davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15

pending a complete checkup. The
five bandits, their faces masked in
handkerchiefs, broke into 16 strong
boxes provided for valuables of the
guests. Until guests could list their
deposits, police refused to estimate
the loss.
A police blockade Of all exits
from Miami Beach failed to trap
the gang.
Detectives and insurance adjust
ors began interviewing more than
80 guests to learn their losses.
Other estimates ranged lower
than that of the Daily News, but it
was believed at least $4,000 in
cash, gems and securities was
taken.
The bandits entered the hotel,
located near the beach on one of
the resort citys busiest streets, just
before am. Herding about 10 en-
ployeS into a WaShroom, they SyS-
tematically chose from the 100 de-
posit boxes in the hotel, Police
Chief H. V. Yocum said.
The bandits entered the hotel
lobby through the garden, accord
ing to Alfred Stone, hotel manager
All carried guns and held handker-
chiefs before their faces.
"They must have been in the
hotel about 40 minutes and made
a lot OF racket, but nc one upstairs
heard them" Stone said.
The bandits taped the arms and
legs of some OF the employees, but
did not harm anyone. Stone said
Among those held up, Stone said
were two women guests of the hotel
who came in while the robbery was
in progress.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15

The charge and repetition of a
former one that present policy was
leading the country toward war
were made by Johnson in a formal
statement while the senate military
affairs committee prepared to re-
sumo its investigation of coopera-
ton given by various government
departments to a French air mis-
SIGN buying American-made mill
tary planes.
simultaneously. the French en-
basSy announced that the mission
has concluded its work and placed
orders for more than 500 military
planes with four American manu-
facturerS.
Johnson. who previously had de-
clined to discuss foUr-point
statement of policy made by the
president at a recent press con-
ference. declared that secrecy be-
gets ills that cannot be foreSeen."
Some Of the adherents of the
policy of being pursued say we are
Just bluffing," he said, "and by
bluffing will KEGS those countries
Continued on Page s, Col. u
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
ST.. World's Fair
Opens Saturday

SAN FRANCISCO. Feb IS. (UP)
The worlds fair of the west today
set its Treasure Island stage tc
Saturdays opening, while San
Francisco went mad
The city gorged itself on its IA
vorite fun parades, red sashes.
white horses fancy pants, drum
majorettes, fireworks and dancing
in the streets. Curbstone cCnnois-
seur's got at least one parade every
day of the fiesta week.
On Treasure Island the $4,000,
600 show was 95 per cent complete
and the turnstiles were ready for an
expected crowd Of 250000 on open
ing day. The island will open at
8 am Saturday, and at 10 am.
thereafter, running daily until ,
am.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
County Prisoners
Given Blood Tests
Check Syphilis

All prisoners in the Impe-
rial county jail and desert
prison camp, totaling 215
men, were given blood tests
for syphilis Wednesday by
Dr.. Joseph Copeland, medical Off
Ger in charge Of venereal disease
free clinics in the county.
Hereafter the tests will be a part
of the routine at tie time new
prisoners are photo graphed and
fingerprinted This is one of the
steps necessary to rid the county
of the disease.
Jail occupants were tested during
the morning, camp dwellerS during
the afternoon, and the chain gangs
were scheduled for the tests when
they returned from work at pm.
Continued on Page 8, Col. II
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
Two Widows Ask
Cash, Ignore Body

SACRAMENTO, Feb. Is. up
The "twO widows" of Harry {.
Thomas, who died here after he
was found unconscious in box
car. today asked for Thomas
last pay check, his belongings
ard his railroad act retirement
pension, but neither claimed the
dead mans body, Coroner Jack
Garibaldi said.
Wife No. l, Mrs. Dorothy
Travis of Bucyrus. Ohio, whom
Thomas deserted with eight chill
dren 10 years ago, and wife No.
2, Mrs. Rebecca Thomas of San
ia Barbara. Calf, both sought
Thomas effects. Thomas. ac-
cOrding to Garibaldi, married the
second Mrs. Thomas in Ogden,
Utah, i'm 1882.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
Supervisors 0kay
Plans OF Juvenile
Home at Imperial
Tirepr0Of Building to
Be Put Up South of
Business Section

Plans and specifications
for the new $4,000 juvenile
detention home at Imperial
were adopted by the county
board of supervisors We'd
nesday, a wage scale was set, and
the clerk instructed to advertise
for bids.
The building will be erected on
Imperial avenue a short distance
south of the Imperial business Sec
ton.
Construction will be completed
before hot weather, supervisors
said.
The plans call for a one story
fireproof and earthquake resistant
building with a central heating and
cooling plant.
Full capacity OF the building is
% children and two matrons.
Separate wards for girls and for
boys and three individual rooms
for girls and three for boys are
included. There are four strong
rooms provided for unruly children
and two isolation rooms for those
who are ill., An administration Of
flee, a dining room, kitchen, pantry
two private rooms for matrons, and
sanitary facilities complete the
floor plan.
A courtyard will be fitted out as
play room. The plans were drawn
to permit additions without neces-
stating any change in the struc-
ture.
Supervisors studied the plans at
their meeting Wednesday morning
and made a few minor changes in
the plans before adopting them
The board will meet next at 2
pm. Monday.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
) Amateurs Enter
Fair Contest Here

First entries in the annual I'M
rerial County mid-Winter fair
amateur contest were received at
the fairgrounds Wednesday follow
ing the announcement that the
Vinfredo sisters, Virginia and Car
men, winners of the 1886 and 1887
contests, would appear on the pro-
fessional vaudeville at the valley
exposition this year.
The Vinfredo sisters. who met
with success on the Orpheum stage
in Los Angeles after their winning
performances at previous fairs, are
booked to play the circuit this
summer, according to Dorman
Stewart, fair board secretary.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
Public Offices, Financial Houses Here
Close Saturday for State Holiday

of the opening of the Worlds Fair
at San Francisco and declaring the
Gay legal holiday.
The proclamation read:
Whereas, the Hon. Culbert L
Olson, governor of the state OF
California, has declared Saturday
Feb. 18. a holiday to be observed
throughout the state for the pur-
pose of celebrating the opening OF
the Worlds Fair on Treasure Is
land on San Francisco Bay
Nov therefore, by virtue of the
power in me invested, 1 do hereby
proclaim Saturday. Feb. 16, to be
a holiday for El Centre, requestin2
the same be observed by closing
of public offices and such others
as befit the occasion.
Gordon r. Scriven,
Acting Mayor
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15

In ccnformance with a proclama-
ton issued by Governor Culbert l..
Olson. Saturday will be observed as
a holiday for all state, county ard
city offices.
The executive proclaimed the
holiday to commemorate the OF
ficial opening of the California
Golden Gate International eXposi-
ton in San Francisco.
Banks and title companies also
will close for the day. Otherwise
business will proceed as usual in
Imperial county.
Supervisors in session Wednes-
day ordered all county offices to
close Saturday.
A proclamation was issued in El
Centre Wednesday to close all city
offices Saturday, Feb. 18, in honor
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15

AN army air corps of 1000 fightlng
planes.
The naval affairs committee, by
IA to 5, rejected a motion to elimi-
nate the Guam authorization from
the bill which calls for development
of a dozen naval bases at a cost
of $65 100000 The motion was Of
fered by Rep William E. Hess, r..
O.
After approving the authoriza-
ton for harbor dredging and air.
port construction on the Pacific
island only l400 miles from Japan
The committee tentatively approv-
ed the entire 65,000,000 bill with
the exception of one item. Chair
man Carl Vinson, D., Ga, said
that question-Whether to establish
a proposed Florida naval base at
Jacksonville or Miami-will be de-
cided tomorrow.
The total amount of authorize
pending determination of the SOUTH
eastern air base, but there was
probability that it would be in
creased from the original S65 600, 900
to $68 100000.
The house settled the only major
dispute over the army expansion
bill when it overwhelmingly re-
jected a Republican move to stag
ger production of 5000 new war
planes over three years.
BY rejecting an amendment Of
fered by Rep. Walter G. Andrews,
r., N. Y, the house authorized the
army to build up the air force to
$500 planes as fast as it desires.
AS the house neared the end of
debate on the S376,000,000 emer-
gency armament bill and prepared
to vote before nightfall, Rep. Steph-
en- Pace, D., Ga, declared that
defeat of European democracies by
Germany and Italy might project
the relationships directly into the
western hemisphere.
Pace named as areas which
might we'll fall into the hands of
Germany and Italy, the Bahama
Islands, Bermuda British Hondu-
raS, and British and French Guiana
in South America.
Whenever we see England and
France go down in war, We are
threatened" he told the house.
In my own mind I know Presi-
dent Roosevelt did not say our
frontier is on the Rhine. He may
we'll have said with truth that
our first line of defense is England
and France.
Unfortunately, nobody loves u.s."
he said, pointing out that America
possesses resources which dictator
ships greatly and urgently need.
Il think Germany today is ready
to strike he said. "I think she
may demand the Ukraine tomorrow.
Then Tunisia will be fought for.
I'VE are safe SO long as England
and France stand, and we are in
immediate danger if they fall.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
CaIipatria Boy
Wins EssayPrize

Owen Kuns of Calipatria High
school and John Hams of Gross
mont High school in San Diego won
first places in an American Legion
essay contest at La Mesa Tuesday
night.
They will compete in the five
county finals at Legion fifth area
contest in Riverside Feb. %.
Kuns subject was THE Constitu-
ton and It's Madison. He will de-
liver the essay at BraWley Legion
post meeting Thursday night. Helen
Tyler of Imperial High school was
one of the five contestants at La
Mesa Tuesday night.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15

TIC bIScUIU pUIItd up lame yes
terday after having been defeated
in mile trial by seven-year- old
To-day (See Sports page) Al
though he walked the soreness off
somewhat yesterday when being
cooled out Seabiscuit was a lame
horse today.
For more than an hour, a groom
slowly led the champion around
the barn. The horse had difficulty
in even walking because of the
swollen, stiff knee Several times
he stumbled and tried to stop but
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
Deputies Play Tag
With H0boes Here

A game of tag between two dep
uty sheriffs, three hoboeS. locomo-
tive and two automobiles enlivened
the section between Seeley and
Plaster City Tuesday night.
Deputy Sheriffs Robert Parrish
and Jack Weart boarded the train
at Seeley to search for hoboes.
One hobo jumped from the train
and raced toward Mexico, one they
questioned and rele ased. the other
hid and they failed to find him be-
fore the train started. The officers
entered their cars and beat the
train to Plaster City.
There they pulled Manuel Qua
jardo, 30, from his hiding place and
took him to the county Jail for
questioning
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
Warship Anchored
ID Years Flies
Distress Signal

PORTI AND. Ore. Feb. Is.
CUP) The battleship Oregon,
which hos been anchored in the
willamette river the last Ia
years. flew distress signal to-
day.
A sleepy Waterman hOisted
the ensign astern but hOisted it
upside down-a signal of distress
in any waters. The error was
re tilted after passers-by noticed
it.
The Oregon, whose naval his
tory dates back to engagements
in the Spanish American war
without record of an SOS. is now
Fart of Portland marine park.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
ARMS BILL PUSHED TOWARD PASSAGE
EXTRA! EXTRA! COP COMMISSIONER
GUILTY BEFORE BAR OF JUSTICE III

I'VE find you guilty on every
count"
GorlOn Scriven blanched as he
stood manacled before the bar OF
justice Tuesday night in El Cen
trO's Veterans Memorial Hall and
heard beetle-brOwed Jude" Ross
HickOX thunder:
you are hereby sentenced to
pay fine of one dollar on each of
the three counts. Furthermore, you
are fined 20 cents for having such
irrelevant, incompetent and i'm
material counsel"
Shaken, battered, broke and full
of fish dinner Scriven was led
away, climaXing a mock military
court martial conducted by Boyce-
Aten post members of the Ameri-
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
Dogs Have Right
Idea Says Doctor

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Feb. Is.
CUP)-Dogs have the right idea
about how to begin a day and per-
sons past 40 would do we'll to EMU
late them instead of taking strenu-
Gus exercises and cold shower,
DR., william A. O'Brien of the Uni
versity of Minnesota said today.
did you ever watch a dog wake
up?" DR.. O'Brien asked. He
stretches, yawns and takes his time
about it. Well, that's the way to
keep young. Habits should be regu-
lar and in moderation, with plenty
of sleep and rest thrown in for
good measure"
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
Ca|exicans May
Gather Cacti

Calexico residents were granted
permission to gather cacti and other
desert plants to be used in a model
desert garden in city park in the
Southend town.
City Clerk Richard Emerson ask
ed the county board supervisors for
permission to gather the plants
The board granted his request.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
Murder Mystery
Remains UnsoIved
Week After Crime

The mystery of the murder OF
Vincente Tapia, %, and the shoot
ing of his two young sisters, was
unsolved Wednesday, a week after
an unidentified assailant fired upon
them as they slept in their ranch
home south of Westmorland.
Tapia, wounded when he ran to
his sisters assistance, died in the
county hospital last Thursday. His
sisters, Priscilla, 16, and Anita, IA,
still are patients at the hospital.
They are suffering from bullet
wounds.
Pending recovery of the girls,
Sheriff Robert w. Ware and his
deputies are continuing their in
vestigation of suspects and gather
ing evidence which they hope will
lead to identification of the slayer.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15

can Legion.
Sentencing followed a sensational
trial during which Scriven bravely
faced the complaints of being "t0O
busy with rOlitics to attend legion
meetings" and hi Ihway m6pery.
Judge" Hickox declined to go
deeply into the latter charge be-
cause:
Eve probably would have to hold
secret sessions, and | never could
keep a secret"
Complaining about his cOnstitu
tiOnal rights and "DO you call this
iustice?" Scriven was arrested on
Main street by a flying squadron
of legion men ridinfl in the 40 and
g boXcar ialOpy. He was promptly
Continued on Page 8, Col. u
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
Cemetery District
Officially Named

Central Valley Cemetery district
was the name selected by the board
of supervisors to designate the dis
trict formed by an election last
year.
Since the district has no ceme-
terry as vet, the cemetery associa-
ton will not have to use the name
for the cemetery but may select
any name deemed suitable.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
SPOOR SUPPORTED FOR
STATE FARM DIRECTOR

The Imperial County Democratic
Central committee in session at the
county court house Tuesday night
passed a resolution recommending
that E, H. Spoor of Riverside be
appointed state director of agricul-
ture
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15

The men aboard the tug were
Capt. william Sellman, mayor OF
Manistique, Percy Tuffnell, Ruben
Peterson. and Richard r. M. Po-
pour. They received food from the
crew of another fishing vessel
shortly before the floe was cut
adrift. and they we're believed to
be in no immediate danger.
Coast guards said the floe was
not likely to crush the boat unless
piled up on shore by the high wind.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
FORMER PREMIER DIES

BRUSSELS, Belgium, Feb IS.
(UP)-Former Premier Henri Jas
par died today at a clinic to which
he had been rushed few hours
earlier.
On Sunday, the king had COM
missioned Jaspar to form a new
cabinet to replace that of Paul
Henri Spaak, who resigned, but
Jaspar was unable to do so.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15

loose from shore by The Wind
sweeping binding snow acrcss
Michigans upper peninsula.
By noon the floe had drifted nine
miles into the lake carrying the
boat farther from aid every min
ute.
Coastguardsmen feared tn ey
would have difficulty in locating
the tug which has been trapped in
the floe since Monday. The swirl
ing snow made visibility poor.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15

the groom tugged at the bride and
kept him walking.
Trainer Tom Smith would not
be discouraged over the chances OF
Seabiscuit running again, although
he would not be drawn into qnes-
tioning on the horses chances OF
running in the 100000 Santa Anita
handicap next month
THE injury is not as bad as !
had feared Smith said "The leg
was sure TO stiffen up after III
horse finished limping yesterday"
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
ARIZONA ASKS COURT
JOB FOR WESTERNER

PHOENIX. Feb. Is. CUP) - The
Arizona state senate today asked
President Roosevelt to appoint Fed
eral Judge Sam Bratton of New
Mexico as a justice of the U. S.
supreme court to succeed Justice
Louis D. Brandeis. resigned.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
High Mass Offered
For Pope Plus Xl

A solemn requiem high mass
was offered for the repose of the
soul of Pope Plus XI at st. Mary's
Catholic church in Ell Centre We'd
nesday morning at 9 o'clock.
The pope, who died last Friday,
was buried in Rome Tuesday.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
= AMBLING
1AEPORTER
Re-Christening-

Rc-SnTlSlcillliS-
Shed a tear for Buttercup Valley
for it is no more, alas, alas.
No longer can we traipse across
the desert to the sandy nook where
the movie folk play soldier and
sheik, satisfied that We are en-
route to Buttercup Valley because
from now onward, henceforth and
forevermore, we will be going TO
Beau Geste valley instead.
You see, it is this way A publicity
man named Don King got bril-
liant idea while on location at Beau
Geste. nee Buttercup Valley. He
reasoned that the spot was Ill nam
ed because there had never been
buttercup found there, and so he
arranged for christening ceremo-
MES and named it Beau GeSte. He
reasoned that although there were
MT any buttercups, there might be
a Beau Geste or two.
Legal Technicality-
RR thinks Ross Hickox definitely
has something here.
At the American Legion Shindlg,
in which Ross acted as judge, it
was argued that Gordon Scriven
was a Legion member because he
had received notices of meetings
That evidence won't stand up
Ross ruled. Il get notices to attend
Democratic meetings, but does that
make me Democratic"
The Democrats chorused:
Heck ro'' or words to that
general effect.
Plenty Useless
Which reminds us of laugh that
happened at meeting of the Wom-
ems Auxiliary of the Legion. The
members had a white elephant
party in which each brings as a
gift something that is useless to
them.
When it was the turn of Mrs. M
J. ZaVala to choose gift she pick
ed out one that was wrapped nicely
in tissue paper. IC was a pair OF
lace, ah--. Well, they are mighty
fancy and probably were in vogue
about 1898.
My goodness, gasped Mrs. zava-
la What will Mike say!"
O.
Never Strong Enough -.
The other day Fred Bright no.
ticed a flashy sports coat worn by
a lady caller and Immediately his
eyes shown green with envy CThe
coat would have blinded a lesser
eyeSight)
Say. that would make marvellous
material for a suit. If it just had a
plaid in it," said Fred wistfully
Possibilities
Now here is meeting that RR
wouldn't have missed for the world
if he'd known what was going on.
The Jasper home department,
according TO our correspondent met
last week and heard a paper read
which posed this pretty question:
rs your husband a perfect man?"
We would like TO think of the
assembled ladies smiling and nod
ding assent as each shining requis-
ite of the perfect male was read
aloud, each nodding with the firm
conviction that her own male had
them all
But somehow we doh't believe
that happened So for safety's sake,
let US pause a moment in silent
tribute to the memory of those
mangled men.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
Tug Locked in Huge Ice F|oe Driven
Far Out in Storm Tossed Lake as
Wintry Gales Sweep Upper Michigan

MANISTIQUE, Mich, Feb Is. (UP)-A fishing tug
locked in huge ice foe driven far out in Lake Mch
gan by high northwest wind today
The tug Bobs, with four aboard, trapped in
the middle of a 529 mile square ice pack that cut
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
Masked Bandit Gang Gets
Huge Haul in Gems. Cash
From Miami Beach Hotel
Strong Boxes Looted Of VaIuabIes While
AIMED Thugs Hold Employees, Guests
In Terror; Police Blockade Fails

MIAMI BEACH, Fla, Feb Is. (UP)-The Miami Daily
News estimated that bandit gang which terrorized guests
and employees at the Blackstone hotel today escaped with
between $5OOOO and $2OO000 in cash. gems and securities
An estimate of the loot could not be obtained
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
Hiram Johnson Accuses Roosevelt of
Employing Methods of Dictatorsi in
Secrecy Surrounding Plane Deal

WASHINGTON Feb. Is. (UP) - Controversy over
President Roosevets foreign policy exploded in the senate
today when Sen Hiram W. Johnson r. Ca veteran isoa-
onst accused the administration of pursuing the meth
cd of dcators in attempting to keep its affairs secret
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
Handicap Champion Seabiscuit May
Never Race Again. Observers Believe
As Horse Turns Lame in Exercises

SANTA ANITA PARK Calf, Feb Is. CUP)-The
racing of Seabiscut is track observers pre-
dcted today they the handicap champion hobbe
stffened knee while being walked around the Charles
S. Howard barn at Santa Anita track
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15
Committee OkoYs
Cuqn1 DefenSes in
We stern Pacific
House Rejects Republican Effort to Put
Limit on Speed Of Construction for
New American Army Air Fleets

WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (UP)-The house naval af-
fairs committee today overwhelmingly approved So
900 authorization for development of harbor and air
facilities Guam while the house prepared for passage
of 900 emergency armaments bill authorizing
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15

"utter: Los Angeles. 27ise; bul
terfat, Imperial Valley fob. ranch.
Grade A. 34i5e; manufacturing mill
orc; route gathered cream, 25isc.
LA. Hay: U. ). No. l extra leafy
S17-1S; U. S. No. 1, S13.50-1i' No.
2 Ieafy, S12-12.50; No. 2. S1i; Min
neapolis flax May S1.75ls.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15

(Total cash, checks and drafts sent
through the two Ell Centre banks.)
Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-15

S682,274.4O
$6S3,916.42