vanished murderess
of La Porte, Ind, failed today.
After Deputy District Attorney
George Stahlman received a tele-
phone call from person who said
pictures of Mrs. Carlson resembled
Mrs. Guinness, Stahlman started an
investigation.
Mrs. Carlson emphatically denied
she was the Indiana murderess and
said she lived in New England IN
1908 and 1909, Mrs. Guinness dis
appeared from Indiana in 1908 after
three of her small children died
when her home burned.
Later Stahlman announced the
residence of Mrs Carlson in the east
during the Guinness murder reign IN
Indiana was confirmed by a woman
who told the prosecutor she knew
Mrs. Carlson when the latter lived
in Hartford, Conn.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
Girl Cause OF
Fatal Accident

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 81, U,P)
"A seven -year-old San Francisco
girl cried bitterly today as She told
authorities how she had caused
the death of her -ycar-old
brother because she lacked the
knowledge to operate an apartment
house elevator.
Marjorie Chaplin. daughter OF
Floyd j. Chaplin, the apartment
janitor. said she and her brother
Billy entered the elevator after 60
ing to a store for candy. She en-
tered first, closed safety gate in
Billy's face and pushed the starting
button. Billy was pinned by the
gate and crushed to death. Terri
fled, Marjorie was unable to stop
the car until her brothers. body
had fallen down the shaft,
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
GAWlLL--
R!y]'t;

BEVERLY HILLS, Feb.
26. (Special) = The stock
market is picking up so
that makes the rich boys
feel a little better. Lot of
appropriations bills for
government eXpendit ur c
have been passed. Busi-
ness in general in the last
four or five weeks looks
better. But all that has
nothing to do with the
folks that the Red Cross
has to feed.
U. S. Steel can go to a
thousand and one, Au-
burns to a million, but that
don't bring one biscuit to a
poor old negro family of
Is in Arkansas w h o
haven't got a chance to get
a single penny in money
till their little few bales Of
cotton are sold away next
fall.
That some places haven't
reached their Red Cross
quota j ust don't seem
possible. Just because it's
getting warm, that don't
help these folks appetite
any.
Yours, WILL ROGERS.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
SCRIPPS-HOWARD
OBTAIN WORLD
FOR LARGE sum
S5,OO0,O00 Reported AS
Price OF Metropolitan
Newspaper

NEW YORK, Feb 27. U.P)-The
New York World, nationally known
institution, passed out of existence
today and in its place was born the
World-Telegram, an afternoon pa
per dedicated to perpetuation of the
independent ideals of two of Amer
ica's greatest liberal journalists
E. w. Scripps and Joseph Pulitzer,
Sr.
This consolidation was accom-
plished in the early hours of today
shortly after Surrogate Judge James
A. Foley ruled favorably OH peti-
ton filed by the Pulitzer trustees
to alter terms of the Pulitzer will
by selling the Morning, Evening and
Sunday Worlds. Foley held in sub
stance, it was not only the right but
the duty of Pulitzer IS sonS-Ralph
Joseph and Herbert-to dispose OF
the financially Improbable news
paper properties to conserve estate
assets for the Pulitzer heirs.
Normal acquisition of the World
papers by the Scripps-Howard m
terests, publishers of the New York
Evening Telegram, was made just
before "thirty''- newspaperman IS
symbol for the end-was written on
the World The newspaper, which
had achieved a reputation as one
| of the preeminent liberal and cru
sading journals in the country, hao
| been operated continuously by the
Pulitzers since the family acquired
it in the latter half of the last CEN
tury.
Upon taking over the World as
sets. Roy W. Howard, chairman OF
the board of ScrippS- paid
as first installment 100000. said to
be the largest such payment ever
made in a newspaper deal in this
country.
To Aid Employees
The PulitzerS, meantime, an
nounced they would set aside from
proceeds of the sale $500,000 "to be
distributed among employees under
the terms of the plan to be an
nounced later.'
Howard already had agreed that
a second payment of $4,000 would
be forthcoming in 80 days. The to-
tai purchase price, it was under
stood, was SIS 100000.
The sale came as the climax OF a
dramatic Sc hour struggle on the
part of various interests, backed by
millions of dollars, to acquire the
World papers. Yesterday Paul Block,
chain newspaper publisher and ad-
vertising man, withdrew as bidder,
while David Stern, publisher of the
Philadelphia Record, and Frank
Gannett, who owns group OF east
ern papers, entered as contestants
for the purchase. In the back
ground, fighting to keep alive the
papers to which they had devoted
many years of service, employees OF
the World in a cooperative associa-
ton vainly sought delay of the sale.
They announced that they had
pledges from employees and other
sources totaling 100000, exclusive
of the promise of one prominent
man to aid with $1,000,00o and OF
others to give 100000.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
SOL0NS ADJOURN
PENDING BATTLE
ON MANY BILLS
Reapportionment Tangle
To Be Threshed Out By
Assembly Committee
BY HOMER l.. ROBERTS
United Press Staff Correspondent

SACRAMENTO, Cal, Feb. 81
tU.H-Preparing to begin an i'm
mediate attack upon the controver-
sial subject of reapportionment, the
state legislature held a short ses-
sion today and adjourned for the
weekend.
Before adjournment, however, a
subcommittee of the assembly re-
apportionment committee began
work toward untangling the vari-
Gus redlstributing proposals now
before the main committee.
The committee is composed Of As
semblyman Harry Sewell, Whittier;
William G. Bonelli, Los Angeles;
Robert l.. Patterson, Taft; William
|B. Hornblower, San Francisco;
Harry l.. Parkman, San Mateo. and
Edward Craig, Brea.
This group is beginning first
with the work of assembly redis-
tricting After this is COMPLETED
it will start on the new congression-
al districts. Both will be based on
.the new 1890 federal census figures.
A bill by Senator II. j. Lewis of
Monrovia was before the legisla-
ture today proposing that members
of the legislature be prohibited
from employing any of their fam
lilies as attaches.
The measure would hit large
number of senator's and assembly
men who have their sons, daugh-
ters and other relatives employed
as clerks or stenographers. The
proposal would be included as an
amendment which would increase
the sum allowed for daily expendi-
lures in both houses of the legisla-
ture.
Removal of the burden Of edu-
cational costs from local taxpayers
is sought by AsSemblyman 3. J.
Fleigenbaum, San Francisco, in a
proposed constitutional amendment
to revise the plan of state contri-
button to schools.
Under this plan, the state would
be required to share more of the
county tax burden for educationa'
purposes. If adopted, he explained
within 10 years, local real estate
would be responsible for only 81
per cent of the cost of government
as compared with . 80 per cent a
present.
Frown On Chewing
School children must give IL,
! chewing tobacco, if a bill recon-
mended today by the senate com
mittee on education is adopted. j
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
American War
Hero HOnOred

PARIS, Feb. 81. U,R-Thc 10th
anniversary of the death of Ed
ward Mandell Stone, of Chicago,
first American killed in the World
war, was observed today with a
ceremony before the monument to
Americans who died for France.
American and French war veter-
ans, many of them with an arm or
leg missing, gathered before the
monument and placed wreaths in
memory Of the first American blood
split in the war.
Edward Mandell Stone was shot
in action on February IT, 1918. dy-
ing 10 days later in hospital at
Romilly Sur Seine. He had just
observed his 9th birthday a few
Gays before his death. He was on
guard, in his machine gun COM
pany, when the Germans started
fierce bombardment Stone refused
to quit his post. He was buried in
the village of Revillion, about eight
miles from Fismes.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
VERDICT
C0NV|(2TS
GANGSTER
'Scarface Az CapOne Is
Guilty of Contempt In
Federal Court
DELAY JAIL TERM
Six Months Sentence I'M
posed - On :. Notorious
Chicago Leader

CHICAGO, Feb. 81. U.P)-"Scar-
face" Al Capone was found guilty
of contempt of federal court today
by Judge James H. Wilkerson and
sentenced to six months in jail.
The judge made his decision un-
eXpectedly as soon as final argu-
ments were finished. He had been
expected to take the case under
advisement.
The gang leader. forewarned by
remarks of the judge during the
final arguments, gulped and flushed
when the Jail sentence was de-
creed. He refused to comment.
The decision marked the first
time in Capone's 10 years of gang
leadership in Chicago that he had
been convicted in a local court.
The only other conviction behind
his name was in Philadelphia in
1929 and that for carrying a pistol.
The contempt case grew out of
Capone' alleged illness at his Mi
ami, Fla, estate in March, 1929
when the government ordered him
to appear here and tell what he
knew about the Chicago Heights Ii
quor conspiracy. Instead of appear
ing, Capone, sent an affidavit that
! he was too i'll to travel and that
/ the Chicago climate would be dam
| gerous to his condition.
The government introduced sew
eral witnesses at the hearing in tht
last two days to testify that the ganl
! leader was not Ill, but attended thu
races and took airplane rides dur.
ing the time he swore he was suf-
! ferlne from pneumonia.
Judge Wilkerson granted Capone
a stay of execution until Monday
when his bail of $4,000 will be con-
| tinued and an appeal entered. Ca
pone's attorney said the court OF
appeals probably would not act un-
til August and that Capone would
be free on bond until then.
The judge selected the Cook coun-
ty jail as Capone S prison.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
VETERAN
MEASURE:
NOW LAW
Senate Loses No Time In
Repassing Bill Despite
HOOver's Veto
HASTINGS is NASTY
Delaware Senator Kissed
For ScurrilOus Remark
During Debate

WASHINGTON, Feb. 81. U.P) -
The senate today passed the vet
erans' loan bill over President
Hoover S veto ard the measure be-
came a law.
The vote in the senate was rs u
II The vote yesterday in the house
was 1923 to 10.
The bill. vetoed yesterday was
Immediately passed for the second
time by the house by an overwhelm-
ing ma jority, and sent to the sen
ate. The senate, however, chose u
hold 1t over until today when it be-
came the first order of business.
Shouts and Kisses came from the
galleries during the debate when
Senator Hastings, Republican, Del
aware, said there were veterans who
would steal the certificates from
their wives and go out and borrow
money to spend the night with an
other woman"
Immediately there were cries OF
No, no, no and Senator Moses.
Republican, New Hampshire, who
was presiding, called loudly for Or
dtl. Ilt lidd JuoN pit'iotoiJ NuibeNs
against applause. Attendants
rushed about the gallery quieting
the visitors as n storm of senatorial
reproof descended on Hastings
head
Name one soldier who Will do
that" demanded Senator Barkley
Democrat. Kentucky, but Hastings
would not be trapped. He said
Barkley knew as well as he that
it would happen.
After the angry outburst over
the Delawarean's speech had sub
sided, senators followed in rapid
order for and against the bill. The
vote came at 2:l4 p. m.
President Hoover in his veto mes
sage had assailed the theory and
practice of the loan proposal He
said it would be a serious burden
on the treasury, would help the
veterans relatively little. and would
set a dangerous precedent.
The bill as enacted provides a
flat loan value on adjusted COM
pensation certificates of so per
cent of the maturity face value,
less the principal and interest of
any prior loans. 1t also reduces
the interest rate to Az per cent.
In order to negotiate n loan, vet
eran must have had his policy at
least two years.
Thus a veteran whose policy calls
for a full value Of 81 900 can bor-
row $500 at Az per cent interest
compounded annually. If he has
borrowed in the past, the full
amount due on his previous loans
will be deducted
Previously a veteran was abled to
borrow a maximum of 22ia per
cent. with the exact loan value
based on acturial statistics. The
interest was rate fixed at two per
cent above the current federal re-
serve rediscount rate for the dis
count in which the loan was made.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
Delay Pantages
Suit To June

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 27. UP
On stipulation of counsel, the
Sl.000000 damage suit of Eunice
Pringle, dancer, against Alexander
Pantages. theatre magnate. charg-
ing criminal attack, today was con-
tinued until June.
The delay was asked by the girls
attorneys who said they felt the
pending decision of the state su-
premc court on Pantages' appeal
from a conviction of attacking the
girl might nave some effect on the
status of the damage suit.
Trial date for the case was to
have been fixed next Monday
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
MachadO's Aide
In Bomb Plot

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb. 81. U,P)-
The arrest of Major Manuel Espi-
nosa, aide to President Gerardo
Machado, was announced today in
connection with a bomb explosion in
the palace on Monday.
There were rumors circulated
that prominent persons were in
volved and that the sentinel,
charged with placing the bomb, had
received S6,000 The sentinel is held
at Aires fortress.
The name of a former mayor was
mentioned in connection with the
bomb plot. The bomb wrecked q
room Of the palace.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
Promises Vets
Quick Action

WASHINGTON, Feb. %. (U.P)
The veterans bureau is ready
to proceed Immediately with
the distribution of loans to
needy veterans, General Hines,
chief of the bureau said this
afternoon.
81 can issue the first check
i'm five minutes" Hines de-
clared.
Sealed instructions on hand
ling the loans have been sent
the regional offices throughout
the country, he said.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
WOMAN'S DEATH NATURAL

SAN DIEGO, Cal. Feb. 27. W,R)-
Mrs. Helen Grace Appel, actress
and writer, and widow of Nathan
Appel, New York theatre magnate,
died of natural causes. the coroner
announced here today. Mrs. Appel,
who was found dead in her home
on February 81, suffered from heart
disease, it was said.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-27
WHAT'S DOING
TONIGHT

TONIGHT
Dinner dance, 7, Barbara.
Worth hotel.
Reserve officers dinner, Z,
Barbara Worth hotel.
McCabc Eucalyptus farm
center, 7:45. McCabe school.
o. f. 5. No. 276, 3, Masonic
Temple.
Boxing, $3.50. FL Centre arena.
Associated chambers of COM
merce. I. Holtvillc civic center.
Troop 25. B.S.A., 1880, Nc
Cabe school.
Troop 81, B.S.A., 1880, NJ. L.
social hall.
Mosehcart Legion, 8, Moose
home.
Brunk's Comedians, 8, Imper-
ial avenue.
Fox Imperial Theatre, Finn
and Hattie"
TOMORROW
Story hour, 1890, city library.
Junior matinee, 2:15, Fox I'M
perial Theatre.
Golf tournament, Barbara
Worth country club.
Track meet, 1889, high school.