davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27

hi6 NdttahidIto VIII Wloll W SUI
ceed him.
Aten is the oldest director on the
district board in point of service.
He is 76 years old.
Among candidates moved by re-
ports of Aten's withdrawal to seek
the district directorShip from the
Imperial-El Centro division, prelim-
mary reports indicate, may be his
son, Marion Aten, and w. j. Cap"
Gregg. Supervisor A. Y. Preble has
been mentioned as possible can
didate, but reports have been firm
that he will not run.
Aten, in announcing his retire
ment, thanked those who have sup
ported his policies and recalled the
fight for Boulder dam, the All Am
crican canal and other projects and
legislation which have been issues
during his time in office.
Ira Aten at 20 joined the Texas
Rangers and served in that famous
organization seven years in West
Texas and along the Rio Grande.
He served also as sheriff of two
Texas counties, once by governors
appointment when he quelled a
bloody county feud and again when
he was elected to clean up Castro
county at a time when it was over
run with horse and cattle thieves.
He resigned as county commits
Sioner of Deaf Smith county after
seven years service, to come to Cali
fornia. From that time his name
has been connected with every
movement for advancement of this
community. 1t is characteristic of
him that one of the first things he
did was to plant hundreds of trees
on the Aten home ranch here.
Ira Aten was vice-president of
the first chamber of commerce in
Ell Centro in 1906; worked for divi-
sion of San Diego county to create
Imperial county in 1907; was sec
ond constable in Imperial town.
ship; prime mover in the Pioneer
society of the county; helped start
the first creamery, was director of
the first bank organized in Ell Cen
tro and formed a partnership for
one of the earliest real estate firms
here.
These activities indicate his
wide range of interests.
Elected to the district board in
February, 1923, Aten was named
chairman in the following month.
He has served as director contin-
Ytn tc1t civ
Continued on Page 6, Col. q
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27

15-year old hitch-hiking girl COM
panion reported missing.
Search for the second girl. Gloria
Graves, turned to San Jose. Min
neapolis police said they had been
Informed the girl had been seen
there.
The TWO girls left their Min
neapolis homes in October to hitch
hike west to a ranch owned by
one girls aunt near San Luis Obs
po. Later they came to San Fran
cisco and separated.
AS Miss Graves companion sat
in a restaurant, two Chinese ap-
preached her, she told police, and
offered 20 help her. She said they
took her to Chinatown apartment
and forced her into white slavery.
Investigation of the apartment
on another complaint resulted in
discovery of the girl.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
Inquiry
Started
Ia.
Gle sIer Tells Story
Japanese Client
KidnapedH Here

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 27.
(UP)-Investigation into an
alleged conspiracy of a Jap
anese gambling ring which
assertedly committed such
crimes as kidnapings, murder and
robbery was begun today by John
A. Klein, chief investigator for the
district attorney.
The investigation was begun on
complaint of Attorney Jerry Gies-
Ter who charged that one of his
clients, H. Yamatoda, wealthy Jap
aneSe film exchange owner, was
'framed" with an attempted mur-
der charge and was later kidnapped
and taken to Mexico.
After telling an amazing story
of an alleged series of crimes in
which his own associate, Attorney
ThornWell Rogers, aSsertedly was
arrested falsely by Ell Centro police,
GieSler said he had had confer
ences with members of the Japa-
nese consulate in view of asking
the federal government to enter
the investigation
Giesler was accompanied to the
district attorneys office by Yama-
todas wife, Mrs. Wanda Yamatoda;
Bob Kubo, Yamatodas chauffeur,
and Moses Sheffield, Negro, former
policeman, all of whom were wit
neSSeS.
At the same time, Giesler asked
the district attorneys office to dis
miss the complaint against his
client, charging assault with a
deadly weapon with intent to COM
NIT murder on which he is sched-
uled for trial Jan. 16. on the ground
that the two japanese who kid
naped Yamatoda were the two
Continued on Page 6, Col -
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27

Blamed
In Row
Office ers Here Face
Scrambled Story
OF Racial Feud

Gambling, kidnapping and
attempted murder charges
were scrambled together
Tuesday in a bizarre Japa-
nese-American mystery that
reached from Los Angeles to Mexi-
cali and brought forth a storm of
conflicting stories from principal
characters.
The tangled case, which started
with an attempted murder charge
against a wealthy Japanese in Los
Angeles and was climaxed by his
kidnapping in Ell Centre late last
week, was featured Tuesday by the
start of a Los Angeles county in
quiry and the disclosure of new
and conflicting angles.
Out of the maze, these reports
were uncontradicted:
Held in Jail in Mexicali for Mexi-
can immigration authorities was
H. Yamatoda, wealthy coast Orien-
tai and reputed king of japanese
gamblers" Also in Jail there was
Lefty Sonada, held on a charge of
kidnapping Yamatoda.
In Ell Centro charges were pend
ing against Nose Sheffield, former
Los Angeles Negro policeman, and
Bob Kudo, accusing them of kid
naping Yamatoda. Sheffield and
Kudo will receive hearing Jan. 4.
Last week Yamatoda was arrest
Continued on Page 6, Col. -
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27

nor general acted because of an
Italian concentration of troops on
the frontier and attempts by Ital-
ians to demonstrate in favor of
Italian claims to French Somali-
land.
Two other Paris papers also re-
ported heavy Italian troop move
ments in East Africa.
Pertinax, writing in L'Ordre, and
Nine. Genevieve Tabouis, writing
in L'Oeuvre, asserted that contin-
gents of Ascaris, the native soldiers
of Italian East Africa, had been
moved up to support a force OF
between 600 and 700 Italians who
six months ago occupied six from
tier posts which France claims to
be on its side of the border.
Both writer's, who enjoy inter-
national regulations as commenta-
tors on forgeign affairs, said that
recent reports indicated that the
Italians had $1,000 Italian troops
10000 native troops and 10000
working soldiers in East Africa,
against only small force in French
Somaliland.
Wide asphalt roads had been
built from Italian Eritrea to the
French Somaliland border, it was
asserted.
AS these reports were published
Premier Edouard Daladier COM
pleted his diplomatic program by
asking Prime Minister Neville
Chamberlain and Viscount Halifax,
foreign secretary of Great Britain,
to stop here on their way to visit
Premier Benito Mussolini at Rome
in mid-January.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
Negro Attacker
Hunted in Valley

Imperial county peace officers
were warned Tuesday to be on the
alert for the appearance of a Ne
gro wanted in Fresno for shooting
another Negro Christmas day.
The Negro, Dorsey Higgins, is 80
years of age, five feet eight inches
in height, weighs 165 pounds, and
when last seen was dressed in a
blue suit and dark blue hat, a tele-
type message said. Higgins is be-
lieved to have headed south after
the shooting.
His victim was Willard Waver,
who lies near death in a Fresno
hospital.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
Elliott Roosevelt
Criticizes Mexico

FORT WORTH, Tex, Dec. q.
(UP)-Elliott Roosevelt, the presi-
dents son, said that Mexico had
taken advantage of this country's
good-neighbor policy by expropriat-
ing oil properties, and that, until
Mexico makes an overture Of
friendship, l for one must sub
scribe to the theory that actions
speak louder than words"
The United States" he said last
night in a weekly news commen-
tary, faced as she is with the
conflicting ideals of the Monroe
doctrine. and the good neighbtI'
policy, is embarrassed
Not only is she embarrassed, but
she stands to lose some $1,000 900
in trade with Mexico which will be
transferred to Nazi Germany under
the terms of recent barter agree
ments."
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27

ing from the Arctic regions to the
Gulf of Mexico and from the Rocky
Mountains to the Ohio River Val
ley. U. S. Forecaster j. R. Lloyd
at Chicago said the cold would en-
compass the entire eastern two
thirds of the country by WedneS-
day.
A 40-mile- hour gale swept
heavy SHOWS across the Dakotas
Minnesota and northern Wisconsin
and piled 10-foot drifts on high
ways.
At Chicago, officials of major air.
lines reported they had ordered
all planes grounded. They believed
they would be able to resume
flights to the southwest Tuesday.
East bound mail was transferred
to trains Monday night
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
Borrowed Baby
Safe with Parents

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 81. (UP)
Missing since Christmas Day 2
year-old Patricia Brady was re-
turned to her parents today by Mr.
and Mrs. Barney Williams, who
took the child with them to buy
present" Sunday afternoon prom
Using to be right back"
I'VE just got lost. That's all I'm
saying" Mrs. Williams told Mrs.
James Brady, Patricia's mother,
when she brought the baby to the
Brady home this morning.
1--WE had the baby at home with
an aunt in Oakland" Mrs. Will
liams said. She said she didn't
know the Brady's address until she
saw a story of the baby's disap-
pearance in a newspaper.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
Fathers S Memory
Causes Arrest of
Hit-Run Driver

BRAWLEY. Dec. PA fathers
memory of the man he believed
killed his little daughter in a traf-
fic accident here in 1882, was the
cause of Armando Garcia being ar
rested on a manslaughter charge
today.
Ricardo Alcarez, father of Gloria
Alcarez, 4, remembered the man
police sought after the child was
struck down and killed by hit
and run driver.
Garcia confessed that he drove
the truck which struck and killed
Gloria. He fled to Mexico to eS-
cape punishment, he said.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
Kynette Helper
Freed on Bail

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 81. UP)-
Roy j. Allen former police officer
convicted with Earle Kynette, for
mer police captain, of the bomb
ing of Harry j. Raymond, today
was admitted to $4,000 bail by
Judge Thomas Ambrose because OF
illness.
Both Allen ali Kynette have
been confined in the county jail
awaiting decision on their appeal
since their conviction.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27

On Monday morning Mrs. Carl
E. Yaeger. Negro resident of Penn
sylvania, was killed when a car
driven by her husband. DR.. Yeager,
Sideswiped a truck at Curphey's
corner east of Heber. The truck
was driven by Tomas Perez of
Brawley. He and his two passengers
escaped serious injury.
Yaeger suffered a broken arm
and injured shoulder. His son,
Robert, IA, had his front teeth
broken and another son, Carl, Is,
suffered cut lip. j. D. Graham,
of Ell Centro, was in the Yaeger
car and was badly shaken. The in
quest will be held at the Lemons
mortuary at 8 am. Wednesday.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
100 Buried Alive
BV Avalanche

TOKYO, Dec. 27. CUP)-More
than 100 persons were reported
buried alive today in an avalanche
in Toyama prefecture in northern
Japan and a iunne, collapse at
Seoul, Korea. Seventy-six persons
were buried in the Toyama ava
lanche, it was reported, and 40 IN
the tunnel collapse. Seventeen OF
those involved in the tunnel acci-
dent died, it was said.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27

Minnesota highway department.
officials said many portions OF the
state were tightly snowbound, with
scores of automobiles stalled In
bitches and snowdrifts. Bus SER
vice, particularly in eastern North
Dakota and northern Minnesota,
was at standstill throughout the
blizzard region
Minnesota road crews attempted
for a time to keep highways cleared
but binding snow. which reduced
visibility TO less than SO feet, fore
ed them to abandon their plows.
The mass of cold air formed over
Nome, Alaska. Dec. % causing o
high barometric pressure. BY Mon
day 1t had brought the tempera-
ture down to 54 below zero ut Mayo.
Yukon territory.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27

UleS reported fatalities, UnlCeQ
Press survey revealed. California
reported as violent deaths for the
Rhree days.
N Imperial county's traffic death
total for 1888 reached 26 when a
pedestrian was struck and killed a
mile north of Ell Centro at 1:30
am. Tuesday On Dec. 81, 1897,
the traffic death total for the coun-
ty was Al.
Charles Luther Ireland, 46-year
old resident of Delano, was killed
as he walked south on highway
90. He was struck by a car driven
by Eugene Thomas of Calexico as
it travelled in the same direction,
officers said. Occupants of the car
escaped serious injury.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
Theft Suspects
Plead Not Guilty

Francisco Morales and Sam Vie
gas, arrested while trying to sell an
electrical toaster, pleaded not gull
ty to petty theft in Ell Centre po-
lice court Tuesday and Judge Lee
Nuffer set their trial for Friday.
Police suspected Morales and Vie
gas stole the toaster from the park
ed car of A. M. Holland of I'M
perial.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
Boy, II, Captured Dodging Payment of
81, Admits 125 Thefts in Dozen Cities

fessed to police series of depreda-
tions extending from Long Beach
to Eureka and including safe-crack-
ing, residence lootings and theftS of
gold from dentists offices.
Police said he outlined a fast
and furious crime career by listing
the number of robberies he accom-
plished in various cities. The list:
Long Beach, 20; Cotton, 9; Fres-
no, 7; Vallejo 9: Stockton, Is; Sac
ramento, 4; Cotton. 8; Petaluma, 6;
Eureko, 8; Napa, &c; Willis, 3, and
Woodland, l.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
Chinese Deny They
Are Seeking Peace

SHANGHAI, Dec. 27 (UP)-
Chinese sources today denied per-
sistent reports that former Premier
Wang Ching-Wei was going tc
Hong Kong to talk to japanese
about peace.
For some days it has been as
serted that Wang was on his way
to Hong Kong. Chinese sources
assert that he went to Hanoi,
French China, but to receive med
ical treatment, and that even if
he continued to Hong Kong he
would engage in no peace talks.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27

: divert the New Deal to less expert
mental paths leading directly to
the nomination Of a conservative
presidential candidate in 1910.
None is yet certain whether PreSi-
dent Roosevelt will compromise or
fight. Neither is it established that
conservative Democrats will go
through with their plan to regain
a controlling voice in party af-
fairs. That each desires party con-
troll is undisputed.
Mr.. Roosevelt will define the
general battle lines in two mes
sages to be delivered during the
first week of the new congress. On
Jan. 4 he will deliver his annual
message to joint session of course
and senate. The message probably
Continued on Page 6, Col. p
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
FAMOUS ARTIST DIES
AT PEBBLE BEACH

DEL MONTE, Cal, Dec. 81. (UP)
John Francis McComas, "a, in
ternationally known water color
artist who made the Monterey cy-
press trees famous in his paintings,
died at his Pebble Beach home to-
day. He was born IN Tasmania in
1874.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
BOMBERS MAKE RAIDS
ON SPANISH CITY

BARCELONA, Dec. 27. CUP) -
Five bombers made two raids on
Barcelona today, causing an un-
estimated number Of victims and
considerable damage. The British
steamer Stancroft was hard hit and
was reported sinking. The crew
was believed to have escaped.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
Wound Unearths
Domestic Quarrel

CALIPATRIA. Dec. 27.-Because
Morris Muck, Negro, sought medi-
cal treatment for a bullet wound
in his hand, Chief of Police Guy
Wood unearthed a domestic quar-
rel which disrupted a holiday cele-
bration Monday.
The Negro said his wife won the
argument by shooting him in the
hand with a 90 rifle.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
Near-Freezing
Weather Predicted

Near-freezing temperatures were
forecast for Imperial Valley on
Wednesday and Thursday nights,
Woodrow C. Jacobs, meteorologist
said Thursday, but high humidity
will prevent damage to vegetables.
Temperatures were reported as
low as 80 in some sections of the
valley during the past three days
but no damage to crops was re-
ported.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27

NAPA, Calf, Dec. 81. CUP) -
Jack Ramsey, II year old Phoenix,
Ariz., youth who authorities said
was responsible for a lone man
crime wave" in this area, was ar
rested today and confessed police
said, to perpetrating at least 1875
robberies in California cities.
Captured by grocery clerks when
he attempted to evade payment Of
S 1for food, young Ramsey con-
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
u AMBLING
(\EpORTER

Young Richard Strickland listen
ed while younger Craig Strickland
gave a monologue on How Mother
Starts the Car"
First you open the door and
climb into the drivers seat" mar
rated Craig. "rhen you wiggle the
gear shift lever to be sure it's in
neutral. Then you pull out the
gas lever and step on the starter
After the starter has turned the
motor for while you stop and go
inside the house and get the keys"
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
Police Free Girl Victim of White
Slavery Trade in s. F. Chinatown

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 81. (UP)
"A 15-year-old Minneapolis girl
who police said was the victim of
Chinatown white slave operators
was found today, and authorities
started an extensive search for her
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
Transference-

Sheriff's office notes:
"11:55 p. m. Someone stole
chickens near Holtville. Deputy
needed in a. m.
"2:03 a. m. Chickens just chang
ed sleeping places. Deputy not
needed"
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
CONGRESS Looks Forward to War Over
Control Of Democratic Party Sees
Battle Over Spending Privileges

WASHINGTON, Dec. 81 (UP)-The 10th congress
elected last month in the first major New Deal political
reverse, meets week from today for prolonged con-
test control of the Democratic party.
Anti-adminiStratiOn Democrats are maneuvernp TO
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
Ira Aten Confirms Storv
He Will Quit JOB: Storts
Bic Rush Of Candidates
Dean Of District Direc ctors Ends Service
Of I6years Next March; Son Mentioned
AS Candidate; Gress PrebIe May Run

Ira Aten Tuesday confirmed widespread reports he
will retire from the Imperial Irrigation District board
of directors when his present term of office expires
March His retirement will end 16 years of uninterrupted
service the board-and begin scramble among aspir
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
County Traffic Toll for Year Hits
2b with Two New Deaths; Christmas
Toll in Nation Nears 500 Mark

Automobile traffic claimed two lives in Imperial coun-
ty during the threeday Christmas holiday period "a in
California, and at least 274 in the nation.
The number of violent deaths in the nation climbed
toward 500 Tuesday and more isolated comnun-
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
Cold Air EnguIfs Half Of Continent
In Sub-zero Weather; Billiards Hit
North Central States Spread Wider
United Press

canadian blizzard swept eastward across the north
central states Tuesday and sent temperatures tumbling
to Sub-Zero levels.
The storm centered in great of cold air extend
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
French Rush Troops TO Frontier as
|taIv Concentrates More Soldiers
In Fortified Areas Facing Border
Somaland Bone of Contention as MussOlini
Cohorts Prepare to Demonstrate Demands
For New Slice of Colonial Territory

PARIS Dec. 27. (UP)The governor general OF trencf
Somaiand has urgently asked Paris for and nav!
reinforcement reported today and the required
aid has been sent.
The Paris Soir reported from Djibouti that the
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
Wedding without Cash

Il want to get married but
can't pay for it. Can you help me
out?"
The Rev. Mr.. Thomas L. Massie
coughed for time, wondering who
this could be phoning him on
AChristmas eve. The pastor inquir-
ed mere closely into the the iden-
'tity of his caller and got only con,
fusing answers Finally he blurted.
SAY! Who is this anyway?'
1t was the Rev Mr.. lyric L.
Townsend, Las Cruces, N. NJ, pas
tor, passing through town and in
dulging in a Christmas practical
joke on his friendd.
IF you're that broke, why don't
you marry yourself?" the Rever-
end Massie inquired.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27

Well Dressed
1t is enough to shock the very
heart of Christmas Lighting ed
itor. At the w. j. McClelland
home is an umbrella tree decorated
in a fashion that surely no Christ
mas tree was ever before decora-
&ted. In addition to Christmas
the decorations include:
Two brooms, empty bottles, pa
per sacks full of wind empty egg
cartons, cigarette packages minus
cigarettes, a mud scraper, a pair OF
shorts, a pair of Macs boots and
an old Shirt
RR will personally request the
Christmas Lighting editor to hunt
up BOBBY prize.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27

Butter: Los Angeles. 30cI butter
fat. Imperial Valley fob. ranch.
grade A, 38c: manufacturing milk
gle: route gathered cream 2slse.
L. A. Hay: U. s. No. I, leafy
S16-16.50; u. ) No. l, s13.50-14i No.
2 leafy S13-13.50; No. 2, S11.50-12'
Minneapolis flax, Dec, S1.S6.
Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-27
Imagination

Imagination
Two little girls were making tiny
mud men on ditch bank near
Imperial. Several tiny figures hao
depreSsions in their heads, and
RR inquired:
why the holes?" The girls re-
piled:
They're sleeping with their
mouths open"
The Washington times., 1938-11-21
Isabel YOunQ
Guest of Honor

Miss Isabel Young, of New
York city. national president
Of the Home Economic Women
in Business, will be the guest of
honor at a dinner meeting of
the Washington Chapter of the
organization tonight at $50
o'clock in the Dodge Hotel.
Miss Young, home economist
with the American Can Com
pany, will give an explanatory
introduction to a commercial
film entitled Jerry Pulls the
String" which tells the story
Of coffee. Puppets" are the
actors in the film. The local
president, Mrs. Ann sullivan
Hagen. will preside at the meet
ing, to which prominent mem
bers Of various deetetic associa.
tons have been invited.
The Washington times., 1938-11-21
Musical Mss.
Exhibition

An exhibit of manuscripts Of
early American composers, and
a musical program featuring
American musical compositions
from it's earliest days before the
Civil War up to the present, in
Guiding jazz and swing music
and their influence, will be held
tonight at 8 o'clock at the home
of Dorothy Beatty Mitchell, I'm.
der the auspices of the Wash.
ington Alumnae Chapter of Sig
ma Alpha Iota, national profes-
sional fraternity for women.
Illustrations of the compost
tons VIII be presented in vocal
groups by Elma Cafky, soprano,
with Isabelle Foster, accompa.
mist. Catherine Murray will give
examples of piano compositions.
Isabelle Foster will read a poem
by DR.. Emily Maddox.