davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
IS YR. OLD killer SOBS
AS JURY CONVICTS HIM

LOS ANGELES, Dec. II. UP)-
Slender, Slick-haired Nick Megu-
gorac, convicted murderer at Is
years of age, sat in Jail fighting
back schoolboy sobs today.
He crossed himself and then
nearly collapsed in court last night
when a jury found him guilty of
first degree murder for the killing
of a storekeeper in holdup.
The jury recommended life i'm
prisonment. 1t was the severeSt
punishment possible, since a youth
his age cannot be sentenced to
death.
The verdict came as a shock to
everyone, including the judge, and
the Sobs of Nick ana his parents
filled the courtroom.
Nick, a handsome black haired
boy in a checkered shirt, sat quietly
confident of an acquittal At the
verdict guilty, he hastily crossed
himself. and Slumped forward loud
ly sobbing, In the front row his
father and mother, Nick ST.. and
Helen Megugorac. shrieked with
grief
The boy was accused of killing
William Jacobsen. So, found dead
in front of his store last July 81.
Nick had been seen shooting a
revolver the day before. The gun
was found in his house and ex-
perts testified that bullets removed
from Jacobsen's body had been fired
from this gun. Other experts said
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
Radical Change in
State Tax Setup
Declared Danger

Warnings against radical changes
in the California tax structure by
initiative measures on the state
ballot next year were sounded by
three speakers at meeting of I'M
perial Valley real estate dealers,
guests of the Ell Centro real estate
board, at the Barbara Worth hotel
Saturday noon.
The speakers were j. Mortimer
Clark, state real estate commits
sioner, Grover T. Russell, president
elect of the California Real Estate
association and Glen D. Willaman,
secretary of the association. They
were introduced by w. E. Hancock,
president of the Ell Centro board.
Russell ami Willaman. especially,
stressed the danger inherent in
three initiative measures which
will be on the state ballot. They
are the defeated single tax
measure, the proposal to exempt
from taxation all homes under
$500 valuation, and the measure
for unicameral legislature, which
would throw the bulk of legislative
power to the communities of Los
Angeles, San Francisco and Oak
land.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
POLICE SEEK BODY SHIPPED
ABROAD IN BLUEBEARD CASE

PARIS, Dec. IL (UP)-Inspectors
rushed to suburban Garche today
to exhume the body of a woman
they suspected of having been an
other victim of Eugene George
Weidmann, the eXecutioner of a
kidnap-murder gang, but found
that it had been mysteriously
taken abroad.
The woman had died two months
ago in Garche, near the suburb
of Saint Cloud and Weidmann's
murder villa.
A Garche undertaken said that
he was called to a villa near Weld
mann's to arrange for the burial
of a woman of about 40. Weld
mann, two women and three men,
either Swiss or German, were pre-
sent.
One of them asked If the body
could be taken abroad. he said A
member of the group signed the
order and the body was taken from
the country, the undertaken said,
but he refused to say where.
In the murder villa in the su-
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
FLOOD ISOLATES COAST CITY
10000 Children
Can't Be Wronq!
There Is a Santa
Ell CENTRIC. CALF.
DEC. IL, 1897.

EAR SANTA CLAUSE
Now 1 mad
I've been reading years, nd in
the that Saturday decided
to go out and take look at That's where made
Santa Claus, you'd better bring a pair
hat suit and couple of shin
I'll he the again.
The only thing about it, far find right now is
ha got rid OF couple of each of big toes
body trampIed Off
OF to admit i'll do believe in Santa
to count them, you many there were hut
when got up to 736 they started moving
tell which hadn't counted that then
somebody stuck alday sucker i'm my
Tillman Daley Mitchell traffic cops were the
guys who really convinced "What
asks them and Were waiting for Santa Claus" they
me- and "There amt Santa Claus"
here says Bill "do you think we'd all the
to the airport one?" and
Tl "Yeah you'd better you
parking too long in place." did.
Just then somebody hit the
to couple hundred going
an airplane and Ira Rogers
down ON the field and right after him Fred Hudson big
passenger plane that had taken Mayor Roy WOmack
don Scrven and Harry SOnes to you field
Well sir, when people like that-not mention
were i'll such dther to welcome 20 /
looked kind like I'd wrong you then when
Police Chief Sterling Oswat stepped to
ne wanted for ChstmaS-wel what a
Another thing. You should gotten of
long time because when follow Rogers Dodge
and into town. got about three miles
get to Fifth and Main streets until the crowd thick
coud get what the difference
tell Santa 1 don't you keep fat
because if had that crowdng againstme
time know doggOned well I'd look like the a
pole cloudy day.
And if had carry many as you got from the
boys and girls of Ell Centro I'd hire
lines they the All American
All IN ALL Santa I'd visit a in
ways than one and if stay good naured through
L don't see how in tunket 1
Sincerely yours
THE OFFICE CROUCH.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
u. S. DEMANDS
FULL DATA ON
MISSING PAIR
Americans Vanish on
Tour of Russia;
Reds Mum

WASHINGTON, Dec. II.
(UP) : The United States
government today officially
demanded full and complete
information from the Soviet
concerning the mysterious disap-
pearance of two American citizens
in Moscow.
The demand was made on the
Soviet Ambassador Alexander Troy
anovsky by Secretary of State Cor
dell Hull.
Hull called Troyanovsky to the
state department after the Amer
lean embassy in Moscow had been
unable to obtain satisfactory in
formation concerning Mr.. and Mrs.
Donald l.. Robinson of New York
from the Soviet foreign office.
Hull informed Troyanovsky that
this government insisted upon the
speediest possible action to ascer-
tain the full facts in connection
with the disappearance of the Rob-
inson couple.
Robinson disappeared from the
National hotel in Moscow, which
l.; adjacent to the American embas-
sy building, under mysterious cir
cumstanceS.
His wife informed American news
paper correspondents that her hus-
band had been taken i'll and that
he had been taken to a hospital
for treatment. She said the Soviet
authorities had not informed her
OF the name of the hospital
Two days later, Mrs. Robinson
also disappeared
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12

Tanks led the final assault and
crumbled the wall in some places.
The first japanese detachment to
enter the capital broke through
the Kuang Hua gate late yesterday
and advanced to the Chinese inner
defenses in the crowded blocks a
half-mile away.
A rain of Chinese machine gun
bullets poured from houses and
street blockades, swept the half
mile wide open space to the gate
and cut down hundreds of japanese.
Some reports described the fight
ing as the most furious of the four
months old war. The Chinese ap-
parently were determined to defend
the capital to the last man, but
seemed to lack adequate leadership.
AT 10 o'clock this morning, Lieut..
Gen. Prince YaSuhiko, member
of Japan's supreme war council and
commander in the Nanking area,
ordered all his troops to assault.
Immediately. japanese swarmed
up to the walls from three sides.
Correspondents for the Domei news
agency-only japanese newspaper
men were permitted to accompany
the Imperial troops--reported that
mountain guns. one Founders and
machine guns had been placed atop
the outer wall at several points to
cover the infantry advance on Chi
nese positions in the heart of the
city.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12

W1ere tne Pine Creek reservoir
broke and sent thousands of gall
Ions of water through streets al
ready made raging torrents by the
overflowing Pitt river Three thou
sand fled to higher ground.
The river was rising at the rate
of foot an hour at the time the
dam crumbled.
Another danger spot was Gi,roy
where five blocks were inundated
when a levee on the Twas river,
west of the town, broke early to-
day. All north and southbound
traffic was interrupted. Fire alarms
and town criers'' called citizens
cut of their beds to erect sand bag
barriers around stores and homes.
Gilroy is 80 miles south of San
Francisco.
Other critica1 spots were Downie-
vile, Healdsburg and Ukiah, all
il California
They were isolated so far as
traffic was concerned and Downie-
vile was unable to communicate
with the outside world.
Ships at sea reported fighting
rionstrous seas and winds of ter.
rifle velocity.
Communications along the entire
coast were disrupted, airline sched-
ules were abandoned, railroads re.
ported washouts and southern Cal.
ifornia-drenched by a heavy rair
-"boasted" of a $4,000, 900 wetting
Transcontinental highways were
closed by slides.
Oroville was isolated at 2 am
and water was running four feet
deep there through the residential
section.
Healdsburg reported rs houses
Continued on Page 8; Col g.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
JanitOr Jailed on
WOman's Charges

Because he attempted to force his
attentions ON a white woman after
following her towards her home
from the show, Ismael Ruiz, %,
Mexican janitor, Saturday was un-
der 30-day Jail sentence, suspend
ed on condition he leave Ell Centro
Immediately.
Ruiz, father of two children who
live with their mother in San
Diego, was arrested when an Ell
Centre woman complained that he
followed her. took her arm and
attempted to force his attentions on
her.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
r. AMBLING
NEPORTER

Revenge Is Sweet
It's no bed OF roses that Roy Wo-
mack occupies as mayor of Ell
Centro, presiding as he does over
the city council, but for once he
got even Saturday-and nobody
talked back! With Harry Sones and
Gorden Scriven, the mayor went
up in Fred Hudsons plane to To-
cate the ship that was bringing
Santa Claus to the Imperial air.
port. Once up in the air, Fred
whispered to the mayor, seated
beside him. Suddenly Harry and
Gordon saw Fred turn loose of the
controls. He twisted around in his
seat.
Gotta match?" he asked
1t took a few minutes of gulping
silence for the pair to realize that
Roy had the controls-and it took
considerable more silence before
they got used to the idea.
They didn't know Roy could fly
For once" said the mayor, Il
had those fellows where they could
MT talk back" ..-..--=-..- =..------ ..
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12

Christmas Lighting Contest early
next week
One of the most attractive out
door lighting schemes yet entered
in the contest was announced
Friday night by J. B. McNeece, jr.,
IL years old, who lives at 667 Wen
sley avenue. His decorations con-
sist of lights strung on two live
trees and across the front of the
McNeece residence.
With scores of others who have
set up beautiful lighting displays
in their yards to make this a
Bright Christmas" for Ell Centre,
Continued on Page 8; Col 81
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
500 RESCUED
FROM LINER
FAST ON REEF

MANILA, Dec. IL. (UP)-All 500
passengers of the 18,000,000 liner
President Hoover fast aground on
a sunken reef off the coast OF For
mosa, have been safely landed ON
Hoishoto Island, one OF the For
mosa group. radio reports from
the scene said today
The dollar line offices IN Hong
Kong announced that DR.. Kenneth
Park. the Hooyer's physician. had
set up an emergency hospital ashore
to take care OF all passengers who
were landed by ships and small
boats. Whether any passengers had
been injured was not Known.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
ENGINEERS TO
CONFER UPON
POWER BIDS

Ben w. Creim. regional engineer
for the Rural Electrification Ad-
ministration's Western Division, is
here from Washington, DC. con-
sulting with Imperial Irrigation
District engineers on IS bids sub
mitted Tuesday for materials, sup
plies and equipment to be ordered
for the districts 800 miles lines
which will carry current to coun-
try homes.
Recommendations to the district
board for contract awards aggre-
eating approximately 100000 will
be made as soon as the engineers
complete their analysis of the
offers
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
TWO ATTEMPT
ESCAPE, JAILED

Two prisoners who attempted to
escape from Policeman Bill Keat-
ing after he arrested them on a
charge of drunkenness and dis
turbing the peace, and third ar
rested on the same charge, were
in the Ell Centro city Jail Saturday,
The prisoners are B. w. Jackson,
81, and Phil Frisk. AZ white and
Jessie Moore. "a, Negro. Jackson
and Moore, the police report said,
attempted to run from the arrest
ing officer but were overtaken and
captured
jackson was sentenced to Is days
in the city Jail when he pleaded
guilty, in police court Saturday
morning. Frisk and Moore pleaded
not guilty. They will be tried next
week,
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12

uty Attorney S. L. McCrory said
Saturday.
Contrary to rumors," McCrory
said, "the election is concerned
only with the proposed formation
of the public cemetery district. If
residents of the area included want
to form such a district, the law
provides for its formation. After
purchase of a cemetery. the tax
payers may establish fund for
its perpetual care and mainten-
ance. There is nothing which binds
the taxpayers to the purchase of
Continued on Page 8; Col. y
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
Stores Distribute
Gifts to Children
Who Met Santa

Eight stores cOoperated Sat-
urday morning in making Santa
Claus visit to Ell Centre a tre-
mendOus triumph. The stores
distributed gifts 10 children who
gathered here from all ends of
the valley to see Santa. The
stores and the gifts. they dis
tributed. are:
A. & p, balloons: Valley Drug
Co.. suckers; !. v. Hardware, big
mail box full lDf mail; ]. C. Pen
ney CO., balloons; Burns Brown
bilt Shoe Store. pop guns: Edgars
Hardware. suckers: Outlet. gro
Gerry. candy canes; Sears Roe
buck Co, toy cut-0uts.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12

OI ouPc1 FIoUIo VIII dPpOIIIU UUdI q
CT trustees for a four-year term.
This board will be responsible Tor
obtaining a cemetery for the dis
trict. The board may negotiate with
the owners of Evergreen cemetery
regarding its purchase or may buy
other property to establish new
cemetery for the district.
The cemetery, wherever it may
be established by the board, will
be the property of the taxpayers
Of the public cemetery district. The
maximum levy for taxes to provide
money for operation and mainten-
ance is two mills on the dollar, Dep
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
Filipino Vanishes
After Shooting

A painful flesh wound in his
left thigh accidentally inflicted by
shooting gallery customer Friday
night sent Earl Mead, 26, shooting
gallery employe, to doctors office
for emergency treatment.
An unidentified Filipino, sighting
% calibre rifle at target Mead
had just set up, inflicted the wound,
police said. The Filipino disappear
ed
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
LandOn Says He
Won't Be Candidate

WASHINGTON, Dec. IL. (UP)-
Former Gov. Alfred M. Landon OF
Kansas, Republican standard bear
er in the 1886 elections, announced
today that he would not be can
didate for president in 1910.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
ITALY WILL
BE EMPIRE

ROME, Dec. IL. CUP)--Premier
Benito Mussolini will announce to-
night the creation of an Italian
empire with the king assuming the
title of Emperor of Italy, 1t was
reported ON excellent authority.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
VOTERS
WILL GO TO
POLLS TUESDAY

Voters i'll the Ell Centro Imperial and Hotville areas
will go to the polls Tuesday to decide whether they wish
to form public cemetery district not The election
officers declared not concerned with Evergreen ceeer
in any way If the district is formed the county board
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
TWO WEEKS LEFT TO
LIGHT UP RESIDENCES

With only two full weeks remaining before Christmas
Day. many people in Ell Centre who have delayed putting
their outdoor lighting decorations in residential yards
and others who have not fully completed the elaborate
decorations they planning, ready to enter the
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
JAPANESE SOLDIERS
STORM THRU NANKINC
Hope to Subdue Cityby Night
As Chinese Put Up Desperate
Resistance in Capital

SHANGHAI, Dec. H. (UP)-Thousands of japanese
troops stomed the last Chinese defenses inside Marking
today, and hoped to subdue the city by night
Markings ancient wall had been broken in many places
by the thousands of shells poured into by heavy artillery
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12

Nick'S shoes, distinguished by pecu-
liar metal plates at heel and toe,
matched plaster casts of footprints
at the scene.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
Worst Storm
Baffers Entire
Pacific Shore
Business Streets of Alturas Turned Into
Rivers; Three Thousand Flee
Before Angry Waters

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. H. (UP)-A storm which
the weather bureau termed te worst in memory" beat
the entire Pacific coast from the Mexican border to the
Aleutian Islands today centering northern California
Greatest danger spot of the moment was Auras Cal
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
Misery Loves Company


A great many people in the aud
ience at the United Artists theater
Friday night we're not so disgusted
with their lack of ability to make
public appearances alter they saw
Stanley Fields, film actor. make
his. He was nervous. decidedly ner-
vous when presented by Manager
Herb Norris. They had kindly
feeling toward him. They decided
he was just another boy who never
could be made to speak piece in
school.
II Wasn't Fair
Viggo hansen, referee at the
Holtville- Needles football game Fri
day night is thinking of retiring
from active duty and taking his
football from the sidelines. Jack
Gray. ITO pound all-valley fullback.
crashed into him during the game.
This greatly hampered Hansens
powers of locomotion. Spectators
pasped In amazement when Gray
bounced off the referee and bit the
dust. After the aust settled, Han
sen. with his whistle still between
his teeth, lowered over the pros
tate Gray. Some weight, eh. what?
PS-the penalty called by Han
ksen Immediately after the crash
Y was not imposed because the player
ran into the referee.
Swift Service
The telephone rang at Ell Cen
tro police headquarters Fri ay
night. An excited Negro voice said.
"Mr. officer! Send someone down
here right away"
rs it an emergency" inquired
Desk Sergeant George Bucklin.
"I doesn't know what yo' calls 1t,
Boss, but nah wife's gone!"
Bucklin sent man to the ad-
dress given. A few moments later
the telephone rang again and the
same Negro voice purred calmly.
"Say, yo' man amt heah yet but
NAH wife is"
EIickey-TO YOU
Mickey Kern, disher inner and
outer at SherWood'S cafe, may be
said to have acquired neat array
of aliases through no fault of her
own. They were thrust upon her.
The sports editor gave her the sur
name of Corn" in the football
contest. RR called her Turner Fri
Gay. That makes two too many
names. The best way to get around
the whole thing is to call her
Mickey and let it go at that.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12

burb of Saint cloud they had found
the possessions of six women. One
Continued on Page 8: Col %
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
We've Got The Button

Somebody lost button at Impe-
rial during the Santa Claus rush
Saturday morning. It's a big black
button from a womans coat a sort
of hollow place in the middle of it,
and unless the woman gets it back,
RR's afraid, she'll have to buy a
new set of buttons. SO, if she wants
it, the button is at the Post-Press
office.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
WEATHER.

Maximum temperature 49, minimum 49, sam.
temperature s., humidity 82 temperature 40,
humidity So; pmm. temperature 66, humidity IS.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-12-12
MARKETS IN BRIEF

MARKETS IN BRIEF
Butter: Los Angeles, 37c; butterfat, Imperial
Valley, fob, ranch, grade A, 47c; manufacturing
milk, 4Oc; route gathered cream 36tzc.
LA. May: us No. 1 S20-$2O-50; US No. Ieafy
S19-s19.5O; US No. 2 S17.50-S1sO0; Minneapolis
fax Dec. S1.g5
White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1937-05-20

We note, by btia Yakima Herald,
that Mn. and Mrs Paul Bruggeu.a1l
have Deen granted a decree of dl-
Vorce.
+ i: Il
Buy Paper Poppies in 1897 and
give the War Orphans and the Vet
GRAMS boys and girls what they de-
serve.
4 + i
Don't forget the Grange Dance
this Saturday might at the White
Bluffs Grange Hall This will be
an Old-tine dance.
X X j:
Many in the valley knew Charles
j. Beca1t, ST., who passed away at
ST. Elizabeth's Hospital in Yakima,
Tuesday. He was IS years of age
and the father of Karl Becht, who
lived in tilevalley for several years
The senior Becllt was cor,a in Ger
many, migrated to- this country D.
bout sixty years ago and had beer
a, resident of Yakima for 80 years
White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1937-05-20

Miss Gertrude Upton, of .Spo-
kane. was a weekend guest, we
believe, at the Montgomery horte.
Since Miss Jane Relniinger has
secured work ill Yakima, Tom Wade
has been carrying the mail Oal the
up-rivea' route.
4 \: II
r. S. Robertson left, Sunday. for
Troy, Idaho, called by the death of
his father. Mrs, Reierson followed,
Monday morning.
Gloria, Ray a1ld Norman Swan
SON, of Yakima, were guests at bhe
Charles Rousseau home, Saturday
and Sunday. Julia Rousseau, who
had been visiting the SWansolls for
two weeks, returned home with the
arriving visitors.
MIR. and Mrs. Ernest Plnnfner, of
Yakima, were Sunday visitors in
WlNite Bluffs. MIR Plu1n1r,er OWNS q.
Large tract of land in tine Waflfuke
district and was at ONE time very
active in tale proniotiot. of the
Priest Rapids damn,
MIR. and Mrs. Wright Wiehl, their
daughter Barbara and Arlo Krug
drove to Blue Lake, Sunday, and
Witnessed the boat races there. A
good attendance enjoyed the spect-
acle. A bnisk wind, toward the close
of the days events, made the
course a little difficult and there
was one spill
Il !: !:
Ftuiday afterrlonn. Fred Gilhuly,
Jr., drove to Seattle to visit with
some of his old college friends. On
his return trip, Sunday, he had, as
his travelling companions, Miss Al
ma Walker and Mr.. Francis Shan
aIla1l, of Seattle. Mr.. Slauladlan
will RETURN to Seattle, Sunday, and
Miss Walker will remain here fca. a
while