davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
COAST STORMS SMASH HOMES, PERIL LIVES
keep LIGHTS BURNING!

tification committee and in charge
of the judging, warned Thursday.
I'VE don't want to miss inspect
ing a single one" he said.
Donors, meanwhile, turned over
their orders for checks 50 that
awards will be Immediately forth
coming as soon as the judges have
announced decisions on Saturday.
There will be four cash awards
III each of six divisions, SIC first
prizes, SIS second prizes, 81 third
awards and ST for fourth place.
This means that six per&cns will
win $40 each. six will win $5. six
will win s. and six will win 81.
The divisions are: Best dCcorat-
ed and lighted tree in front Of
home: best decorated and lighted
bush, shrub or vine; best Christ
mas scene: best decorated doorway
OF porch best decorated window IN
home; best miscellaneous display.
Although judges Will take care 10
consider the effect of rain damage,
1t was advisable to repair displays
Wherever possible. Weather fore
casts Indicated the storm has pass
ed on SO that homeoWners may
safely make repairs without Tear
of additional damage.
Donors for the contest are New
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
De Tristan Kidnap
Prisoner Attempts
Suicide in Prison
AbductOr of 3-Year-Old
Slashes Wrists, Hides
Wounds, Then Faints

SAN QUENTIN PRISON
Cal, Dec. 26. (UP) = Will
helm Jakob Muhlenbroich
kidnaper of three year old
Marc de Tristan, jr., unsuc-
cessfully attempted suicide today in
his cell at San Quentin prison
where he is serving a life sentence
Prison authorities said Mullen
broich. German-born barber,
slashed his wrists with razor
blade, at about am.
He concealed the wounds, however
and went to work as usual in the
prison jute mill.
He tainted at work After he was
revived he told the prison authorities
of the suicide attempt.
I'm sorry I'm still alive the 40
year-old kidnaper said.
Muhlenbroich, who plotted the de
Tristan kidnapping for months be-
fore attempting it, was removed to
the prison hospital for treatment
of his wrist wounds.
1t was the first time he had given
any indication of wanting to end
his life.
At the hospital he was pronounced
out of danger but was held for OBJ
servation. The wound was on his
left wrist.
He told attendants he had tainted
in his cell Immediately after the
attempt. On reviving, however, he
felt strong enough to go to work
and made no mention of the at
tempt until, overcome by weakness
he tainted a second time in the
mill.
/ Muhlenbroich stole the curly-hair-
ed son Of Count Marc de Tristan OF
HlllSborough on Friday, Sept. 20
and held the child for 100000 ran
som. Two days later he was cap
tured in the woods of Ell Dorado
county and the child was recovered
The ransom had not been paid.
Because the child was returned
unharmed, Muhlenbroich's maxi
mum punishment under the Cali
fornia "Lindbergh law" was life
Imprisonment.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
Ham Egg Backers
Offer New Scheme

SACRAMENTO, Dec. 26 CUP)-
Promoters of the twice defeated
Ham and Eggs $3.50 Thursday
pension plan today filed articles of
incorporation with the secretary of
state for new venture known as
the Pay Roll Guarantee association,
with headquarters in Los Angeles.
The 11-member board of directors
is headed by Lawrence and Willis
Allen, brother promoters of the
Ham and Eggs proposal; and Roy
G.. Owens and Will N. Kindig, one
of whom would have been admin
istrator of the Ham and Eggs plan
had it carried at the polls.
Among purposes of the new as
sociation is ito seek legislation for
social, financial monetary and eco--
nomic reforms" and the enactment
of laws for the establishment of
a system of social credit that will
stimulate production. increase the
buying powers of the people and
minimize unemployment"
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
One Killed When
Trains Collide

ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio. Dec.
26. (UP)-A West-bound freight
train collided with a work train on
the Baltimore e. Ohio railroad at
Gordon Mine during a heavy fog
today, killing one man.
John Paisley, 40, of Glencoe,
Ohio, section foreman, died as he
was taken from the wreckage.
Paul Robey of Bethesda, Ohio,
spreader-operator, also of the work
trains crew, was injured seriously.
H. H. Harsh, division superin-
tendent for the railroad at Newark,
ONO, said an investigation has been
started.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26

'ldJe hopes Oh relleI from SCOrm con-
ditions and predicted additional
rain in northern California, contin-
ued high seas and possible high
winds in the San Francisco area.
Woodrow c. Jacobs, meteorologist,
predicted high cloudiness for I'M
perial Valley during the next "a
hours, with no immediate danger
of recurrence of rain. Tempera-
lures will be lower Thursday night
but there is no danger of frost, ia
cobs said.
Rain during the two days before
Christmas caused little damage to
crops in the valley, a preliminary
check by B. A. Harrigan, agricultural
commissioner revealed Thursday,
though some damage to lettuce was
reported in the Holtville area.
Nineteen cars of lettuce were ship
ped during the storm period and
$500 crates of dry pack lettuce was
shipped east. Total iced car ship
mentS for the season was 1872 cars
through Christmas day.
The missing coast guardsmen left
their station near San Francisco
Christmas eve to go to the rescue
of the Freighter Stanwood, helpless
in pounding seas. The guardsmen
manned two sturdy rescue boats but
have not been heard from since
they left Point Arena.
A coast guard cutter, Shosone, ar
rived at the side of the freighter
late Wednesday night and was tow
ing the crippled ship to port. Mean
while other cutters searched for the
seamen.
Considerable hope was held for
Continued on Page 6,NCol. A.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26

Vi IllOuSdIlCS Oh lreSn troops lnuC
the Balkans.
Whether the tacit holiday armis-
tice in aerial warfare was ended re-
manned uncertain as a lone Nazi
bomber dumped it's load near the
mouth of the River Thames, but
the British appeared to be more and
more convinced that Hitler was
planning to strike heavily and soon.
The German attack, if it comes,
might be the invasion plan which
Nazi army leaders spoke of con-
fidently on Christmas Eve or it
might be sudden drive in another
direction such as the Balkans or
Gibraltar in an effort to relieve
continued Greek and British mill
tary pressure on Italy.
Both the Greeks fighting in stor-
my weather in Albania and the Brit
ish desert forces pouring tons of
shrapnel into the Libyan base of
Bardia reported that Italian coun-
ter-attacks, especially by air, had
been futile.
The Germans appeared to be
threatening to strike in several diff
ferent directions at once so they
could conceal their real plan or
have choice at the zero hour.
Recently the British had reported
large concentrations of German
troops at the heavily-bombed inva-
sion ports in France and elsewhere.
Both for that reason and to keep
BritonS vigilant at home was a swift
tightening of defense preparations
on the English Channel coast where
guns, patrol boats, airplanes and
soldiers watched the cold, mist-cov-
cred channel.
The chief German military move,
however, appeared to be to the
southeast where Budapest reported
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
Prison Poetry
Mostly Stolen

BATON ROUGE, La, Dec. 26
CUF)-The Angola state peniten-
tiarys poetry contest brought SO
contributions, most of them stolen
officials announced today.
The most humorous poem, COM
posed by Gerald Cramer, serving
10 to "a years for robbery-"The
Remedy" It read:
When Great Britain captures Hit
Ter and peace reigns on earth
once more,
Il can think of nothing sweeter
than Herr Hitler on a hoe
Digging stubbles in the springtime,
cutting pea hay in the fall
Il long to see old Adolf get a good
dose of it ALL"
The most descriptive poem, by
Sam Hallford. a burglar serving
i've years-"A Complaint" 1t is
deemed too ribald for publication.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26

posted $100 reward for her He
took her from the juvenile home
to one of the city's best hotels
where he got her a room and gave
her a good book to read while he
went to talk to Ballaman.
What I want to know" Kempton
told Ballaman, lis why a man your
age should pick a girl so young
and lure her away from her par
ents and home? 1t would be mighty
tough en- you if this had happened
out in my country"
Il had no idea she was so young, ;"
Ballaman said. And when | get
out of this mess I'm going to go
to Arizona and apologize"
Partner, I'd stay out of Arizona
if I were you," Kempton said.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26

ance of aircraft shipped to Canada
were trainers needed for the pilot
training program.
Officials pointed out that the ad-
mlnlstration has agreed to give
Britain a greater share of plane
production. which, in November,
was approximately 700 military
craft. The army recently agreed to
waive delivery of Curtiss P-40 pur-
suit planes SO that the British
could have access to the full pro-
duction of these ships. 1t also has
granted Britain prior delivery on
26 four-engined Consolidated long
range bombers.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26

she arrived wearing her light tan
shoes laced up the sides and carry
ing the stub of a trainticket which
Ballaman had provided She told
police how she had met Ballaman
six months ago on a four-hour
train trip through Arizona and had
fallen in love with him. She said
they had correspondent since they
parted and planned to be married
here.
Police arrested Ballaman at his
hotel and he was held on an open
charge after he verified Wilma's
story.
Kempton arrived Christmas day
wearing his high-heeled boots and
broad-brimmed Stetson to take Will
ma back to her parents who had
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
Scenarist Blamed
For Own, Wife's
Death in Accident
CorOner's Jury Says
Writer'S Driving Was
Cause of Fatal Crash

Negligent driving of Nath-
aniel West, 40, Hollywood
scenarist, was to blame for
his and his wife's death in a
traffic accident east of Ell
Centre last Sunday, a coroner's
jury ruled after an inquest.
West and his wife, famed as Eileen
in Ruth McKenney's popular book,
MY Sister Eileen were killed when
their game loaded station wagon
missed a boulevard stop at the inter
section of highway 80 and the Gen.
trail Valley highway and crashed
into sedan driven by Joe Dowless,
81, of Somerton, Ariz.
The coroner's jury exonerated
Dowless from blame.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
Holiday Shopping
Sets Up Increases
Over Last Season
Most Stores Report 40
Business Best; Some
Near Last Year

Counting houses in Ell Cen
tro T h urs d ay reported
Christmas busi ess that
ranged from equaling last
years high mark to going 1C
% 20 per cent beyond.
Least encouraging reports from
keT sources were that Christmas
buying volume came within an ace
of equaling last year, while the ma
jority reported increases.
very satisfactory =" big hard
ware firm reported. I'VE will be
slightly off for the month but the
Christmas business itself was up
to normal"
One clothing store reported the
best season since 1887 and perhaps
since '29. 1t was unable to tell ex-
actly until all figures are in. An
other reported gains of five per
cent over last year.
without the rains and the influ-
enza epidemic, that would have
much greater" the merchant added.
Those two factors were blamed
by most of Main street for what
ever slow up there was over the
holidays.
A general merchandise establish
ment reported eight per cent busi-
ness gains for December and an
other, even larger concern, said VOL
ume was up fully 20 per cent.
Chief regret of merchants was
that rain few days before Christ
mas made many rural roads unpas-
sable or difficult, thus delaying
shopping from those sources until
the last minute. The zero hour rush,
however, almost made up for that
loss
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
Friday DeadIine
For Dist. Voters

Friday will be the last day voters
may get their registrations in order
so they may vote at the irrigation
district election, County Clerk w.
j. McClelland said Thursday.
A total of 6,062 names dropped
from the great register this month
because of failure to vote at recent
elections. All were warned of the
cancellation in time to re-register.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
2b j. s. Officers
Sent 10 Britain

WASHINGTON, Dec. &c. CUP)-
The army has sent &c ranking
officers to Great Britain since mid
summer to obtain data on weapons
and techniques of modern warfare,
1t was disclosed today.
An official list showed that five
generals, six colonels, 10 majors
practically every branch of the ar
my, have been sent to Britain since
July Many of them stay only
briefly. and return to their posts
here with whatever information is
available.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26

Cal Electric, Imperial Irritation dis
trict, Minor Simms, Ross Hickcox
Roy Wcmack, w. A. Scheniman
Ben Hulsc, Imperial Hardware
Sears Roehuck, M, o. King and
Massey Horton.
The telephone contest" conduct
cd during the final weeks before
Christmas by the El Centro cham
Der Of commerce reached a climax
Christmas eve when the first call
hit winner. 1t was Sam Maggie
at 504 Sandalwcod drive This clos
ed the dollar q night" contest in
which the chamber called three
numbers Selected at random ev-
cry evening and awarded Il dollar
TO the one that had Christmas
lights burning.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
Don't Love Thdt Dude
Any More Says Girl. IL

CHICAGO, Dec. 26 CUP)-Back to
the west where she first met and
loved the 44-year-old New York
engineer who brought her to the
big city to become his bride today
flies Wilma Gainey 16-year-old
Stafford. Ariz., girl, because she
doesn't love that dude" any more.
With her was Emert Kempton,
hard bitten cowboy sheriff of Ari-
zona who came to claim her from
the police and give to Joseph Ball
aman, the handsome surveyor Wilma
had planned to marry, a piece of
sage western advice.
Wed probably hang such a guy
in Arizona" Kempton said
Wilma was arrested Sunday when
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26

eAie'it w yNotAo JlOdiSCl III tllt
legitimate theater and a life of such
vitality that its possessor was inter-
nationally famous.
At his side when he died were
Frohman's sister, Eta Frohman;
two nephews, Henry and Daniel
Dawson, and Mrs. Henry Dawson.
DR.. J. c. Pressner, the aged pro-
ducer's personal physician, said
death was the result of bronchial
pneumonia following a hip frac-
ture last Nov. 3.
To DR.. Pressner he remarked that
he realized "the curtains coming
down" in a voice apparently free
of all anxiety or regret.
Two years before Frohman had
sent to newspapers an article for
what he called their "mortuary de-
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
kazis Fine French
City $4,000

VICHY, France, Dec. 26. CUP)-
A city in German occupied France
which suffered heavily from Ger
man aiprlanes and the German ar
my while France was in the war
has been fined 100000 francs
nominally $25,000 because a single
strand of German army telephone
wire was cut, it was made known
today. French authorities were un-
able to find out who cut the wire
and the Germans fined the munich
pallty.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
Argentina Bans
Anfi.Nazi Film

BUENOS AIRES, Dec. &c. CUP)-
The BuenoS Aires Municipal Mo-
ton Picture Advisory committee
today prohibited the exhibition of
The film, Confessions of a Nazi
spy on the round that it was in
furious to a nation with which Ar
gentina maintains friendly diplo-
matte relations.
The opening of the film had been
set fer tomorrow. The commission
said that its ruling also was made
TO avoid possible disturbances at
the theatre.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26

partment. It was a self written
obituary which ended with line:
Il never weep in my beer-it spoils
the beer
srat was his attitude 10 the rlst."
DR.. Pressner said He was cheerful
and uncomplaining. He was a Won
derful patient
During his last days. DR.. Pressner
said. Frohman talked constantly OF
his former theatrical associates. the
great actors and actresses he had
known, the personalities delineated
in his book. Daniel Frohman Pre-
sents," published in 1885
He talked OF Sarah Bernhard,
DR.. Pressner said. "and of Fannie
Hurst, who was 4 great friend Of
his"
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
Double -Barreled-

Pinkus L. Greenlee of Brawley was
one of the most pleased, if not THE
most pleased man in Imperial VAL
ley Thursday.
Because his birthday falls on
Christmas. Greenlee naturally was
contemplating the loss in presents
that he thereby incurred.
But he reckoned without one
friend. That friend sent him two
gifts, one Merry Christmas and the
other Happy Birthday.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
ALLERGY STIRS FEAR
OF MILITARY SERVICE

DES MONIES, Ia, Dec. 26. (UP)
"A man wrote to selective service
headquarters here today, asking
whether he could take his years
military training by correspond
ence.
The reason he explained, "is
because I am allergic to beans and
pruneS."
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26

The home stretch!
Christmas lighting contest en-
tries entered that payoff lane
Thursday as judges prepared for
final and last tours of the city of
Ell Centro to determine the win
ners of the "a cash awards.
BE sure to have your displays
lighted and burning tonight and
Friday night" P. E. Ryerson, chief
of the chamber of commerce BEAU
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
BRITISH STEAMER
TORPEDOED NEAR SCOTLAND

NEW YORK, Dec. 26. (UP),.-The
British steamer Waiotira reported
she was torpedoed about $50 miles
off the northern coast of Scotland
today, according to a message pick
ed up by Mackay Radio.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
Long Search

Long Search
"Wait until I get the car keysI'
Milton Zinn called when he was
just about to leave the house,
Milton looked through the inside
of the house and finally all the
members of the family joined in
the search. They pulled up cushions
and looked under rugs, but there
were no keys.
Finally, when everyone was ex-
hausted, Milton recalled:
why, I'll bet I left those keys
in the ear trunk lock when I put
those packages III back!'
He had.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
2 AMslINe
@\EpoR1ER

Here's a Shame
Christmas wasn't quite Christmas
for seven-year-o Mark Riley
nephew of Jimmy Marshall.
Mark left Ell Centro Sunday even
ing on the bus for San Diego. In
his suitcase he had packed load
of presents from his aunt and
uncle and friends. He was caution
ed not to open them until Christ
mas which he intended to spend
with his mother on the coast.
When Mark arrived in San Diego
the suitcase was missing. Somehow
or other it had been lost, shipped
to another point or something. Any
how, Mark had his Christmas with
out the Ell Centro presents.
Well just bet that young 'un will
be hard to handle next year when
they tell him not to open his pres
ents until Christmas!
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
Curtain Down on
Famous Producer

NEW YORK, Dec. 26. (UP)-Shortly before last mid
night 89yearold Daniel Frohman stirred in his bed at
the Leroy Sanitarium here and muered The curtains
coming down.. Today at :15 am. the famed theatrical
producer died Frohmans death ended career of more
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
Germans Pre- pare
For Quick Blow
BY UNITED PRESS .

Great Britans redoubled coastal guards stood alert
against surprise Naz invasion attempt and German bombs
falling the Isle of Sheppey puncured Christmas truce
Thursday Adolf Hitler reported moving hundreds
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
Coast Guard Smen
Lost on Rescue
Attempt at S. F.
High CIoudiness Cold Weather Coming
To Valley; Other Parts Of State Suffer
Buffetins Gales. High Seas. Floods

general storm, varying in intensity from light rains
to baterng which hid the fate of ten Point Arena
coast guamen and destroyed beach homes south of Los
Angeles, Thursday felt in all sections of California
except Imperial Valley. The Weatherman gave immed
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26
Holiday Traffic
Takes 272 Lives
405 Deaths Attribute d to Violence in
United States Since Christmas Eve;
California Leads All in Accidents
By UNITED PRESS

At least 405 persons died in traffic accidents fire. sui
eide and slayings the Christmas holiday.
The toll of at least 272 traffic fatalities since Christ
viewed gravely by the National Safety Cour-
Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-26

Butter: Los Angeles 3ll9c; but
terfat, Imperial Valley fob. ranch.
grade A 401Ic; manufacturing milk
35c; route gathered cream, Sic.
L. A. hay: U. s. No. 1 IV S16.50-17.
U. 5. No. 2 leafy, S14-SI5: u. S.
No. 2, $3.50; Mpls. May flax S1.59.
The Phoenix index., 1940-06-29
ExONERATED
IN BURNING
OF CHURCH

ATLANTA, Ga.-(SNS)-
Charles f.. Smith, %, OF Evans
Street VINO was indicted by the
Fulton grand jury last month on a
charge OF setting fire to the Cas-
cade Methodist church, was exone-
rated Monday morning in Fulton
Superior Court.
Unable to secure adequate evl-
dence against Smith, the prosecu-
ton recommended to the court
that the bill OF Indictment against
the defendant be mol pressed.
SGnlth, former janitor at the
church which IS located at the
corner OF Cascade Avenue and
Richland Road, SW., was suspected
of settling fire to the edif1ce May
~
The eX-Janitor was indicted
after police ana lire officials testi-
fled that Smith was seen near the
church prior to time of the blaze.
A five-gallon can which had con-
tanned lnflammaple fluid was re-
ported found near the ruins.
The Phoenix index., 1940-06-29

directly across from Hotel Theresa
. Familiar faces that may be
lamped at Theresa include the
pans of Ted Yates, Cornelia Con
nie) Berry, Gene White, Roy Nor
riS, and countless others. Lena
KilgOre, eX-SmallS and Cotton Club
hi-kicker, wasn't espied despite
three tries: No runs, no hits, no
errors. ..LemLel Barnes, which is
"strean1lined tagging" for Lemmie
Burns, exc. and H. "split" vendor,
IS making the rounds about Har-
lem with a lii glamor-gel by the
novel label OF Vallie (Bo0ts) NC
Cain on his arm. Tho mellow
chickie" wears bangs with bang
.PrestOn c. Thomas, LII JOS rid
| ing cOmraJe on the LOuis-Godoy
mission. was cWept eff his feet ky
Charlotte, N. c., Notwithstanding
he glamOrs and gayetles Of Har-
lem. Pres hest OF friends barel'
lermitted his escape from the OV-
.rgroWn vi lage called Harlem -.
| COINCIDENCE Met one LuciuS
! zones, Harlem business man, who's
E. B. Dubois. The namesake Op-
crates a busy shop just off the cor
ner of Seventh Avenue at 145th.
Missed out Oh Al Mcmillan, but
lad several chats with Dan Burley
original backstage columnist who
digs" all the bigWigs OF the stage
screen and after dark Whirl. he
sent regards to Cliff Mackay -.
| Orbed the IOuis-Godoy flickics
with Ambrose Phillips morning al
ter the scrap Ambrose and Eva
are proud parents OF a chubby lit
tie bright-eyed heir. Brother John
Phillips resides with them at their
sWank apartment suite. 202 West
133rd Planted bicuspids and
molars in some real homecoming
by the genial mother of Host Cuth-
bert Patrick The gOOd-naturea
lady knows her dliiary caperS,
Father Patrick is indisposed. High
blood pressure. But he was a cheer
ful person. LoLiEe Harris, who
snubbed Atlanta for Charlotte,
tolls for the EMEz Publication
House. Royal people: Chariotte's
Clifton Meals. Cliff and Evelyn have
lovely nome that's really a
dream boat" o.. Coleman Hawkins
and his Crk were the big noise at
125th Street Apollo fight-Week.
Ralph Cooper, MILLION DOLLAR
leading man, Med. Didn't see
parrot t-schnozzled Willie Bryant,
one-time Apollo emceer Ran IN
10 Alby Henderson. Pimp Pember-
ton, Sonny Younger, and Abby 5
brother, Davey, who's ready for
college but doubts it'll be Clark
Seems major halls Of learning