davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-26

SACRAMENTO, April 26. - A
week from today California voters
will participate in two elections
the presidential primary and the
special election on referendum
measures.
National interest, however, con-
tinueS to center on a three
cornered fight in the Democratic
party for control of the delegation
to the party's national convention
in June.
The three candidates in the
field are Gov. Franklin D. Roose-
welt, Speaker John N. Garner and
Alfred E. Smith.
No challenger has thus far ap-
peared against President Hoover
as the Republican candidate. That
party's chief object, therefore, re-
mains to poll as large vote as
possible, in the face of marked
gains in Democratic registrations
all over the state.
Only one other party, the pro-
hibitionists, has qualified a candi-
date for president in the forth
Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-26
YOUNG SLAYER
WILL UNDERGO
SANITY TESTS

PHOENIX, AriZ., April 26. U.P)-
Bobby Merrill, 13, who in a fit of
rage shot and killed his father and
wounded his mother and brother,
faced tests today to determine
whether he was mentally reSpon-
Sible.
Juvenile court authorities took
charge of him for psychological
and physiological examination. The
state may intervene to try him un-
der the regular statutes if he is
found responsible for the act, 9TH
erWise he will be sent to q reform
school, asylum or other such inSti-
tuition for reform or correction.
Bobby was returned to the Phoe-
nix county Jail last night after go
ing to Mesa for an inquest over
the body of his father, r. w. Mer-
rill, former mayor of Gilbert.
A coroner's jury found that Mer-
rill came to his death at the hands
of his son, and County Attorney
Lloyd j. Andrews faced the neces-
sity of bringing charges against
him should he be found responsible.
Bobby, popular Boy Scout and a
good student in the eighth grade,
went into a rage when forced to
attend a picture show when he
wanted to go horseback riding Sat-
urday.
Appearing suddenly in the door,
way of his parents bedroom, he
shouted warning and began
shooting. His father droped, shot
through the heart, and his mother
was shot through the neck. A third
bullet lodged in the hip of his
brother, Charles, IL.
The mother testified at the in
quest that he had acted queerly all
week, resenting orders and being
stubborn
Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-26
FEDERAL OFFICER
AMBUSHED DURING
LIQUOR BATTLE

MIAMI, Fla, April 26. U.P)-Rum
runners kidnapped and murdered D.
A. Romberger, United States GUS
toms board patrolman at Dania
Beach, near here, today, police re-
ported.
Romberger was seized last night
when he went with a group of
other officers to investigate re-
port that rum runners planned to
land a cargo of liquor at Dania
Beach.
The patrolman left the other
officers to guard a man found in
an automobile near the beach and
went around the cove to investigate
further, according to Patrolman c.
A. Brand, who was in the group.
Later they heard two bullets
whine through the night, Brand
said. They rushed to the scene and
found evidences of a struggle. Rom
berger apparently had been wound
ed, but attempted to fight off his
captors.
A search last night failed to re-
veal any trace of the patrolman's
abductors. Today, however, Rom
bergers body was found by w. r.
Hood, another customs patrolman.
Two men, giving the names of
Barney Baulom and j. E. Gornto,
we're arrested and held for investi-
cation.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-26
MARINES AVENCE
DEATH OF THEIR
THREE COMRADES

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, April
26. U.Pl - United States marines
leading detachments of Nicaraguan
national guardsmen avenged the
death of three of their marine
comrades when they captured an
insurrectionist headquarters camp
near the Honduran border.
The marine-guardia force OF 40
men drove out 100 insurrectionistS
in a sharp 25-minute battle. One
guardsman was wounded and
three insurrectionists were killed
and several wounded.
When the guardsmen entered
the camp, they found clothing and
equipment belonging to Lieut..
Lawrence c. Brunton, Corporal
Laurin T. Covington and Phorma-
cist Mate Finnis H. Whitehead,
who were killed last week with IL
members of the guards when in
surrectionists wiped out their
patrol from ambush.
Yesterdays attack was led by
marine Sergeants Hamas, Burns
and Wallace, who combined their
detachments against the forces Of
Generals" Carlos Salgado ana
Fulgencio Hernandez After the
insurrectionists were driven from
the camp they made counter at
tacks in which more Of their men
were wounded.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-26
Screen Actress
Granted Divorce

LOS ANGELES April &c. U.p)-
ZaSu Pitts, motion picture actress.
won a divorce today from Thomas
S. Gallery. once a noted film actor
and more lately manager Of the
Hollywood American Legion box
ing stadium.
Superior Judge Lester Roth
granted the decree after Miss pitts
spent little more than a minute In
relating how Gallery packed his
clothes and left home November
"a, 1926, and had not returned.
They were married July "a, 1920.
An agreement between Gallery
and Miss Pitts provides that she
shall have custody Of their daugh-
ter, zasu Ann, aged 0, and an
adopted son, Don Mike Gallery. o.
Den Mike was adopted by Miss
Pitts after the death Of his mother,
Barbara La Mari, noted actress.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-26
Two Killed By
Car Collisions

LOS ANGELES, April 26.-(U.P)-
Two men were dead today and two
others were near death as result of
collisions with street cars during
the night, police reported.
Joe Andrevice, 25-year-old San
Pedro seaman, was killed instantly
and Burt Mooy, also of San Pedro,
was injured Seriously when the au-
tomobile in which they were riding
crashed into a Pacific Electric car.
j. R. Palmer, As, Culver City car
penter, was injured fatally when he
was thrown from his machine by
a terrific impact with street car.
Arthur Bayliss, As, Los Angeles,
walked into the side of a moving
street car despite warning signals
and was hurt badly. His condition
was described by physicians as Sc
rious.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-26
TREND TOWARD
t VOTE ON LIQUOR
MATTER GROWS
Many Dry Leaders Fav-
Or Submitting Prohibi-
ton to People.
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER
United Press Staff Correspondent


WASHINGTON, April 26. - The
swing toward resubmission of the
prohibition issue is penetrating
deeply into dry ranks.
1t is no longer a wet" move
ment.
Evidence is appearing daily of
radical changes in view among
prominent drys. Some of the more
cautious of them are hitching to
various resubmission proposals with
provisos intended TO save them with
their dry friends
There is no doubt among all care
ful observers in Washington that
the procession across the bridge
to the resubmission side is now in
the rush stage.
In Pennsylvania today Senator
James j. Davis (Rep) who two
years ago stood with President
Hoover" on prohibition, was run
ming for denomination as a wet
endorsed by the anti-prohition Or
ganizations.
The Shift in the lineup is now
about to overShadoW most other as
poets of the presidential pre-con-
vention fight. Within the admin
istration, every cabinet member is
ready to support resubmission, as
reported by the United Press last
week. Two of the dryest members
have slightly varying plans for
bringing about a test of sentiment.
President Hoover's position is still
unknown. He prefers to "let the
convention decide"
Missouri offers striking example
of what is going on. The Repub-
lican party has hitherto been dry
there except in st. Louis. Secre-
tary of Agriculture Hyde recently
accepted the resubmission idea and
will fight for it at the Chicago con-
vention. Gov. Henry S. Caulfield,
for some years identified with the
rural dry Republican organization,
has declared for resubmission. Now
| the most conspicuous dry Missouri
Democrat, Charles M. Hay, candi-
date for the senatorial nomination,
long associated with the Anti-Sa-
; loon league as director and attor-
ney, and still believer in the 18th
amendment, has declared for re-
submission.
A few months ago the extreme
drys were doggedly declaring pro-
fhibition was in the constitution tc
stay. They scoffed at all talk of
a change. The stock declaration
was that every congressional elec-
! ton constituted a sufficient refer
endum"
Now the list of those agreeable to
test in one form or another in
clude F. Scott Mcbride, general
superintendent of the Anti-Saloon
League; Bishop James Cannon, Jr.,
and former Gov. Harry F.. Byrd Of
Virginia. Senators and congress-
men are going on record almost
daily for some form of resubmis-
sion.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-26
Wounded Youths
Condition Grave

Hospital attendants today report
ed the condition of Ray Bright, II,
as showing no improvement over
that of the last "a hours. The boy
has been suffering from an acci-
dentally inflicted bullet wound
from a gun in the hands of Wood
row Bright, IA. his brother.
Officers had been informed by
a physician there is little hope for
recovery, and that, even should the
boy live, he will be partially par
ayzed for the remainder of his life.
The accidentally discharged bull
let entered Rays back, striking a
vital nerve center and causing the
condition which may result in his
death. The accident occurred Sun
day morning, at the ranch Of w. A.
Bright on the Dogwood road about
mile south south of the Holt
vile highway.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-26
ONE DEAD
IN SEWER
DISAS
Gas Fatal To Axel Allen
And Death Of Andrew
Jensen Expected.
WRIGHT IS HERO
Imperial Chief OF Police
Risks Life In Attempt
To Rescue Men.

Deadly odorless sewer gas from
Ell Centros decayed outfall sever
today had claimed the second life
in less than a year, and before
nightfall was expected to have re-
suited in the death of another man,
one of California's best-knoWn en-
gineers.
Axel Allen, 259 Blackstone ave-
nue., Fresno, died at lis today,
and the death of Andrew j. Jensen,
former commissioner of public
works at Fresno, was expected mo-
mentarily as nurses and physicians
watched beside his bed in the Ell
Centro hospital this afternoon.
George Wright, Imperial police
chief and hero of the latest sewer
tragedy, was at his home this af-
ternoon suffering from the effects
of gas inhaled when he descended
into a sewer manhole a mile north
of Imperial shortly after o'clock
this morning to bring both Jen-
sen and Allen out, still alive.
The manhole in which Jensen
and Allen were overcome was only
two miles from that in which
James Shannon met his death, in
a similar tragedy, about a year
ago.
The two apparently were in I'm
perial Valley to make technical
inspection of the Ell Centre sewer
system, which has become motor
io,,c IN, Co1iforpio enUipeeriOp cir
cles because of its advanced stages
of decay. Neither Jensen nor Al
len, however, had called upon any
city officials, so far as could be
learned, regarding their proposed
inspection.
They were alone when overcome
by sewer gas. Filipinos working
in a nearby field witnessed the in
cident, and after investigation
summoned Wright, who managed
to drag both men from the dead
ly manhole, with the aid Of the
Filipinos. The Imperial police
chief descended into the manhole
without gas mask.
Daughter Notified
A daughter of Jensen, notified
by the sheriff's office, was on her
way to Ell Centro this afternoon.
A representative Of the Pacific Clay
Pipe Institute, which lately had
retained Jensen as consulting en-
gineer, also was on his way here
from Los Angeles. The daughter
Continued On Page g.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-26

coming election. Their choice is
H. Clay Needham Of Los Angeles
While today's elections in Massa-
chusettS and Pennsylvania are re-
garded as tests Of Roosevelt's
strength as opposed to Alfred E
Smith, in California the test will
be largely between Roosevelt and
Garner, according to political OBJ
servers here.
Interest in the Democratic free
for-all is not centered entirely on
control of the party's AZ votes at
the national convention. A row
between two strong factions fol-
dominance in party affairs will
also be settled at the polls.
Prohibition has, for many years
been the bone of contention in the
Democratic party in this state
The dry element, on one side, has
acknowledged the leadership oil
William Gibbs McAdoo, son-in-lav
of the late President Woodrow
Wilson, while the vets, on the
other, have as their leader Justu'
S. Wardell, state executive com.
mittee chairman.
Wardell heads the delegation
pledged to Governor Roosevelt. Nc
Adoo, however, bone-dry advo-
cate, finds himself part of wet
and-dry coalition behind Garner
that has puzzled many astute po-
litical observers at Sacramento
Gamers chief backer is William
Randolph Hearst, wet newspaper
chain owner.
1t is generally predicted that
McAdoo will become a candidate
for the Democratic nomination for
United States senator this fall
particularly if Garner is nomi-
mated. In this McAdoo is reported
to have the support of Hearst
papers.
Normally Republican state
California assumed new importance
nationally in presidential races be-
cause CT its performance in 1916
That was the year Woodrow Will
son won over Charles E. Hughes
in the golden state by the close
margin of 3773 votes. 1t was Cali
tornia's majority that put Wilson
'over the top in the national
electoral count.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-26
Woman Held On
Narcotic Charge

LOS ANGELES, April &c. U.P)-
Belle Sawyer, 81, said to be a mem
Der of a prominent Miami, Fla,
family, was arrested today by fed
eral agents on a charge of pos
session of narcotics.
Mrs. Sawyer, it was charged, re-
ceived a registered letter contain
ing 80 grains of narcotics, allegedly
mailed to her by r. D. Knowles of
San Antonio, Tex, who police said
was under arrest there in connec-
ton with the case.
She was held in county Jail in
default of $1,000 bond following ar
raignment before a United States
commissioner.
Federal authorities said Mrs.
Sawyer gave evidence last year
which resulted in the conviction
of Charles w. Wall, prominent Mi
ami politician, on a narcotic charge
there.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-26
Swings Aqueduct
Bill Approved

WASHINGTON, April 26. U,P)-
The house public lands committee
today favorably reported the Swing
bill providing right of way over
federal lands for the 266-mile aque-
duct to be constructed by the Los
Angeles Metropolitan Water dis
trict.
The $22o,OOO,OOO aqueduct, which
is to serve 13 Southern California
cities is to be constructed over 200
miles of public land.
In addition TO permitting the
construction of the giant tube, the
committee also approved the dis
trict's application to build roads
and trails and power and COM
munication lines.
In addition, rights of way yet re-
main to be secured from private
property owners, it was said. The
aqueduct extends from a point on
the Colorado river near Parker,
Ariz., to point in Riverside coun-
ty from where distribution pipes
will carry it to Various cities.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-26
Marital Rows
Ended By Guns

LOS ANGELES. April 26. (UP>-
Smoking guns today effectively
ended the marital differences of
two couples resulting in the death
of a man and woman and the
wounding of their respective
spouSes.
Angry because his estranged
wife, Mrs. Frances Tansy, 30, would
not return to their Torrance home,
John S. Tansy, 38, a barber, shot
and seriously wounded her and
then turned the gun on himself
dying instantly, police said.
Sally Shorten, 36, Negress, was
going around with another man."
her husband, Arthur Shorten, As,
charged, as he shot and killed her,
police were informed. Shorten ac-
cidentally shot himself through the
hand in his excitement.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-26
Bandits Ransack
Hollywood Home

HOLLYWOOD, April &c. W.PH-
Two armed bandits posed as de-
tectives looking for a STILL" to
gain admittance to the home of
Mr.. and Mrs. r. O. Browning and
robbed them of s4048 in jewels and
cash last night, police reported
today.
The pair forced Mrs. Browning
to let them in after she had an
sWered their summons at the front
door. They stripped a $500 four
carat diamond ring from her finger
and then tore $3.50 bracelet from
her arm, bruising it.
After robbing Browning of Sc in
cash and locking the couple in a
closet, the bandits, joined by a
third, ranSacked the residence,
cverturning furniture and furnish
ingS in a search for additional val
uables. They obtained more jewels
valued at $50 and $12 in cash.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-26
HINES OPPOSED
TO PAYMENT OF
VETERAN BONUS

WASHINGTON, April 26. U.P)-
Brig. Gen. Frank T. Hines, ad-
ministrator of veterans affairs,
appeared before the house ways
and means committee today in op-
position to the $2,000,000 900 bonus
bill
Hines told of the great amount
of aid now being given veterans.
He said that during February
alone expenditures of the veterans
administration were S70,000,000.
Hines submitted data showing
that 3,529,507 adiuste dservice GER
tificates of s3,513 ,692 937 face value
were now IN force.
The average value of each certi-
ficate issued was given as $993. 10.
Hines said there were two ques-
ton only involved in the present
bonus bill ituation-whether sit
is proper to pay the veterans now" :"
and what effect such legislation
will have on the nations finance .
The bonus bill would pay the
veterans in new currency.
Tracing legislation on adjusted
compensations, Hines said the pur-
pose was similar to an endowment
insurance policy.
On March 81 the total loans
made on certificates amounted to
81 1886, ,828,621, Hines informed the
committee.
More than 100000 veterans are
now eligible to obtain loans on
their certificates, Hines said, and
100000 more are not yet eligible to
review loans because their certifi-
Gates are not two years old.
The total amount still available
for loans he estimated at S3l7 ,5OO,-
900.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-26
.DARROW PLANS
SUPREME PLEA
TO AID CLIENTS
Veteran Attorney Obtains
Courts Permission To
Be Attended By Doctor
BY DAN CAMPBELL
United Press Staff Correspondent

URTROOM, HONOLULU,
T. l., April 26.-Gathering his eb-
bing strength for the crowning
effort of brilliant half century
before the bar, Clarence Darrow
was ready to plead the cause of
four accused American honor slay-
ers today in possibly his last ad-
dress to jury.
The 75-year-old barrister hoped
to deliver q speech that will fl
nally sway the jury of whites and
browns to free Lieut.. Thomas H.
Massie, his mother-in Mrs.
Granville Fortescue, and Seamen
A. o. Jones and E. j. Lord on
charges of Staying Hawaiian Joe
Kahahawai.
Plainly exhausted by a spirited
verbal joust with the final prose-
cution alieniss yesterday, Darrow
requested and was granted the
presence of a physician during his
projected four-hour plea.
The doctor was DR.. Robert Faus,
city-county physician of Honolulu,
who was an expert witness attack
ing Lieutenant Massie's claims of
insanity. The elderly defense chief
said he did not want his own ply
sician present SO as to avoid in
fluencing the jury.
Barry S. Ulrich, assistant prose-
cutor and a millionaire amateur
actor, was to open the argument
today with a plea to convict the
four on charges of second degree
murder. He may speak for two
hours. Next was George S. Leisure
of New York, assistant defense
aide who accompanied Darrow to
the islands.
Then will come the final bit of
drama that avid spectators have
been anticipating - Darrow's own
address, the one for which he
emerged from retirement.
Prosecutor John c. Kelley, who
marshaled the case against the
Americans which he hopes will
send them to stony Oahu prison
for life, will close the arguments
in half an hour, according to pres
ent plans. The estimated length
of speeches and Judge Charles S.
Davis final instructions would
send the case to the jury late to-
morrow.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-26
CONTINUED On Rage 81
SNOW MAKING
BELATED VISIT
TO SOUTHLAND

LOS ANGELES, April 26.UP)-
One Of the latest spring SHOWS in
years covered the foothills and
mountains of Southern California
today in the wake of generous
showers.
Six inches of snow fell last night
In Big Bear valley, and more was
falling today Lake Arrowhead also
reported a six-inch fall, while
Wrightwood and Big Pines received
three inches.
Mt. Wilson, base of Pasadena, re-
ceived a three-inch fall, the white
mantle reaching into the foothills
of Altadena and Sierra Madre.
The storm has brought .27 inches
Of rain to Los Angeles, boosting the
seasons fall to 16.77 inches, against
1916 at this time last year and a
normal precipitation of 14,72 inches.
Mt. Wilson and Sierra Madre
have received .75 inches of rain for
the storm, which has been general
over Southern California.
Other points reported for the last
"a hours: Pasadena, .27 Santa
Ana, %; San Bernardino, .38; Riv-
erside, Al; Santa Barbara, IL; San
Diego, 10.
An area of low pressure, lowering
over southern Nevada, was respons-
ible for the belated snowfall and
rain.
Col. H. B. Hersey, government
meteorologist. predicted occasional
showers for today and tonight.
A raging snowstorm, sweeping
across the mountains at Idlewild
near Riverside, in the intense fury
of a winter blizzard, brought six
inches of snow in belated storm.
With the snow steadily beating
down. a 12-inch fall will blanket
the mountains before night, it was
predicted
At Banning and Beaumont, low
temperatures brought fall OF two
to three inches
Fruit trees we're bent low under
the weight of the wet snow but no
damage to orchards was reported.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-26
EASTERN STATES
PRIMARIES HOLD
MUCH ATTENTION
Smiths Supporters Pre-
dict Victory In Massa-
chusetts.

BOSTON, Mass, April 26. U.P)-
Delegates pledged to the Demo-
cratic presidential nomination OF
Alfred E. Smith we're expected to
win a majority of the contests in
Massachusetts, in the primaries to-
day.
Massachusetts was the strong
hold of Smiths backing in 1925
and political observers predicted a
cleancut victory for Smith dele
gates over those pledged to Frank
lin d. Roosevelt. In the IS con-
gressional districts there are but
four where Roosevelt pledged can
didates are favored to win.
HARRISBURG, Pa, April 26. U.P)
Pennsylvania supporters of the
campaign of Franklin D. Roosevelt
for the Democratic presidential
nomination continued today to pre-
dict the New York governor would
win between 60 and 70 of Penn
Sylvania's 76 delegates to the DEM
ocratic national convention in to-
days primary.
Sharing in interest is the Re-
publican senatorial primary be-
tween Senator James j. Davis and
Brig. Gen. Smedley D. Butler, U
is. M. c., retired. Davis announced
wet stand while Butler is a dry
The marine has based most of his
campaign against the depression
and unemployed.
Another contest of interest is In
the 18th congressional district
where the Veteran Louis T. Nc
Fadden. who recently attacked the
national administration, is opposed
by Mrs. Cornelia Brice Pinchot
wife of the governor.
OMAHA, Neb., April 26. U.P)-
Three hundred delegates from ,25
states met in national convention
here today to select a presidential
nominee and platform for the
Farmer-Labor party.
The Farmer-Laborers one of the
stronger third party" movements
will hold the balance of power in
congress next session if the present
alignment of Republicans and DEM
ocrats remain the same, and if the
party is successful in Minnesota
and several other farming states,
said Frank Lowson, national Sec
retary, in sounding a note of opti-
mism.
The convention keynote speaker
was Gen. Jacob S. Coxey, of Mas.
silon, o., leader of "Coxey's Army
march on the national capitol il
the panic of 1893.
OKLAHOMA CITY, April 26. UP
-Oklahoma'S 25 votes at the Re-
publican national convention were
pledged without qualification tc
President Hoover, at the party's
state convention yesterday. Secre-
tary of War Patrick j. Hurley, OF
Tulsa, staunchly defended the ad-
ministration in his keynote address
Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-26
Three Killed In
ExtOrtiOn Fight

LANGLEYVILLE. ILL.,, April 26.
W.P)-Three were killed last night
when extortionists appeared at the
home of Arthur Cioni where they
had been expected eight days after
Cioni refused their written demand
for $1,000.
Henry Allegrucci, So, friend of
Cioni's who had agreed to stay at
the Cioni home until the danger
of attack passed, and Peter De La
Rocco, 40, and Vincenzo Manelli,
both of Springfield, were killed in
the gun battle that followed their
arrival at the home.