davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1933-02-16
ACCUSE TONER
Of GRAF TING
State Director OF Institutions
Charged With Having Sought
Pay In Land Purchases.

LOS ANGELES, Feb 16. up
Testifying before state senate in
vestigating committee, Frank Hart
real estate broker, accused d. j.
N. Toner, state director of institu-
tions, Of demanding to know "how
much there would be in it for him.
if he threw his influence toward
purchase by the state Of the Dunn
ranch near Saugus as site for a
prison.
The question was put one month
ago during a conference at the
Biltmore hotel, Los Angeles, Hart
said.
Previously. three months before,
Hart testified, DR.. Toner asked him
if he would be anxious to learn
OF a friend Of the administration
who would be help in dispoSing
of the property" Hart said that he
had replied affirmatively, and that
then DR.. Toner gave him the name
and telephone number of Jack G
KuhrtS, broker.
KuhrtS is the broker VINO nego-
tiated sale of the Lewis ranch III
Ventura county to the state as a
site for a mental hospital receiv-
ing $20,500 commission. On the
stand yesterday, he was examined
as to what he did with $4,000 in
$1,000 bills he admittedly withdrew
in cash after depositing his COM
mission.
The Dunn ranch was unGer con-
sideration as a site FOR an inter
mediate state prison for first Of
tenders and post adoleScents.
DR.. Toner was called as the next
witness. He categorically denied that
he had ever discussed Kuhrts with
Hart, but said he believed he had
called Hart On the telephone at one
time, as he was in communication
with various brokers.
He denied he knew Kuhrts inti-
mately, or that he ever had en-
tertained the broker socially.
DR. Toner also denied that he
mentioned to anyone the payment
of cash consideration, or had
suggested Kuhrts be brought into
the deal
Imperial Valley press., 1933-02-16

pie have been oppressed. AS a child
I had to work hard in the fields,
and when was 16 1 had to go to
war.
Il hated all my officers. l de-
termined that some day I would
do my share in wiping out every
official and every rich man 1 could
find.
Had Hard Life
Life has been very bad for me.
When l was a little boy in
school l began to hate very vio-
lently my richer school mates who
had money to spend and who had
mere privileges than l.
Il am 33 years old, and was born
in Calabrja, Italy.
"As l grew older, this hatred for
the rich became more intense and
10 years ago it reached a climax
when purchased a gun and de-
termined to kill the King OF Italy.
AS l told you before, this plan did
not work.
Il came to Miami from New
York City, but l have also lived in
HackenSack, N. j.
Il thought it would do my sto-
mach good to come here, but il
seemed to be getting worse instead
or better. The pain seemed to make
my extreme hatred for the rich and
for everybody in authority all the
more intense"
Imperial Valley press., 1933-02-16
.K|DNAPE ED MAN
STILL MISSING
Police OF Denver And Boettcher
Family At Odds Over Proce-
dure To Be Followed.
By CLYDE G. BYERS
United Press Staff Correspondent

DENVER, Feb. 16. - An appar-
ent break between police and the
family of young Charles Boettcher,
II, kidnapped Denver millionaire,
complicated the search for him to-
day.
Unwillingness of Boettcher's faith
er, Claude K. Boettcher, to "put
his cards on the table" was blamed
by Chief of Police Albert T. Clark
for the rupture.
The crime has not been solved
because the father of the victim
has not taken them into his conf
dence, Clark said.
The Boettchers regarded Clark S
statement as an effort to excuse
the police failure to turn up any
tangible lead in the case.
The family was reported ready
to name a mediator to deal with
the kidnapers. The Rt. Rev. Irving
p. Johnson, Episcopal bishop OF
Colorado, offered last night to act
as go-between for the Boettchers
but it was not learned whether the
family had accepted his offer.
Claude Boettcher revealed he was
convinced all notes received by the
family since the original ransom
note demanding 100000 was thrust
into Mrs. Boettchers hands when
her husband was captured Sunday
night, were the work of cranks.
He revealed for the first time the
presence of a code word i'll the or
lginal note. This word has moi
appeared in any of the communi-
cations received since.
1t was indicated today that Ma.
thaniel w. Mitchell, 37-year-olc
society bootlegger, would be re
/ leased. Mitchell was arrested af
ter patrolmen reported he was il
an automobile that followed tn
Boettcher machine away from
restaurant here a few minutes be
fore the kidnapping. Mrs. Boett
cher was unable to Identify hin
as one of the kidnapers at polio;
| GnoW-up.
The 48-hour period that Clarl
set Monday night as an outside
limit for solution of the cast
passed, with the case apparently
no nearer solution that it was {
few hours after the kidnapping.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-02-16
GARNER SAYS
MEASURE To
PASS HOUSE
Vets Summon Sufficient Help
In Upper House To Beat Off
Dry Adherents.
BIG CROWD IN GALLERY
Protection For States Wishing
To Remain Dry Provided For
In Resolution.

WASHINGTON, Feb. l6. WPj-
The senate today voted to repeal
the 18th amendment.
The vote was SO to %.
A two-thirds vote is required for
submission of a constitutional a
mendment to the states.
The issue now goes to the house
where Speaker Garner, planning
to bring it to a test Monday. in
sists he has sufficient votes for
passage.
The resolution passed today pro-
vides for outright repeal OF the
18th amendment, but assures pro-
lection to dry states from the Ii
quor traffic.
If the resolution Is successful in
the house 1t will be submitted to
the states for ratification. Three
fourths of them must approve
the new amendment.
Packed galleries watched the
senate take the first step toward
conclusion of a 13-year wet fight
against national prohibition. A
solid body of house members lined
the back wall
Triumphant vets, whose lines
had seemed to weaken earlier in
the day when Republicans desert
ed almost flat repeal for some pro-
lection against the saloon, got
i back in line and swept all amend
! mentS aside.
Among the amendments shouted
i down viva voce or defeated by rec
ord votes was proposal by Sena-
tor Glass Dem,., Va, to substitute
! a repeater protecting dry states
and prohibiting consumption of Ii
! quor in places commonly known
as saloons"
Seator Reed, Repn.. Pa, who
earlier had announced he would
move to reconsider the vote by
which the concurrent congression-
al power over the saloon was elm
mated, desisted when the Glass
amendment was rejected.
WASHINGTON, Feb. l6. UP
Speaker Garner said today that If
the senate passed the prohibition
repeal resolution today he would
bring it up for action in the house
Monday He said he was confident
it would be approved by the neces-
sary two-thirds majority.
"I understand the senate will
vote on repeal today" Garner said.
II hope they will pass it. If they
do, it will be passed by the house
Monday"
Garner added that the Blaine
| resolution. as amended last night,
is perfectly satisfactory to the De-
| mocratic house leaders.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-02-16
FILE RECALL
AGAINST ATEN

Recall petitions against Ira l..
Aten, Imperial Irrigation district
director from division No. 2, were
filed at district headquarters yes
terday afternoon. The petition was
filed in five sections and 139 sigma
lures appeared on the five.
Reasons for the recall as set forth
in the petitions are that Aten has
been inefficient as a director and
not in harmony with the settlement
and wishes of electors and water
users in the management and ham
ding of the affairs of division No.
?. and the Imperial Irrigation dis
trict in causing it to spend money
in a careless and eXtravagant man.
ner.'
supplementary petitions may be
flied at any time following the
next 10 days during which period
the secretary Of the district will
examine those filed yesterday TO
determine whether or not there are
sufficient names.
Aten has been director since 1923
and has played ali active part in
district affairs.
Rumors that recall petitions
against Aten were being circulated
have been current for some time
but yesterdays action on the part
of those working for the recall was
the first public indication Of such
an action.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-02-16
At TACK AL|b|
MADE BY GUY

LONG BEACH, Feb. 16 up
The states demand that William
James tCurly) Guy young Welsh
adventurer, be executed for the as
serted shipboard murder of Capt.
Walter Wanderwell was answered
by defense attorneys today in clos
ing arguments before the jury.
Guys alibi that he was nowhere
near the murder scene when an
assassin shot down the Polish globe
trotter on his anchored schooner
was characterized a carefully re-
hearsed fabrication" by Deputy Dis
trict Attorney Clarence Hunt in
the prosecutions final plea for
conviction.
Hunt cited the testimony of two
members of the ships crew who
identified the 23-year-old defend
ant as the mysterious stranger who
boarded the vessel few minutes
before the killing.
What conclusion can be drawn
but that the defendant shot the
captain?" the prosecutor cried
Hunt also branded as incriminat-
ing Guys flight from his home the
day after the murder.
The case may reach the jury late
today.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-02-16
WOULD-BE ASSASSIN ASSERTS
HE HAS ALWAYS HATED RICH

MIAMI, Fla, Feb. 16. U.Pj-
Giuseppe zangara, the bricklayer
who shot the President elect, told
this story of his crime, police said:
Il have hated presidents and
kings since was boy. I have al
ways hated the rich and powerful
Il have a sore stomach, too, and
that has made me hate.
when l read in the Miami
newspapers that Roosevelt was
coming to Miami, bought with
eight dollars a gun with which to
kill him.
Il got to the scene early. but
the crowd was too big for me to
get near the platform.
Il meant to shoot him while he
was talking, but the crowd was in
the way and / am a short man.
II have always hated the rich
and powerful hoped that I would
have better luck this time than
did 10 years ago in Italy when I
bought a pistol to kill King Vic
tor Emmanuel. The same thing
blocked me in Italy as blocked me
here. There was too big a crowd.
IT guess l tried to kill Roose-
velt because have been troubled
by a stomach operation.
Il would not shoot a working
man or a policeman. 1t is the rich
and powerful l hate. am poor. ]
have always been poor My peo-
Imperial Valley press., 1933-02-16
WIFE CALM AS
ATTACK TOLD
Mrs. Roosevelt Retains Compo-
sure As News Of Shooting Is
Related To Her.
By RUBY BLACK

NEW YORK, Feb l6.-Word of
a maniacal attack upon her hus-
band failed to shake the calm
poise of Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of
President -elect Franklin D. Roose-
velt.
"Phew, that's great!" she ex-
claimed when told at her home
here last night that the bullets
which spattered into Miami
throng had missed their objective
her husband
When I heard that five shots
had been fired at Mr.. Roosevelt,
I rushed to the Roosevelt home.
l arrived to find Mrs. Roosevelt
and her daughter, Mrs. Curtis
Dali, just returning from an early
evening engagement.
An agitated Negro butler opened
| the door
whats it all about?" asked Mrs.
Roosevelt quickly.
| The butler told her that there
were reports that Mr.. Roosevelt
had been fired upon but had es-
capped injury.
Mrs. Roosevelt received the news
calmly.
These things are to be expect
ed," she said.
A few moments later she was
called to the telephone. 1t was Mr..
Roosevelt, calling from the hospital
where he had gone to see Mayor
Anton Cermak, of Chicago.
How are you, honey?" asked
Mrs. Roosevelt.
There was quick conversation.
Reassured By Husband
Then Mrs. Roosevelt turned to
those in the room and said:
Hes all right. He's not the least
bit excited"
Mr.. Roosevelt told her. the shots
were fired at Mayor Cermak.
tFirst reports at Miami had indi-
Gated the Chicago mayor was the
real target of the assassin, though
this was later disproved by the as
sailant's confessiom
How do you know that?" asked
Mrs. Roosevelt. Mr. Roosevelt
said he understood the captured
oiiliietii lldtt tlldO.
Mr.. Roosevelt informed his wife
he planned to remain overnight
because of the seriousness of May
or Cermak's condition. He said he
would leave Miami for New York
today
After talking with her husband,
Mrs. Roosevelt quickly telephoned
her sons at Groton school, then
ordered her maid to prepare to
leave at once for Ithaca, N. Y.
Mrs. Roosevelt was to speak at
Cornell university's home and farm
week today and the unsuccessful
attempt to assassinate her hus-
band was not enough to halt her.
She took the 1875 p. m. train for
Ithaca.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-02-16
Eight Suicides
In Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Feb. l6 up
Eight suicides within "a hours were
reported by police today with vic
TINS selecting methods OF Salf-des-
truction ranging from pistol bull
lets to the steel wheels of an inter
urban train
Charles Love, 80, former property
man for Harry Langdon, film
comedian, shot and killed himself
in his hotel room. His body was
found after friends and associates
had missed him since Saturday
The body of Frank Weidlcr, 20
vear-old bookkeeper. was found
late last night in the teller's cage
of the bank where he was en-
ployed. The youth had shot him
self
An unidentified nan walked into
the Pacific Electric tunnel on Hill
street, stretched out across the
tracks and died when car passed
ever his body.
Ill health and financial difficult
ties we're assigned as motives for
most of the suicides.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-02-16
CERMAK GIVEN
EVEN CHANGE

MIAMI, FIa, Feb. l6. (U.P)--
Those wounded in the attempt to
assassinate Prcsident-clect Roose-
welt, and their condition carly to.
day follow:
Mayor Anton j. Cermak of Chi
cago-bullet lodged between liver
and kidneys, given an even chance
to recover, with this statement
from attending physicians: pulse
80, temperature 98.6, respiration "a.
Condition dangerous. but not i'm
mediate critical. Bullet evidently
traversed diaphram. a margin of
the liver, ond lodged in the vicin-
jty of the 18th dorsal vcrtebrae.
Surgical operation unwisc unless
condition becomes worse
Mrs. Joseph H. Gill, Miami, wife
of the president of the Florida
Power g. Light Co.--shot In abdo-
men, condition critical. Emergency
operation performed. Bullet not
found" a physicians bulletin said,
wounds in stomach closed"
William Sinnott. New York City
shot in head. Wound superficial.
Miss Margaret Kruis, Newark, N.
J.-slight body wound.
Russell Caldwell, Cocoanut Grove,
Fla.-flesh wound in forehead.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-02-16
O'Brien In Court
For Trial By Jury

For the theft of a large guam
tity of cantaloupe seed from the
Gerard company at Brawley, Billie
O'Brien went on trial before a
jury in Judge Vaughn N. Thomp-
sons court this morning.
r. I. French is prosecuting at
torney. w. E. Abraham is defend
ing OBrien. The jury was select
ed this morning, and the case
probably will be finished before
evening.
O'Brien, in company with a juv-
emile offender, is charged with
burglarizing a packing shed at
Brawley and carrying off the can
taloupe seed, valued at more than
$1,000. He was arrested by Tom
Sharp, district attorneys investiga-
tor, while assertedly trying to dis
pose cf the seed.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-02-16
YOUTH ADMITS
KILLING BOY,

NEW YORK, Fep. 16 up - A
sixth grade school boy confessed
today he plunged a knife through
the heart of a playmate after bind
ing and gagging him, police an
.nounced.
Police believed the slain boy.
William Bender, II, might have
been killed in vengeance.
Harry Much, Is, held as the slay-
er, threatened William, police
learned. because he said Murch
"hit a woman over the head with
monkey wrench.
John Miller 10, told police he
went with william and Harry 20 a
vacant house Jan. 81 Harry said
he intended to rob peanut vendor
and offered to demonstrate how ne
would tie his victim. William vol
unteered.
Harry tied and gagged William
and while he was on his back
plunged a kitchen pairing knife into
his heart, John told police.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-02-16
Roosevelt Has Close Escape From Assassin
JURY CONv|CTS
NEGRO SLAYER
Kines Found Guilty Of Second
Degree Murder In Killing Of
Clyde Oliver.

Henry Kines, Negro, is guilty of
second degree murder.
This was the verdict this morn
ing of a jury which had deliberated
KineS' fate since early yesterday
afternoon, when attorneys had
completed their arguments and
Judge Vaughn N. Thompson read
his instructions.
Kines will be sentenced at $50
Monday morning to a term of from
five years to life in San Quentin
prison for the murder of Clyde Oil
YER, another Negro, at the home OF
Mrs. Ophelia Northern on South
Second street here Thanksgiving
day
The verdict was a signal victory
for D. H. Wolford. chief criminal
deputy district attorney.
After the verdict was read Judge
A. C. Finney and H. E. McCombie,
defense attorneys, asked poll OF
the jury. Each juryman answered
that the verdict was a true express
sion of his opinion.
Evidence introduced durin G
Kines' trial showed that he shot
Oliver with a rifle when Oliver
was walking towards Mrs North
ern's residence, across a vacant lot
The bullet struck Oliver in the
small of the back He had turned
after first shot went wild.
The argument which led to the
fatal shooting began over small
water boiler which Kines had loan
ed to a neighbor woman. Some wit
ncsses said Oliver resented KineS
advances to the woman.
Before leaving the Northern res
idence Oliver threatened Kines
with a knife, desisting when Kines
snatched up an axe. Oliver then
told Kines he was going home to
get a gun, one witness testified.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-02-16
Bids Submitted On
Aqueduct Building

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 16. UP
Thirteen companies submitted bids
on construction of six 100000 gal
lon water reservoirs and IS miles
of pipeline in connection with the
1920, 100000 Colorado River aque-
duct project, the Metropolitan Wa
ter district announced today.
Clark & Campbell and A. j.
Callahan. Los Angeles, submitted
a joint low bid of $l2,892.50 for
excavation; Ray Sweitzer, Los An
,geles, bid $27, 1853 for hauling and
stringing pipe, welding joints and
appurtenant work, while Macco-
Robertson company, Los Angeles,
entered the low figure of $l7,384 for
construction of the six reservoirs.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-02-16
BY FREDERICK A. STORM
United Press Staff Correspondent

Omttu ETtSS otdiI COETtspOhuCht
MIAMI, Fla, Feb. 16. = Presi-
dent-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt
saved from an assassins bullets
by the hcroism of woman, de-
parted for New YORK today. leav-
ing behind him, dangerously wound
ed, his friend Mayor Anton Ger
max of Chicago.
Mr.. Roosevelt's last act before
leaving the scene of the most dra-
matte event of his career, was to
visit the Jackson Memorial hospital
and express words of comfort and
hope to Cermak and four other
victims of last nights attempted as
sassination.
For five minutes he remained
with the mayor, whose name is on
the hospitals danger list, and then
in turn visited Mrs. Joseph H. Gill
. also desperately wounded. and Miss
Margaret Kruis Of Newark, N. j.,
William Sinnott of New York and
Russell Caldwell of Florida, less
seriously wounded.
Meanwhile, police were interro-
eating Giuseppe zangara, diminu-
tive anarchist VINO blamed stomach
ache and a hatred of ''the rich
and powerful. for the impulse
that led him to fire six shots at
the president-elect and his party
last night.
Zangara was held on the 17th
floor of the skyscraper city hall
safe from mob anger.
Condition of both Mayor Ger
max and Mrs. Gill was reported as
critical today. AS the President
elect wheeled softly through the
corridors of the hospital, approach
ed Mrs. Gill's room, she was under
going a blood TRANSMISSION. He stood
silently. a moment, at her bed
side, and then turned away.
Mrs. Gill, conscious and recog-
nizing the presence of the Presi-
dcnt-elect, smiled weakly, in re-
sponse to his murmured expression
of sympathy and hope.
Police regulations, already dras-
. tic. we're tightened up as Mr..
Roosevelt, surrounded by a swarm
of secret service men and uniform
ed police, made his visit to the hos
pital. Even members of the Roose-
J velt party had difficulty in getting
through the heavy lines. Several
thousands Miami citizens and visi-
tors gathered behind the ropes to
cheer as he passed.
The President-elect remained at
the hospital until it was time for
him to go to the train, which left
Miami at 1015 a. m.
In the last hours of his stay in
Miami, he learned of the coura-
geous action of Mrs. w. L. Cross,
wife of a Miami physician, who
seized the would-be killers arm as
he was pumping shots at the
Roosevelt party, and DETECTED the
bullets from their course.
There was an air of informality
in the hospital from the moment
Mr.. Roosevelt passed up its PALM
fringed walks and entered the open
door, where a large staff of resi-
dent physicians greeted him.
Every patient able to leave his
bed, or to sit up, waved to the
President-elect as he was wheeled
along the corridor to the pavilion
where Mayor Cermak was lying.
AS he reached the side of the
mayor. Mr.. Roosevelt looked down
and smiled, '"You look fine" he
Imperial Valley press., 1933-02-16
Vets To Oppose
Exemption Slash

SACRAMENTO, Feb. l6 W.Pl
Organization of the Veterans
Legislative Bureau to oppose
proposed constitutional amendment
which would lbolish the $1,000 tax
exemption granted cx-sewicc men.
was announced today by l.. -.
Rowland, past commander OF Fort
Suttei Post, American Legion.
The new legislative bureau repre-
sents various posts of the American
Legion. Veterans Of Foreign Wars,
Disabled American Veterans, Unit
cd Spanish War Veterans and other
veterans' organizations, Rowland
said
The proposed amendment against
which the veterans plan 10 launch
their fight was introduced by AS
semblyman Albert Ross, Redding.
Imperial Valley press., 1933-02-16
BRAVE WOMAN
DETECTS Gun
Mrs. W. F. Cross Credited By
Police With Saving Roosevelt
From Assassination.

MIAMI, Feb. 16. U.P)-The cour-
age of one small woman, who pitted
her strength against the determin-
alton of a crazed gunman, probably
saved Presidential Franklin d.
Roosevelt from injury or death.
Mrs. w. F.. Cross, wife of Miami
physician, who seized the pistol
arm of Giuseppi Zangara and grim
ly matched the muscles of her 100
pound body against him, today told
how she was able to divert the an
archist's arm.
my mind grasped the situation
in flash" she said. "I said TO
myself, he's going to kill the Pres
ident.' I caught him by the arm
and twisted it up"
Chance threw Mrs. Cross and
zangara together on the same
bench near the President-elect's au-
| tomobile.
80 many stood up in front of
me-" she said, "that l couldn't see,
so I stoodd on one of the benches,
and This man stood up with me.
The bench nearly folded up.
II glanced up at him and saw
he had a pistol. He began shoot
ing towards Mr.. Roosevelt.
grabbed his arm and pushed 1t
with all my strength into the air,
and called for help. A man named
Tom Armour also grabbed his hand,
and the next thing knew some
other men had reached him and
were choking him."
In the excitement of the mo-
.nent, Mrs Cross said she could
not tell how many shots were fired
The rapidity with which she acted
was shown in the fact, related
later, that in order to seize the as
sassin's arm, she had 10 transfer
her handbag from her right to her
! left hand.
Burned By Powder
ZangaraS gun, Mrs. Cross said
was pointed over my right shoul-
Ger, directly in line with the Pres
ident."
There is no doubt" she added
calmly, "that if his aim hadn't
been spoiled, he would have hit Mr.
! Roosevelt"
So close was tho heroine of the
assassination attempt to the man.
lac, that members of her family
found powder marks on her right
cheek when she reached home. She
is only 5 feet inches tall.
Mrs. Cross gave vivid descrip-
ton Of the events of the dramatic
minute.
"Thc shots made terrific noise
III my car" she said. "He kept
shooting and trying to force my
arm down, but wouldn't let go
I couldn't have held on much
longe-. however, when Mr.. Armour
seized him.
"A second or two later the Legion
boys came smashing through and
we all went tumbling off the bench
together. MY breath was knocked
out. but I wasn't hurt
The only nervousness she ex-
perienced, she said. was when the
shooting was over and Zangara
had been rushed away to jail
81 missed my husband she
said, land didn't go home in the
family car. But the police were
very nice to me, and took me home
in one of their machines"