davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-08
CRASH VICTIMS
IDENTITY PROVES
DIFFICULT WORK
Woman Killed Near Holt
vile Not Mrs. Burdette
AS First Believed.

Who was the woman killed Th Irs-
day night near Holtyille, and first
believed to have been Mrs. b. r.
Burdette of Long Beach2
This is the question Sheriff
Campbell and his deputies arc try
ing to answer today and they have
enlisted the services of the police
of Southern California, To help
them.
A coroners jury, conducting an
inquest yesterday, held the woman
responsible for her own death, wnen
she drove the car IL which she was
riding with II. p. Bowen of Ell Ca
jon. directly in the path of a truck
operated by Phillip Murray of Los
Angeles.
Bowen stuck to his story that he
had picked up the woman and a
male companion enroute from San
Diego and that after few drinks
with them did not remember any,
thing until he woke up III the hos
pital yesterday morning Murray
and others who witnessed the wreck,
stated there was no second man in
the car.
A bathing cap, found ir the car,
which bore the name ard address
of Mrs. b. f. Burdette, 2121 Euca-
lyptus avenue, Long Beach, seemed
to give clue to the Woman's iden-
tity, but was exploded last night
when the sheriffs office got in
communication with the Burdettes.
Burdette is a fireman III Long
Beach and informed the sheriff'5
office that he and his wife had Just
returned from a vacation trip. On
their way to San Diego they had
given lift to a woman and Mrs
Burdette's bathing cap was loaned
to her when the party went in bath
ing.
The woman informed the Bur
dettes that she was going to San
Diego to join a companion whom
she named as Edith" and the two
Of them expected to drive across the
country to New York She did not
mention the last name of Edith"
The San Diego police have been
requested to broadcast a description
Of the dead woman over the radio
in the hope that the mysterious
Edith" will make herself known.
Aside from the name in the bath
ing cap there was nothing on the
woman by which she might be
be identified
The body is being held at Fields
funeral parlors in Ho1tville. pend
ing funeral arrangements.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-08
BIRTHDAY PARTY
PROVES TO Be
JUST TOO WET
-

Luther Kelly was having BIRTH
day party at 110i2 Olive street last
night, when Officers Mayo, Clark
Voyles and Walker called in as un-
invited guests.
This morning Luther was before
Judge Simpson in police court and
made an Intellectual attempt to ex-
plain why he and his guests needed
so much liquid refreshment for
their party.
The unlimited guests found Ia
quarts and 90 pints of beer, 20 GAL
Ions of mash and quart of whis-
key
Kelly was found guilty of pos
session and was fined $3.50 with an
alternative of rs days in Jail His
guests will have to visit him at the
Jail for the next few weeks for he
didn't have the money to pay the
fine.
The same uninvited guests visit
ed liz State street and arrested
Robert Craig, also charged with
possession. The officers found ia
quarts of beer in the house. Craig
was released until Monday on $25
bail.
Alvin Burkley, picked up in the
freight yards early this morning
for investigation, was allowed to go
for lack of evidence against him.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-08
GERMANY
DESIRES
TO BUY
Makes Government Offer
For Half Million Tons
Of Wheat.
COTTON REJECTED
Federal Farm Board Re-
fuses Terms Proposed
For Purchase.

BERLIN, Aug. g. U.P)-The Ger
man government has offered to
buy 100000 tons of Unitod States
wheat for delivery in the spring Of
1882.
The United Press learned today
that such an offer was handed yes
terday to Frederic NJ. Sackett, Am
erican ambassador. to be forward
ed to Washington.
The offer envisaged purchases OF
three grades of hard wheat on a
basis of a three year credit bearing
interest at Az per cent.
The German offer originally sug-
gested a fluctuating price scale, it
was learned. Subsequently it in
cluded terms fixed in advance, but
price was understood to be still a
matter of difficulty.
The federal farm boards rejec-
ton of the German cotton purchase
offer was communicated to the
German government today, and the
government had the message un-
der examination. Washington's a.
tentative scheme as embodied in
the communication would enable
the Germans to buy direct from
United States cotton producers.
Today's new offer with reference
to wheat, which would provide pur-
chase of almost 100000 bushels
of farm board stock, was not ex-
pected in view of large German
crops.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-08
MRS. HOOVER TO
CHRISTEN HUGE
NAVY DIRICIBLE

AKRON, O., Aug. 8. U,P)-Air-
planes roared over surging crowds
here today to pay tribute to the
worlds largest dirigible that was to
be christened by Mrs Herbert
Hoover as the u. S. N. Akron.
The new titan of the skies was to
be air born" at 2:30 p. m, before
officials and an estimated 10000
spectators in the Goodyear -zeppe-
lin airdock.
Goodyear employees moved the
great ship to the mouth Of the
hangar last night, floating the 221,-
600 pounds of metal and fabric to
the christening mooring with ap-
parent ease. The IL gas compart-
mentS of the ship were filled with
just enough helium to lift it,
christening OF the Akron marks
the climax to the government S
plans for a superlative dirigible,
plans that date back seven years.
The navy's two Prize aircraft then
were the Shenandoah and the Los
Angeles which had just been deliv-
cred from Germany.
With no definite prospects for a
new craft but to keep abreast of
progress, preliminary work was
started by the bureau of aeronau-
tics to design a superior dirigible,
when the Shenandoah encountered
disaster in southern Ohio, the nee
essity of replacement was felt and
in 1926 congress authorized con-
struction of the Akron and her pro-
jected sistership, the zRS-5, which
will be started soon.
Costing more than $5,000,000, the
Akron offers superlative features IN
almost every department of design.
1t is powered by eight gasoline mo-
tors with a maximum speed of S4
miles per hour, and carries suffi-
Cient fuel for a round trip trans
Atlantic flight 1t is 1856 feet long,
1868 feet high, and 1878 feet wide,
Five fighting planes. able to take
off or land" in midair, may be
carried inside the hull of the Akron.
It's compartments provide living
quarters for II men and IL officers
IN addition to plane pilots.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-08
SKELETON OF
WOMAN FOUND
NEAR CALEX[C0

Workmen excavating for an ad-
dition to the ice plant at Calexico,
this morning dug up the remains
of a woman, according to Coroner
A. R. Underwood, who made an in
vestigation.
Only the bones remained and it
was evident that the woman had
been buried long time. The shoes
were fairly intact and in the grave
we're also found beaded purse, an
opal ring, q hair comb, parts of a
blue serge dress and silk shawl.
Aside from the ring and the
comb, Underwood held out little
hope of Identifying the remains. He
was informed by older residents of
Calexico that that was used as a
burying ground in the early days
and this apparently explained the
presence of the skeleton.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-08
WORKERS
QUIT ON
DAM JOB
Three Hundred LabOrers
AT Boulder Dam Vote
To Lay Down Tools.
RADICALS BLAMED
Reduction In Wages Is
Cause For Tunnel Men
Walking Out.

LAS VEGAS, New, Aug. g. WP)-
The strike of Hoover Dam workers
assumed threatening proportions
today when approximately 30C
workers voted to lay down theil
tools.
The men, surface men, miners
and carpenters, joined some lbs
tunnel workers who struck ycSter
day and were understood to have
sent emiSSarieS to every camp on
the project demanding a sympa-
thetic walkout.
The move followed announcement
OF a wage cut made just before the
morning shift began, but it had
been forecast by a slash of 81 day
In the wages of tunnel workers, all
of whom promptly quit
Spokesman denied that organized
labor or the l. w. w. or similar or
ganizationS were behind the move,
characterized as "a general suspen-
sion OF work, rather than a strike. .
All workmen affected in the
walkout were from the Riveer camp.
an outlying spot Delegates were
sent to WilliamsWlle, where many
workers live, and Boulder City. GEN.
ter of operations At Williamsville.
according to reports, workmen ex-
pressed themselves as in sympathy
with the strikers. which develop
ment workers said foreshadowed a
general walkout. Meetings were
called at Boulder City.
Later, it was understood. a con-
ference with company representa-
tives will be held. where Workmen
are expected to demand s5 a day
; for surface men. $3.50 for tunnel
workers, Sc for miners and Sc for
carpenters.
They also will ask:
Improvements in sanitary condi-
mons at the River camp.
That all be returned to their
Jobs, without discrimination, after
demands are met.
That ice water be supplied until
drinking fountains are installed.
That dry rooms be installed at
all tunnel entrances, a safety miner
placed in each heading and an
eight-hour day be made standard
in every camp.
Frank Grove, superintendent for
the Six Companies, Inc, of San
Francisco, contractors for the half :
billion dollar project, denied the
trouble was serious, admitting that
perhaps a hundred or more men"
had quit.
The minimum wage now paid la
Dor is so cents an hour, Grove said
and the average wage is 56 cents.
The discomfort is manifested
largely as result of l. w. w. agi-
tation," Grove said. The COM
pany will be glad TO get rid of all
men involved"
He did not pretend TO speak Off
cially for the Six companies.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-08
DESERT INDIANS
PREPARING FOR
SNAKE DANCE
By GEORGE ID. CRISSEY
United Press Staff Correspondent

PHOENIX, Ariz., Aug g. U.P)-
Indian runners sped across north
ern Arizona today carrying word to
snake clansmen of the Hopi peo-
pie that time for their annual rat
tlesnake dance is approaching
High priests of the tribe gazed
long and earnestly at the moon
and stars, reading therein signs di-
recting them to stage the dance,
which is a prayer for rain, on Aug.
10 and 20.
Word spread rapidly throughout
Hopiland which was necessary as
much work remains to be done,
Many reptiles-"little brothers of
the underworld'-rem to be
gathered from the desert and guam
titles of a mysterious fluid rend-
ering the deadly bite of rattler
harmless. must be prepared.
Two high cliff-supported villages,
far from the beaten path of travel,
will be the scenes of the thrilling
ceremonies in which the Hopi In
dams worship their own gods in
their own way, just as their fore
fathers have for thousands OF
years
Weird chants and fantastic act
ing feature the snake dance. Tho
chanters beat out time while pranc-
ing braves dance over the field
with snakes dangling from their
mouths and hands.
The plea of the priests, while the
snakes are being fondled, is di-
rected to the reptiles.
For hours the dancing n d
chanting continues until, toward
the close of day. the participants
rush toward the center of the field
and hurl the rattlers in squirming
pile.
The dancers back away and re-
main motionless for moment.
Then, at a shrill cry from the
priests, they rush forward and carry
armloads of snakes to the north,
south, east and west-freeing them
so they may return with their mes
sage to the gods of the under
world" who Hopis believe, control
the rains.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-08
AIR ACTIVITIES
GET new TITLE
FOR ST. LOUIS

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 8. W.P) st.
Louis, known as the "cross roads of
the nation" because of its central
location, now is known as the
cross roads of the air" after years
of struggle to establish itself as a
gigantic airmail center.
The first airmail was flown here
on October 4, 1911. The flight
was in the nature of stunt, mail
being carried from Kinloch Park
to Fairgrounds Park by Walter
Brookins-but it was the first time
mail had ever been flown. So re-
cent establishing of two new mail
routes with st. Louis as a pivot
point has an added significance.
These two new routes, one south
ward to Memphis and New Orleans,
New York, actually have increased
the service here to the point where
the chamber of commerce has a
sound basis for its "croSs roads of
the air" slogan.
st. Louis previously had direct
airmail line to Chicago, and direct
air mail service to the southwest
In addition a line to Evansville,
Ind, links with the Nashville-At-
lanta route, while mail for the Pa
cific coast is shunted through here
via Kansas City.
With these established lines, and
the two new ones. st. Louis be-
comes q great airmail junction, in
which mail is Shunted to all parts
of the nation.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-08
Mx& R1~~
. Isss n,a..sAs synAssa.&l.
YOUNG BANDITS
GIVEN TERMS IN
PRESTON SCHOOL

Confinement in the Preston school
at lone until they are 81 years old,
was the sentence imposed yesterday
afternoon by Judge Vaughn N.
Thompson on Earl Bonner and Guy
Adams, Imperial Valleys ragged
boy bandits" who were arraigned
before him in the juvenile court.
Parents of both boys we're in court
Nth proof that they are under 13
years of age. The court, in passing
sentence, made their terms condi-
tional upon their behavior at lone
If there is any complaint from
there about their conduct they will
be brought back here for sentence
to the state prison, under the pro-
visions of the juvenile law, District
Attorney Heald said.
Both Bonner, also known as
"Toughy" Baker, and Adams were
smiling when ushered into the
court room for their juvenile hear
ing. They were forced to wait al
most an hour before two other cases
were disposed of.
Called to the stand to tell o.
! their depredations, the youths made
a clean breast of every robbery anc
holdup staged by them during re-
cent months, and expressed peni-
tence.
Parents of both boys were in the
court room to attend the hearing
as was a crowd of curious specta-
tors.
The boys were formally charged
with robbery of the Richfield serv-
ice station near the county airport,
and of the Planters hotel garage IN
Brawley. Ir both instances they
used automatics, but were without
masks.
1t was robbery of the Richfield
service station that led to their ar
rest, for Chester Collins, attendant
who was held up recognized Bonner
as "Toughy" Baker, whom he has
seen about Brawley, Ell Centre and
Jacumba.
Harold Gillett and Fred Elliott,
accompanied by Lon Cramer, Braw-
ley police chief, and the father of
the Adams boy, arrested the youths
in Calexico while their car was be-
ing repaired in a Calexico garage.
The boys later said they would
have been out of Imperial Valley
and on their way east, within two
hours. They had been sought by
officers for two days before the ar
rest was made.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-08
CLARK DEFENSE
FIGHTS AGAINST
GIRLS EVIDENCE
Stenographer's Story Of
Shooting May Send Ac-
Cused To Gallows.
BY GEORGE II. BEALE
UNITED Press Staff Correspondent

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 8. W.9 49,
Going about her duties as a steno-
grapher today, Miss Mildred Billy
Rohrback, young and pretty, realized
that what she says next Monday
morning may possibly send Dave
Clark, former deputy district attor-
ney, to the gallows.
Any doubt about the importance
credited her testimony was cleared
away late yesterday when attorneys
defending Clark on the charge that
he killed Herbert Spencer, political
magazine writer, succeeded tempo
rarily in preventing her taking the
witness stand.
The state claims that Miss Rohr-
back will definitely identify Clark
as the man who walked calmly from
the office of Charles Crawford,
prominent politician, just few sec
onds after Crawford and Spencer
were fatally wounded.
Thinking Of the impression Mise
Rohrbacks testimony might make If
given just before the weekend re-
cess and without the defense hav-
ing a chance to cross examine her,
Attorney w. I. Gilbert began a
court filibuster.
He carried the cross examination
of one witness to such tedious
lengths that he drew court censure
but finally succeeded in getting an
adjournment until Monday because
Attorney Leonard Wilson, asso-
ciated with him, had to "get a train
to San Diego
This witness will take no longer
than Is minutes on direct examina-
tion," Special Prosecutor Joseph
Ford told the court.
"She will take hours" Gilbert
said.
Il don't blame you,' Ford said
to Gilbert when the adjournment
was granted, "for not wanting to
hear the bad news"
Miss Rohrback will say, accord
ing to the state, that she was typ
ing in the office adjoining Craw-
ford's when she heard noise like
two shots. She ran to the door i'm
mediately and encountered a man
the state claims was Clark. He hao
just walked out of Crawfords Of
flee.
Her testimony will about con-
clude the circumstantial case the
state has built in an attempt to
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-08
McNabb Holds
Federal Officer

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 8, U.P)-
Because United States Attorney
Samuel McNabb upheld the right
of United States commissioners to
use their discretion in issuing war
rants, the requested investigation
of United States Commissioner
Maurice Enderlee at Santa Ana to-
day had been denied
McNabb told Deputy Prohibition
Administrator Walter l.. Peters,
who made the complaint. that En-
derlee's obligation to issue warrants
for arrest of liquor violstors was
discretionary"
Tho commissioner based his re-
fusal because of his impending
resignation from office.
The complaint was made after
federal agents failed to receive war
rants for the arrest of three assert
ed proprietors of Santa Ana boot
leg establishments.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-08
mHlnLdL-,e
W SOS:

BEVERLY HILLS, Aug. 7.
tSpeciaD-My wife and daugh-
ter just off the boat today from
Honolulu with a ukelele under
one arm and a surf board under
the other. They claim it's a
great vacation spot. They visit
ed some of the big cattle
ranches. That and that hula
stuff would hit me better than
trying to stand on my head on
a board.
Say, my old friend, Jim Reed
of Missouri, and Jim generally
knows what he is talking about,
says the government is in the
bootlegger business. Lord, as
far behind as the treasury is
now, they got to get into some
thing that pays. Our governor
of California wants everybody
to take a six days vacation.
That won't affect over 10 per
cent of our people. Yours,
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-08
U. s. BUILDING
AT FRENCH FAIR
TO BE DRY SPOT

PARIS, Aug. 8. U.H-The French
Mount Vernon, replica of George
Washington mansion, erected at
the Colonial Exposition. is going to
obey the prohibition amendment
and is the dryest spot in Paris.
c. Blascom Slemp, American high
commissioner at the exposition
decided q I h at Mount vernon
would be kept dry, even at the ex-
pense of exciting ridicule. There
have been a number of garden par
ties there this summer, under the
trees of the Vincennes forest but
the punch was unspiked fruit juices.
This is just another bit of Amer
ican soil and the prohibition amend
ment to our constitution applies
here just as much as it does in the
states at home; our parties will
certainly not be wet and our punch
es will be above reproach,' Slemp
said.
Embassy officials were not asked
for a ruling, but pointed out today
that the Embassy, which is also
considered as American soil, is
wet" and that cocktails and wines
are served at Embassy functions.
Most of the buildings at the eX-
position and all of the restaurants
are wet" and at all the official
functions champagne corks pop and
native liquors provide enthusiastic
atmosphere. For visitors to the ex-
position there are 81 cocktail bars
and two beer gardens, one of which
is adjoining the American building,
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-08
ElOpement Ends
In Divorce Suit

SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. 8. U.P)-
The elopement and marriage Of
Francis Johnston Sloane, socially
prominent New York, and Gwendo-
lyn Whittingham Sloane, artist and
stage designer, neared an end in
San Francisco divorce courts today
with Mrs. Sloane filing suit on
charges of desertion.
Mrss. Sloane, who said she left
a Pasadena art colony for San
Francisco in hopes of avoiding
publicity, recited in her suit that
two ceremonies we're performed.
After a whirlwind courtship, Mrs
Sloane stated, they eloped to Van
tura and were married February IL
1920. Then at the insistence OF
Sloane's family for a church we'd
ding. they married again February
20, 1922, In Pasadena.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-08
Ma Kennedy Off
To See Hudson

LAS VEGAS, New, Aug. 8. W.P)-
Mrs. Minnie Ma" Kennedy, mother
of Aimee Semple Mcpherson, was
expected here today to see the Rev.
c.. Edward (What-A NAM Hudson,
whose marriage to her was annulled
recently in Los Angeles when it was
determined that he already was
wed to Mrs. Margaret Newton Hud-
son.
Hudson came here several days
ago and Immediately hired legN |
counsel, presumably to permit him
to file suit for divorce from Mrs.
Newton Hudson.
Before she left Los Angeles. Mrs.
Kennedy said she decided it would
be cheaper to come here to see
Hudson than to continue paving for
long distance telephone calls.
Mr.. Hudson and I are wearing
our wedding rings again." Mrs
Kennedy said, "and you can guess
that we intend to get married again
as soon as all the legal troubles are
settled"
Mrs. KGlnedy promised Hudson
"a great big kiss when we meet"
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-08
LINDBERCHS HAVE
DIFFICULT TRIP
TO PIT. BARROW
Fog And Headwinds Fail
To Keep Colonel And
Wife On Ground.

POINT BARROW. Alaska. Aug. 8.
W.P)-This far north settlement of
about $50 Eskimos and eight adult
whites received one of its few
thrills when Colonel and Mrs.
Charles A. Lindbergh landed their
monoplane in lagoon here at 2
a. m. (PST) today.
The flying couple, enroute to
Japan on leisurely vacation
iaunt, made the 535 mile flight
from Aklavik, N. w. T, through fog
and against headWinds in six and
half hours.
Natives came out in their skin
boats and flags were flying In the
village to welcome Colonel Lind
bergh and his wife as he brought
the scarlet and black monoplane to
graceful landing.
1t was foggy and misty but it did
not hamper the enthusiasm of the
natives. Colonel Lindbergh snd
wife also appeared particularly hap
py to reach Point Barrow after their
enforced wait at Aklavik
The Lindberghs left Aklavik at
7:30 p. m. (PST) Friday after be-
ing held for three days and two
nights by bad weather along their
route to Point Barrow.
Their journey during the night
was over a flat. desolate Arctic
country. Lindbergh battled fog and
headwinds a good part of the way.
Point Barrow's population was
augmented by about 20 other Es-
kimos, who came from nearby vii
lagos to see Americas most dis
tinguished flying couple. They chat
tered necessarily as the plane
swooped down to the lagoon and
could hardly wait until Colonel
Lindbergh and his wife were brought
ashore.
1t was said that the flying couple
might leave late today or early
Sunday for the coast guard cutter
Northland, which is at Icy Cape,
about 14O miles southwest of here.
The cutter has supply of fuel
for the Lindbergh plane. Although
the ice pack was fairly solid in
places 1t was assumed that Colonel
Lindbergh would have little diff
Guilty in landing alongside the
Northland
After refueling the Lindberghs
probably will continue down thc
coast past Port Lay, then over the
village of Kotzebue and skirt the
Seward peninsula along the edge Of
Bering Sea past Fairway Cape down
! the coast to Nome.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-08
This Fire Never
Had A Chance

SANTA ROSA. Cal. Aug. 8. U.p)
With $50 California fire chiefs as
sembled nearby at a convention, a
fire breaking out in an abandoned
tannery here never had a chance.
The flames resisted valiantly for
a time, but it was obvious from the
start that there was too much tai
ent opposing it.
When the $50 visiting firemen had
put out the fire, they returned to
their convention last night. re-
elected Captain William A. Myers
of Los Angeles as president and
Harry Strasser of San Diego as sec
retary. and adjourned. They meet
in San Diego next year.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-08
TALL CORNERS PICNIC

LONG BEACH, Cal, Aug 3. UP)
The Iowa Association of South
ern California, boasting 100000
members, all former residents of
Iowa, held its annual picnic reunion
here today.
Congressman Joe Grail and Ut.
Governor Frank Merriam, both for
mer Iowans, we're leading speakers.
Special ceremonies were held to
honor 200 couples who have been
married more than SO years.