davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18
NITRATE FRAUD
PROMOTERS TO
Be SENTENCED

LOS ANGELES, May IS. UP
Two Glendale, Calf, business men
who promoted a "$350,000,000" land
deal scheme in nitrates, using the
name of Henry Ford and other big
industrialists, applied for probation
when brought into court for SEN
tence today.
The men, Edison j. Yourg and
the Rev. Isaac F. Hodge. abruptly
halted their grand theft trial yes
terday and said they would enter
pleas of guilty to two cC'lrts each
when court opencd today
Superior Judge .YilliaG c. Do
ran set time for sentence and hear
ing on probation for June l.
The men were charged win fleec-
ing investors of .cverdi thousand
dollars by asserting they hal COM
pleted negotiations for the sale of
their Inyo county nitrate properties
to Ford. Testimony revealed they
had promised investors returns of
20 to l.
One of the purported victims Of
the pair was the College o. Puget
Sound, which was to have received
a $30O,0 900 endowment n return for
a $4,000 investment Of a South
Pasadena man.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18
CHAMBERS WILL
TAKE VOTE ON
DRY QUESTION

SAN FRANCISCO, May 18. U.PE-
A prohibition referendum by cham
bers of commerce all over the
United States today was under way
on order of the national council Of
the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States.
Delegates, before they heard
their president, Silas H. Strawn OF
Chicago, urged decreased federal
taxation, unemployment relief and
greater business freedom from fed
eral competition and regulation,
voted to take a definite stand on
the wet question.
Member chambers will ballot on
six proposals. One is to urge con-
gress for more drastic prohibition
enforcement. The other five are
suggestions for modification or re-
peal of the eighteenth amendment
or the Volstead act
The referendum resolution, intro
duced by the San Francisco cham
Der, passed unanimously. Observ-
erS believed the action presaged a
definite wet stand by American
business and industry, with direct
pressure on congress for legal
changes.
The wet proposals on which
chambers will pass included:
l. Submission to the states of
the question of repeal of the 18th
amendment.
2. Submission of the question of
altering the 18th amendment to
legalize light wines and beer only
3. Congressional repeal of the
Volstead act.
4. Congressional modification of
the Volstead act to legalize 4 per
cent beer.
5. Modification of the Volstead
act to legalize IL per cent wine.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18
FASCIST GROUP
MAY DOMINATE
JAPAN'S RULE

TOXIC, May Is. UP) - Forma-
ton of "super-party" government
which would resemble a Fascist re-
gime and be dominated by the army
appeared likely today.
Home Minister Kisaburo Suzuki
slated for election as chief of the
government (SeiyukaD party and
the next premier, continued his
conversations with politicians and
statesmen. Suzuki was expected to
succeed Premier Inukai, assassi-
mated by extremists.
A government spokesman said
there was no chance for a coalition
government by the Seiyukai and
the opposition Minseito parties. He
believed the new government must
be straight Seiyukai or super
party organization.
Suzuki listened sympathetically
to the arny's determination tc
purify politics" and to the de-
mand of the military that he not
attempt to form a single party cab
met. Meanwhile decision on the
form of the new government was
delayed while Prince Saionji, last
of Japan's elder statesmen and ad-
visor to the emperor, postponed his
arrival here.
The likelihood of a trend toward
a super-party was increased by the
fact that both Suzuki and Minister
of War Gen. Sadao Araki are mem
bers of the Kokuhunsha, Fascist Or
ganization ana one of the Oldest
reactionary groups in Japan.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18

conferred at Trenton and decided
on the arrest and immediate ar
raignment at Flemington. Bail of
$4,000 was to be demanded.
Condor Authentic
The dramatic confession Curtis
made before dawn Tuesday and
announced late that afternoon,
was followed or accompanied in
just as sensational manner by these
developments:
DR.. John F. (Jafsie) Condor was
revealed as an authentic negotia-
tor through Identification of the
| handwriting on letters he received.
Hugh McQuillan of the bureau of
investigation, department of in
ternal revenue, identified the writ
ing as by the same hand that
wrote the original ransom letter
left in Charles A. Lindbergh, jr.s
crib the night he was stolen,
March l.
Frank Parzych, Brooklyn, ar
rested on an abandonment charge.
"confeSsed' he was a member of
the rum-running gang which kid
naped the Lindbergh baby. He said
the actual kidnaper fell off the
ladder, and the baby was killed in
the fall. His story appeared to
have the ring of truth" Po-
lice Commissioner Mulrooney an
nounced.
Indications that the man was a
drug user, however, made authori-
ties hesitate to accept the story
unqualifiedly.
The Bronx county grand jury,
which heard details of Jafsie's
want ad negotiations yesterday,
summoned Doctor Condor to tell
his story Friday. 1t heard Col.
! Henry Breckenridge, Max Rosen-
hahn, Milton Gaglio, Al Reich and
Joseph Perone, Tuesday. Reich is
Condon's bodyguard. Perone drove
taxi which carried one message
to Condor. Rosenhaim and Gaglio
had seen copies of the original
ransom note.
Radio messages ordering an end
CONTINUED On Page 81
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18
FORMER RESIDENT
HERE FIGURES In
RESCUE ATTEMPT

CHICAGO, May 18. U.P)-Details
of the hazardous aerial hunt for a
missing scientist on the four-mile
high glacial slopes of Mount Mo
Kinley received by the American
Always office here today from
Fairbanks, Alaska, fitted into a
story of peril and daring probably
never surpassed in the heroic an
mails of the far north.
How Pilots Jerry Jones and S.
E. Robbins, crack flyers of Alaskan
Airways, an affiliate company of
American Always, battled storm
and fog above the ice creVasses on
the highest peak on the North Am
erican continent was told in a re-
port to Ray c. Whitaker, Anyways
official here.
The pilots reported they had been
unable to sight either Nicholas
Spadevecckia, missing member of
the ill-fated expedition into the
glacial wilds to capture" the Co.'S
mic ray, nor had they located the
bodies of Allen Carpe and Theodore
Koven, who perished.
Rescue of E. P. Beckwith yes
terday was an almost miraculous
episode of aviation daring, it was
reported to Whitaker.
Pilot Jones drove his plane
through the fog-mantled upper air,
maneuvering through pockets and
bucking a stiff gale. He circled
over the Muldrow glacier camp un-
til his ship steadied. Then, the re-
ports said. he landed precariously
on the deep-ridged sheet of ice.
Unable to take off with two men,
Jones bundled Beckwith into his
plane and made a skidding but
successful takeoff. Percy T. Olton,
Jr., another member of the party
was left on the glacier until one
of the pilots can make another at
tempt to take him off.
1t was planned to establish base
at Mount Eielson or on Savage river
to continue the search for Spade
vecckia and the bodies of the two
who died, martyrs of science.
Pilot S. E. Robbins, mentioned in
the above dispatch, is former El
Centro resident and is we'll known
to many in this city. Several years
ago he had charge of the Standard
Oil service station at Eighth and
Main streets and was popular in
social circles here. He left FL Gen.
tro to resume flying at San Diego,
having been in the air service dur
ing the World war. For the past
two years he has been flying in
Alaska.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18
NOtables Attend
Dollar Funeral

SAN RAFAEL, Calf, May Is.
UP) Prominent state, civic and
business leaders assembled here to-
day to attend funeral services for
Capt. Robert Dollar, dean of Pa
cific shipping men, who died early
Monday.
The services we're held in little
church built by Captain Dollar
and his associates more than three
decades ago. Immediate members
of the family present were Mrs.
Margaret Dollar, her three sons, r.
Stanley. j. Harold and A. Melville;
David Dollar, a brother, from Port
land, Ore, and Mrs. William
Proudfeet, a sister, from Oakland.
Gov. James Rolph, Jr., headed a
group of go honorary pallbearers.
Cadets of the Mt. Tamalpais mil
itary academy acted as guards of
honor at the church where the
body lay in state.
Flags of all vessels in San Fran
cisco bay were flown at half mast,
and all ships Of the Dollar line
paused for 10 minutes during the
services.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18
CURTIS SOUGHT
DEPOSIT FROM
COL. LENDRERGH

HOPEWELL N. j., May 18. U,P)
"A deposit of $4,000 to be paid
over on return of the kidnapped
baby was sought of Col. Charles
A. Lindbergh March % by the very
Rev Dean H. Dobson Peacock, ac-
cording to Col H. Norman
Schwartzkopf late today. Peacock,
according to Schwartzkopf, was
acting for John Hughes Curtis and
told Lindbergh and Schwartzkopf
that he was convinced Curtis CON
tacts"-now proved false-were the
actual kidnapers.
Dobson Peacock, according to
Schwartzkopf, stipulated that the
deposit should be in a Norfolk
bank and paid over to him for de-
livery to the kidnapers when and if
the child was returned.
Lindbergh refused the offer as
Dobson Peacock was unable to
show him convincing proof that the
Curtis contacts were genuine.
Dobson Peacock has stated that
he had confidence in Curtis word
and relied upon his stories of con-
facts.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18
BY LYLE G.. WILSON
United Press Staff Correspondent

WASHINGTON, May 18. - Beer
sloshed today around the tax bill
in the senate, but it was theoreti-
cal, oratorical beer The senate has
agreed to vote on the TydingS
amendment to raise 81 500 900, ,000
for public works, river and harbor
improvement with a tax of three
cents a pint on legalized 2.75 per
cent brew.
The proposal has no chance, de-
spite an impassioned warning by
Senator Tydings Dem0 Maryland
that there would be riots next
winter unless jobs were provided
for gocdly number of 100000
unemployed persons, and that a
beer tax was the best way to raise
the relief fund.
Coalition lines SO far are holding
fast in the senate in denfense of
finance committee tax rates, but
general sales tax forces are
maneuvering for a last charge.
Among the 72 committee amend
ments adopted last night were the
income, surtax and corporation in
come tax rates. The normal rates
as now established in the bill are
3, 6 and 9 per cent. The surtax
graduates up to a maximum of as
per cent on income exceeding
$1,000,000. These rates are slightly
more than twice as great as those
under which income taxes we're paid
last March Is. Corporation income
taxes we're fixed at Ia per cent.
A tax of cents a gallon on
1ubricating oil was approved. Tyd-
jngS offered his amendment as the
senate considered selective sales
taxes Among the first was that
on brewers wort, with malt syrup
and grape concentrates, is sched-
uled TO be taxed for $97,o00,000 of
revenue.
Isn't this a tax on household
erS' beer?" demanded Senator
Long Dem) Louisiana, of Chair
man Smoot of the finance COM
mittee.
ut is a tax on all kinds of beer"
Smoot replied.
Then, the committee has come
around to a tax on beer" Long
exclaimed.
The veteran chairman nodded.
when the rioting begins next
winter, 1 shall have the satisfaction
of knowing 1 stood here tonight
and presented a sound plan that
would not cost the taxpayers
penny" Tydings said. 1--WE are pre-
vented from adopting this only by
our hypocritical, puritanical atti-
tude. Beer of 2.75 per cent alco-
holic content is not Intoxicating in
fact. There is no constitutional bar
to this amendment"
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18
Continued On Page 81
CONDON STATES
INFANTS DEATH
DUE TO CURTIS

NEW YORK, May 18. U.P)-
Jafsie blamed John H. Curtis to-
day for his own failure TO save
the life of Charles A. Lindbergh,
Jr,, and return the kidnapped baby
to his grieVing parents.
The white-haired, aged DR.. John
F., Condor, the J. F.. C. whose
want ads signed "Jafsie" intrigued
a nation, knew all along that Cur
tbs was faker," he said.
He ruined my chances of main
tanning contact with the kidnap-
ers, established about a week after
the baby was stolen" he charged.
The purported kidnapers whose
handwriting has been identified as
the same as that in the original
ransom note, had asked $4,000 of
Condor.
when Curtis announced TO the
newspapers ne had been author
lied to pay 100000 for the return
Of the baby, he ruined my work"
Condor stormed.
THE kidnapers threw that offer
in my face with me authorized 10
pay only $4,000. l didn't hear
from them again for a long time"
The baby was found dead near
the Lindbergh home a few weeks
later, while Condor was frantically
attempting TO communicate with
the man to whom he had paid
$4,000 in a Bronx cemetery.
That man was known as "Axel',
Condor indicated yesterday. Prev
iously there had been an intensive
search for "a scandinavian named
John" II is presumed the same
man was known by both names
1--WE know plenty that has not
come out yet" Condor volunteered.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18
HOOVER FAV0RS
SILENCE UPON
DRY QUESTION
BY HENRY F. MISSELWITZ

United Press Staff Correspondent
Copyright, 1882, BY United Press)
WASHINGTON, May 18.-Pres-
ident Hoover is urging Republican
leaders to avoid the controversial
prohibition issue until the time
comes in the national convention
for a showdown on proposals for a
referendum plank in the party
platform.
The President favors a policy of
strict silence for the party until
the Chicago convention. He feels
open pickering in the intervening
weeks might bring the opposite
factions to the convention in a
mood which would prevent calm
consideration of the liquor issue
and would disrupt the harmonious
meeting he desires.
Despite the increasing agitation
among Republican wet leaders, the
President has practiced what he
has preached to them-regardless
of how much private consideration
he has given the issue, he has let
1t alone publicly.
w. Kingsland Macy, Republican
state chairman in New York, voiced
the Presidents "muzzle rule" after
White House luncheon with Mr..
Hoover yesterday. Macy said he
had told the President he felt there
was a strong sentiment toward a
wet plank" not only in New York
but all over the country. But he
added:
This is no time for Republicans
to get too deeply involved in this
question. Personally, I am leaving
the decision to wiser heads. After
all, we don't want to get ourselves
involved before the convention.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18
SENA 7 T
FROWNS
ON BEER
Tydings Resolution Seek
ing Legalization Beaten
In Upper House.
VOTE Is 81 TO "a
ShOrtridge Support S
Measure While Johnson
Votes Adversely.

WASHINGTON, May 18. W.P}- =
The senate today rejected a pro-
posal to legalize beer for the pur-
pose of taxation and as source
of revenue for a vast public con-
struction program.
The Tydings amendment was
defeated as the senate, still under
high speed schedule, continued
consideration of the billion dollar
tax bill.
The Tydings amendment would
have legalized 2.75 per cent beer and
taxed it 3 cents per pint. An effort
by Senator Bingham (Rep0 Con-
necticut, to revise the proposed al
coholic content to per cent was
defeated, 60 to %.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18
'Hit-Run' Auto
Kills Two Boys

PHOENIX, Ariz., May 18. U.P)-
Phillip Brown, 10. and Kenneth,
II, his brother, were killed last
night when struck by another ma
chine as they pushed the disabled
automobile Of their father, Fred
Brown, San Bernardino, Calf,
toward a filling station.
The Brown automobile, driven by
Mrs. Brown, became disabled be-
cause of vacuum tank trouble. AS
the boys pushed along the high
way another machine, the driver
of which was not identified, struck
them.
The bodies were taken to a
Glendale, Ariz., undertaking par
lor. Three other children were in
the car.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18
Cantaloupes Pass
100 Car Shipment

Cantaloupe shipments yesterday
passed the 100 car lot mark when
113 cars went out of the valley.
The shipments are somewhat
later this year as on May IL of
last year the 100 car mark was
passed when 10 cars went out ac-
cording TO records at the agricul-
tural commissioner office.
Market conditions are somewhat
better than at the same time last
year. Yesterdays f. o. b. market
for standard ass was $2:210 as
compared to $1.75-130 of last year
on the same date. Demand was
good at somewht lower prices. The
market for ripes was weaker with
demand less.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18
THREE FORMER
RICHF!ELD OIL
MEN SENTENCED
Talbot, Fuller And Mckee
Given Terms At San
Quentin Prison.

LOS ANGELES, May 10. tU.R =
Three former high officials of the
Richfield Oil company, once the
third largest concern of its kind
on the coast, were sentenced to
prison terms today for grand theft
of the company's funds.
They were James A. Talbot, C. NJ.
Fuller and r. w. Mckee, respect
lively chairman of the board, former
president and former president.
Talbot, convicted of two counts
of grand theft, was ordered to San
Quentin for from to 20 years. He
was found guilty by Superior Judge
Leon Yankwich of having stolen
100000 of the company's funds
Talbot's attorneys sought to have
the two sentences of l to 10 years
run concurrently but Judge Yank-
wich denied such a motion and
ruled they should run consecutively
Mckee, likewise was sentenced to
2 to 20 years in San Quentin. He
was found guilty originally on only
one count of grand theft but Judge
Yankwich convicted him on three
additional counts this morning
The jurist had these three latter
counts under submission since Mon
day when he returned the first
verdictS.
Judge Yankwich ruled that Nc
Kee should serve to 10 years each
on the last three counts, the SEN
tences to run concurrently, and
l to 10 years on the first count, it
to run consecutively with the other
l to 10 years.
Mckee stole $4,000 from the
Richfield treasury according tc
Judge Yankwich's ruling.
Fuller, the last to be sentenced
also was given a total term of 2
to 20 years although he was con-
victed of six counts of grand theft
totaling $4,000.
Attorneys representing the trio
have made lengthy preparations tc
carry the case up on appeal. Ap-
peal bonds were prepared in adj
vance after Deputy District Attor-
neys Jesse Frampton and UgenC
U. Blalock said they would not op-
pose release of the convicted mer
on bond
More Counts Wait
Although the three were con
victed of grand thefts approximat.
ing $250,000, indictments accusing
them of additional thefts amount
ing to nearly 100000 were votec
buS have been placed off calenda
| pending a decision on appeal
They will be brought to trial or
these additional counts if the higher
courts overrule Judge Yankwich';
decision, the district attorneys Of
flee said.
Although Fuller, Talbot and Nc.
Kee were accused of conspiracy to
commit grand theft, Judge Yank-
wich dismissed these charges be-
cause he said he could find nc
intent" on their part to defraud
the $2OO,Ooo0oO oil firm, which
went into bankruptcy more than a
year ago.
1t was testified that the men
used Richfield funds to bolster the
falling stock of the company dur
ing the market crash of 1929
Other monies were used to sup
port a string of racing automobiles
and motorboats, and even to land
scape the home of Fuller, accord
ing to state testimony.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18
Oil Contract For
San Diego Route

SACRAMENTO May 18 U,P>-
Contracts for state highway and
architectural projects were under
award today by the department of
public works, as follows
San Diego and Imperial Coun-
Shoulder oiling 47.3 miles OF
San Diego-Yuma highway; c. E.
Hazard Contracting company, San
Diego, $10.732.
Santa Barbara State Teachers
College 49, Wrecking buildings on
new college site; l.. M. Holman,
Santa Barbara, $1,095
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18
House Leaders
Issue Statement

WASHINGTON, May 18. U.P)-
Speaker Garner and Republican
Leader Smell today joined in a
statement notifying the senate that
house leaders would insist on con-
gress staying in continuous session
until tax, economy and appropri-
ations legislation have been finally
passed.
Garner and the minority leader
made their announcement at a
joint press conference.
Acting as spokesman for both
Republicans and Democrats they
declared that I'VE do not think it
possible or desirable to take a re-
cess until the appropriations bills
are passed and sent to the White
House before the end of the fiscal
year."
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18
BY DELOS SMITH
United Press Staff COrreSuOndent


HOPEWELL, N. j., May 10. -
Cruel lies that led Col. Charles A.
Lindbergh on a heart breaking
hunt for a phantom ship and kid
naperS born of the crafty mind of
John Hughes Curtis were to be
punished today by arrest and ar
raignment of Curtis-on misde-
meanor charges.
The most brutal hoax in the his
tory of American crime, one that
tortured an American idol, his wife
and family with the belief that for
money they could buy the safety
of their child, murdered and hid
den within sight of their home,
rates in New Jersey with petty
larceny and traffic violations. 1t
is punishable by maximum SEN
! tence Of three years in prison and
a $1,000 fine
The vicious chain of stories
which were woven together into a
melo-drama scenario by the bank
rupt Norfolk shipbuilder had been
logical enough to convince thou
sands, among them Colonel Lind
bergh himself, a Norfolk minister,
and retired admiral, close friend
of Lindbergh.
1t included mysterious trips at
sea in search of the Gloucester
schooner so definitely described by
Curtis, mysterious telephone calls,
encounters with deSperadoes, short
wave radio messages, involved deals
through third parties, airplane
trips to New York and Newark, o
minute search by a fleet of rs
coast guard vessels, a hero named
Curtis, and the full confidence, fl
nally, of the deceived father and
mother of the stolen baby.
The Curtis hoax, every bit as
sensational, unconceivably brutal
as compared by the public with that
perpetrated by Frederick Cook who
claimed TO have beaten Com
mander peary to the North Pole,
may bring some further punish
ment by the law. The culprit's
signed confession indicated he was
undergoing mental torture.
There is a federal statute which
provides prison sentences and fines
for defrauding the government of
either money or misuse of its
functions. Curtis call for coast
guard vessels with attendant eX-
pense in the negotiations he con-
Quoted may bring prosecution
under that statute.
Prosecutors plainly were puzzled
in the first hours following the
sensational revelation that Curtis
chain of stories had been fiction.
However, during the night they
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18
Fight On Atheism
Urged By Pope

VATICAN CITY, May 18.-lU.P)
Nations of the world, Catholic
and Protestant, were invited in an
encyclical issued today by Pope Plus
XXI to join in a fight on atheism.
The Pope blamed atheism, Com
munism, excessive corruption, and
exaggerated nationalism for the
troubles of mankind.
The Pope set the feast of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus, on June 3,
for the beginning of a week of
prayer in churches throughout the
world for relief from the ills be-
setting mankind.
The encyclical was entitled Car
initiate Christi Compulsi," meaning
Urged BY Charity of Christ.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18
Brawley Paper
Publisher Ill

Allen T. Witter, publisher of the
Brawley News, who is seriously i'll
at his home, is reported to be
slightly better today.
Witter, who was taken i'll last
week, is believed to be suffering
from typhoid fever, though this has
not definitely been decided by at
tending physicians. He is the son
of the late Assemblyman, M. d.
Witter, and succeeded his father
as publisher of the News following
the latter's death a year ago.
Imperial Valley press., 1932-05-18
BABE SOCKS ONE

YANKEE STADIUM, New York,
May 18. U.P) - Babe Ruth today
won an extra inning ball game
for the New York Yankees with his
sixth homer Of the season. 1t
came in the tenth inning of the
game against Cleveland and the
ball cleared the right field bleach
ers. Brown was pitching and no
one was on base. The Yankees
won, 3 to 2.