The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 232, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 23, 1928 Page: 1 of 14
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--- THE VALLEY FIRST_FIRST IN THE VALLEY—LEASED WIRE SERVICE OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS—(IP) ----
--- | | ...—. ..■ .- .. ' . ■. =S==^= ■ . > ... .. .—...■Il===
r THIRTY-SIXTH YEAR—No. 232 BROWNSVILLE TEXAS THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23 192g FOURTEEN PAGES TODAY * 5c A COPY
ur at rio grande city r>a-
nesday. Masons joined by many
others from other sections as well as
lower down the Valley observed the
£ fiftieth anniversary of Hope Lodge
No. 471 Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons.
Hope lodge was largely a daughter
of the Brownsville lodge. No. 51. one
of the earliest lodges Tn the state
M indicated by its number.
Masonry has played a large part in
the life of the Valley from its ear-
liest civilised history as it has in
other parts of the world.
It has been a forerunner of civili-
sation just as has the church and
government.
Dr. C. H. Thorn of Brownsville
attended the observation. And he
was among the honored one# there
for he is one of perhaps a very few
parsons who knew the organisers of
the Rio Grande City lodge.
a • •
NOW they are proposing to bring
Paddock the famous amateur runner.
0 to the Valley.
He will run twice in the \ alley
giving everyone in this section in-
terested in athletics an opportunity
to observe a champion runner.
He will give exhibition sprints ir.
competition with local lights at
Brownsville and Edinburg the seats
of the Valley’s two junior college*
At other points he will deliver lec-
tures.
A small expense is entailed an
bringing the amateur runner here
merely enough t^ bear his expenses.
And of course the Valley will
turn out. as it always does for real
worthwhile events.
• • •
# W. B. SELLERS vice president of
the First National bank of Browns-
ville told visiting hankers the other
day about the clearing house that is
bow functioning as * Valley-wide
affair.
It handles checks only this clear-
ing house. And in January it clear-
ed something like $22000000 for its
twenty-six members which includes
" shanks along the highway between
Brownsville and Mission.
The figure indicates the tremend-
ous amount of business that is con-
ducted throughout the Valley.
Visiting bankers were astonished
to learn from Mr. Sellers that this
clearing house has more members
than any other In the country. Not
that the Valley has more banks
than New* York for example but
New York banks have numerous
branches which clear through their
parent banks and then through the
general clearing house.
Incidentally this clearing house
will end that business of giving out
# ehecks in the expectation that it
will be three days before they get
back to the bank. It’s a less than
twenty-four hour deal now.
* • •
REPRESENTATIVE Wurzbach of
Soguin who is the mumber in con-
gress from the San Antonio-Corpus
Chriati district announces that he
will vote for the Box bill to place
Latin-Americsn immigration on a
quota basis.
Unless something happens to
khange his mind in the meantime.
This column predicts the passage
of the Box bill unless the border
country can swing a greater in-
fluence than now seems probable.
In other words the border coun-
try should not rest easy on the mat-
ter. If it believes it has a case
ft should leave no stone unturned to
present it.
Congressman Garner has announc-
ed he will fight the Cox bill. But
Garner shouldn't be expected to do
* It alone.
The South Texas Chamber of Com-
merce is prepared to present much
evidence against the Box bill.
A Saturday Evening Post writer
(Continued on page two.)
-
WEATHER
I_
For Brownsville and the Lower Rio
Grande Valley: Partly cloudy or fair
and much colder tonight with a cold
wave; lowest temperature near to
or freezing in upper portion of Yal-
|ey; Friday fair and continued cold.
Increasing northerly winds on the
west coast becoming fresh to occa-
sionally strong tonight.
For East Texas: Fair and colder
i tonight; cold wave except in north-
west portion; temperatures will be
if 22 to 25 in north. 26 to 29 over in-
tenor of south and 29 to 34 on the
coast; Friday fair; colder cn the
coast; not so cold extreme north-
west portion.
RIVER FORECAST
There will be no material change
la the river during the next few
Flood Present 24 Hr. 24 Hr.
Stage Stage Chr.g. Bain
T)*l Rio.16 .00
Eggle P*»* •• 16 2.9 0.0 .00
Laredo. 27 -0.2 0.0 .00
Rio Grand# .. 21 5.6 0.0 .00
EStgaien ••«.. 22 4.8 —41.1 .00
San Benito .. 23 9.0 -0.2 .00
Brownsville ..18 S.9 0.0 .00
TIDE TABLE
High and l0Tr tide at Point Isabel
I **aorrow under normal meteorologi-
|Sk m] conditions:
BtfiLfc ..1:87 a. m.; 6:10 p. m.
fjKT..11:53 a. m.
MISCELLANEOUS DATA
I caniet today..6 28
tomorrow .......... 6:58
BUILDING FALLS INTO SUBWAY
central < .c®® t.eiepnou> taken of wreckage in New York after a four-
story building collapsed into excavation for the new Eighth Avenue sub-
way at Fifty-third Street burying ten workmen under tons of brick.
Court Dismisses
Habeas Corpus;
Appeal Is Taken
WASHINGTON Fob. 23.—(AV-Forj
a fleeting moment today the senate
got its hands on Robert W. Stewart
chairman of the board of the Stan-
i dard Oil company of Indiana but he
quickly slipped away into the arms
of the courts which once before had
taken him from the congressional
grasp.
A writ of habeas corpus which
the oil man obtained after the sen-
ate had arrested him for refusing to
answer questions of the Teapot
Dome committee was dismissed by
Justice Bailey in the District of
Columbia supreme court and for a
moment the waiting senate ser-
geant-at-arms really had custody of
the reluctant witness.
But it was only a theoretical con-
trol for Stewart’s attorneys imme-
diately noted an appeal and placed a
bond of $5000 for him. and now he
has forty days in which to perfect
MORE TEAPOT
BONDS FOUND
Missing Witness Cach-
ed $750COO in Bank
Lawyer Says
WASHINGTON Feb. 23.—(JP)—H.
I M. Blackmer missing witness in the
Fall-Sinclair Oil company case got
$750000 of profits in the Continent-
al Trading company deal the Teapot
Dome committee was told today by
j his attorney Karl C. Schuyler of
Denver.
Schuyler said the former chairman
of the board of Midwest Refining
company gave him this information
in Montreal in July 1926.
Blackmer told him. Schuyler said
that he had not volunteered as a
witness in the Teapot Dome civil
case at Cheyenne in 1925 because
had he appeared his private affairs
[ would have been gone into.
Schuyler said he was made trus-
tee for Blackmer's bonds placing
! them in a safety box in the Equita-
i ble Trust company in New York.
“Those bonds are in that box
now” he said; “they are intact.
They total $763000.”
Schuyler disclosed that Blackmer
' had apprehended possible litigation
over the bonds by both the Midwest
Refining company and its parent or-
ganization. the Standard Oil com-
f pany of Indiana.
With Schuyler’s disclosure the
committee now has unearthed $1«
1932.000 of the $3080000 Liberty
bonds the Continental concern
bought with its profits in buying oil
at $1.50 a barrel and selling it to the
Prairie Oil end Gas company for
$1.75.
fyirning Ship Sinks;
Saves Colombia City
BOGOTA. Colombia. Feb. 23.—(JPh-
The sinking of a burning ship saved
the town of Quibdo from * major
disaster yesterday.
The steamer Bogota moored In
the Atrato river off Quibdo caught
fire. The blaze spread rapidly and
the crew saved themselves by jump-
ing overboard.
Lack of sufficient fire fighting
equipment and the proximity of
several wooden houses put the city
in danger which waa only averted
when the flaming ship Bank*
jthe appeal and the record in the case
for the court of appeals.
The court held the grounds on
which the oil man refused to testify
on the question of the Liberty bonds
of the Continental Trading company
“were frivolous and without legal
basis.”
“The writ of habeas corpus will
be discharged and the petitioner re-
manded to the custody of the re-
spondents.” he said.
The court’s action and the appeal
means that Stewart now cannot be
taken before the senate until after
the supreme court decides the issue.
If the court of appeals decision is
against the oil man he will appeal to
the highest tribunal. This may mean
& year or longer before the final de-
cision.
Reviewing the plea of Stewart
who specifically declined to reply to
questions as to whether he had dis-
cussed the Continental Trading com-
pany’s Liberty bonds with Harry F.
Sinclair Justice Bailey said:
“He voluntarily testified in part
but refused to tell the whole truth
and a partial truth may be as mis-
leading as a falsehood. These ques-
tions were clearly relevant to the
inquiry and involved no question of
privilege. They did not involve the
private affairs of the witness and
the witness cannot make such a
claim on behalf of others when he
does not appear to be acting in a
representative capacity.”
To Stewart’s contention that the
senate was without power to arrest
him while he was a witness before
the committee in obedience to a
subpoena issued by it Justice Bailey
said:
“If the committee was seeking in-
formation as a basis for legislation
by congress and if the questions ask-
ed the petitioner were pertinent to
such inquiry and did not invade any
of his constitutional rights it was
his duty to answer and his refusal
to do so could be treated as an act
of contempt of the senate.
“The senate is not necessarily con-
trolled by the practice of the courts
in similar cases."
• —-
Reed Urges Only
Major Issues Be
In Dem Platform
TOPEKA. Kans.. Feb. 23.—<£»>—A
democratic platform devoted only to
“major” issues was proposed here
last night by Senator James A.
Reed of Missouri in some “plain
talk” to the Kansas Democratic club.
The outspoken Missourian declared
controversial issues must be dropped
if the party succeeds and he termed
those party leaders who would force
such issues into the platform “the
best assistants the republican party
can have.” He mentioned no names
nor did he discuss the controversial
issues.
“Restoration of honesty in govern-
ment” he argued as the paramount
issue ar.d “that work can only be
done by the democratic party” but
he said “we can only win by putting
into the platform the things upon
which we agree.”
8TART DURANCE FLIGHT
IMPERIAL VALLEY AIRPORT
Calexico CaL Feb. 23.—-(JPy—The
giant monoplane Albatross burdened
with a crew of three men and 1300
gallons of gasoline rose into the still
air above this Imperial Valley city at
7:12 a. m.. today in another attempt
to break the world’a record tot dur-
ation flight*
>
Mb
Fire Victm’s Bonds Returned
. 0^mmm—.i^w——*1. m— ——
POLICE SEEK
DOCTOR’ IN
JERSEY CASE
Papers Sent to Offi-
cials; Murdered Gov-
erness Was on Wed-
ding Journey
BERNARDSVILLE N. J.. Feb. 23 —
UP)—Police today announced that
bonds believed to have been taken
from Miss Margaret Brown who was
set afire and fatally burned near
here Monday night were received by
the police by mail today.
The envelope enclosing the bonds
were mailed from Newark and con-
tained a letter which was not made
public.
From their memory of the com-
munication police said that it stated:
“I am very much worried and am
sending these bonds to you. If you
come near me I will kill myself they
will never take me alive.”
The bonds were turned over to
Prosecutor Bergen at Somerville.
They were five per cent temporary-
debentures of the Cities Service com-
pany.
SOMERVILLE. N. J.. Feb. 23.—UP)
—A man who is believed to have
drugged robbed and burned to death
Miss Margaret Brown 40-year old
governess after leading her to be-
lieve he was taking her to California
on a wedding journey was sought by
detectives of New York and New
Jersey today.
The clue to the slayer came from
the family of James Park Gillespie
of Park avenue New York where the
woman had been employed for nine
(Continued from page two.)
CONFESSORTO
PASTOR FREED
Mrs. Gatlin Found Not
Guilty of Slaying
Father by Jury
WENTWORTH N. C„ Feb. 23.—GD
—Acquitted by a jury of Rockingham
county farmers Mrs. Alma Petty
Gatlin stood free today on a charge
of having murdered her father a
charge that she shifted to her moth-
er now dead in defending herself.
The jury reached its verdict last
night in little more than 3 hours after
a trial based entirely on an evan-
gelist’s story to state authorities
that the woman had confessed the
murder to him at a revival service.
Acting on directions given by the
preacher the Rev. Thomas F. Par-
due the authorities found the body
of Smith T. Petty buried in the cel-
lar of the home which the family
once occupied and the murder
charge was placed against Mrs. Gat-
lin. wife of the Teidsville fire chief.
On the witness stand Mrs. Gatlin
admitted that she had made her con-
fession to the evangelist but said she
had done so to protect her mother
whom she said had killed Petty with
an axe when he came home drunk
and threatened to kill all members of
(Continued on page two)
INVASION OF CROWS FORECASTS WAR
FAMINE PESTILENCE IS SUPERSTITION
War. pestilence and famine!
The crows have come back to
Brownsville!
Only once before within the
memory of man has this occurred
and aged Mexican residents still
have vivid memories of the bloody
border warfare a yellow fever epi-
demic which swept up from Mex-
ico and the famine years follow-
ing when millions of cattle starved
on the then broad prairies of the
lower Bio Grande.
Edgar Allen Poe was no more
startled when "in stalked a stately
raven” than were the residents of
West Brownsville when last week
a large flock of crows the first
seen here in many years descended
npon them.
The air was filled with their
raucous cries and hundreds of
West Brownsville "kiddies” who
had never heard the call of the
crow stopped their play and
watched the swirling flocks their
attitude and intense gaze denoting
their surprise.
A number of the aged and super-
stitious Mexicans regard the in-
vasion with unfeigned dread.
"Un pajaro de mala suerte” (A
bird of ill omen) the aged mut-
tered as they wisely shook their
heads and gathering together re-
called dimming memories of war
pestilence and famine which fol-
lowed the first invasion of the
crows in the years after the Civil
war.
The Lower Rio Grande Valley
until this year has been practically
a "crowless” lapd. During the
w’jnter season these birds would
be found in abundance in the live-
oak country between Edinbur* and
Falfurrias and occasionally along
the coast at Point Isabel and near
the mouth of the Rio Grande.
A few weeks ago several flocks
were observed feeding on. the
Eraries between Brownsville and
os Fresnos. Two or three weeks
ago the forerunners of the present
invasion were observed around
West Brownsville — individual
crows or groups of three or four.
Later the invaders arrived in a
bjdy and proceeded to hold what
in the North is known as a “crow
convention.”
“Misfortune is coming.” was the
verdict of Domingo Malda who
says he saw crows in Brownsville
over fifty years ago. “Their coming
was followed hy misfortune” he
said. “When they left then came
the days of peace prosperity and
plenty."
--—_____ ^
2-GUN BAD MAN
* f *
RAIDS BLIND PIG
* * *
AND SLAYS ONE
CHICAGO. Feb. 23.—bP)—A two-
gun terrorist apparently crazed by
drinks or drugs shot up a blind
pig in dime novel style shortly
after midnight today calmly re-
loaded his guns ordered three
drinks and then shot tbe bartender
dead robbed the cash receiver and
escaped while 20 men and women
looked on helpless.
Robert Wilson 45 reported part
owner of the alleged saloon was
killed.
All the patrons of the place fled
after the shooting except Daniel
Johnson who reported the matter
to the police.
Johnson said he had been in the
place but a few minutes when the
killer entered drew two guns and
emptied them at the floor and
ceiling as he walked to the bar.
He said the man terrorized them
for a half hour reloaded his guns
and demanded a drink.
—
COLDGALETO
VISITVALLEY
Storm Freeze Warn-
ing* Come From 4
States Today
NEW ORLEANS Feb. 23.—<A*>—
The weather bureau here today is-
sued the following storm warning:
“Advisory hoist northwest storm
warnings ordered eight forty-five
a. m- Texas coast. Port Arthur to
Matagorda and small craft west of
Matagorda to Brownsville increas-
ing northerly winds today contin-
ued strong on East Texas coast to-
night.
With a maximum temperature of
81 degrees the warmest weather in
several weeks reported Wednesday
afternoon J. W. Schnurbusch Valley
meterologist Thursday morning was
issuing storm and cold wave warn-
ings for the lower Gulf coast and the
Valley.
Freezing weather is predicted in
the upper reaches of the Valley and
strong probability is expressed that
the freeze may extend to a point near
the coast. Ciear weather and a
strong north wind is another pre-
diction of the local weather office.
The winds are to continue strong
through Thursday night the report
says.
The cold wave flags were flying
over weather stations in Louisiana
Arkansas Oklahoma and all points
in Texas according to Associated
Press reports reeived here.
WICHITA FALLS. Tex. Feb. 23 —
(.4*1—A 35-degree drop in temperature
within a few hours sent the mer-
cury down to a minimum of 27 de-
grees Wednesday night and left
Wichita Falls shivering.
The Fort Worth and Denver rail-
road reported flurries of snow
around Texline Wednesday night.
The temperature at 6 a. m. was 20
at Texline 15 at Amarillo and 34 at
Childress.
AIRPORT SITE
IN EL JARDIN
IS SELECTED
City Can Secure Tract
Of 488.4 Acres On
Pavement at a Cost
Of $43722.20
Brownsville's municipal airport
will be located in El Jardin 8 1-2
miles east of the city limits on El
Jardin boulevard.
A resolution designating the site
was passed by the city commission
Thursday morning in compliance
with the request of Brownsville
citizens expressed at a forum meet-
ing. to the effect that the site be
designated before the bond election
on March 3.
The tract selected by the commis-
sion includes 488.4 acres and the
resolution reserves the right to pur-
chase all or any of the land. The
purchase price was set at $43722.20.
Options on three tracts were se-
cured by the airport committee of
the chamber of commerce these in-
cluding in addition to the site se-
lected 640 acres on the Parades Line
road 6 3-4 miies north of the city
limits and 640 acres belonging to
J. B. Jones and lving a mile north
of the end of the El Jardin paving.
The tract designated by the com-
mission lies south of the highway.
The northwest comer including 64
acres was not included leaving a
frontage of 2300 feet oft the paved
highway. The tract lies between
Vermillion and Minnesota avenues
extending a mile on Vermillion and
3.960 feet on Minnesota. It is located
about a mile west of El Jardin
(Continued on page two)
MASKORDERED
OFF KUEIIX
Edict Issued by Evans
Makes Rule Opera-
tive Today
W ASHINGTON Feb. 23.—vPh-The
mask is officially foresworn as part
of the regalia ot the Hu Klux Kian.
An edict to all kiansmen from the
headquarters here of Dr. H. W.
Evans imperial wizard discards the
mask effective today and inaugur-
ates a new degree knights of the
great forest lhe edict gave no de-
tails concerning the new degree but
advised every klansman to become a
member at once.
The action said a statement from
headquarters was in preparation for
“new and larger activities in our na-
tional life.” Dr. Evuns' statement said
also that the order had no political
ambitions and added that it was now
ready for new work because its policy
of promoting “100 per cent American-
ism by stopping unrestricted immi-
gration” has been made “a part of
our national policy.”
Dr. Evans said the departure had
been contemplated for some time and
that “there has been inside the or-
der a gradually increasing sentiment
toward unmasking.”
EGYPTIAN
" /J
Prinea Mohamed Aly Ibrahim
con of the ruling house of Egypt
posed for this special portrait in
Washington where he met Presi-
dent Coolidge.
HOOVERLAUDS
PROHIBITION
• "
Presidential Prospect
Pledged Support to
All Dry Laws
WASHINGTON Feb. 23.—OfV-De-
claring the United States has "de-
liberately undertaken a great social
and economic experiment noble in
motive and far reaching in purpose”
Secretary Hoover as a presidential
candidate today pledged himself to
support the prohibition amendment.
The secretary's position was made
known in an answer to a question-
naire directed at him by Senator
Borah of Idaho who has quizzed all
republican candidates on the wet and
dry question. His letter declared
that any holder of the presidential
office had a solemn duty to support
the laws.
The declaration was the first made
by Mr. Hoover on a political subject
since his presidential campaign was
definitely begun ten days ago by his
entrance into the Ohio contest. The
letter to Senator Borah follows:
“Upon my return to Washington I
have taken up your letter. I feel
that the discussion of public ques-
tions by reply to questionnaires is
likely to be unsatisfactory and oft
times leads to confusion rather than
clarity. Replies to the scores of such
inquiries on many questions are im-
possible.
“Out of my regard for your known
sincerity and your interest in the es-
I sential question. I will however say
again that I do not favor the repeal
of the 18th amendment. I stand of
course for the efficient vigorous
and sincere enforcement of the laws
enacted thereunder. Whoever is
chosen president has under his oath
the solemn duty to pursue this
course.
“Our country has deliberately
undertaken a great social and eco-
nomic experiment noble in motive
and far-reaching in purpose and it
must be worked out constructively."
Club Women Meet
In Chairman Fight
DALLAS. Tex.. Feb. 23.—Mrs.
J. U. Fields of Hsskell deposed state
chairman of the committee for ar-
rangements for the biennisl of the
Federation of Women’s clubs at San
Antonio in May. announced today
that she intends to attend a meeting
here of the Texas board on Feb. 27
to consider her ouster.
The meeting called by Mrs. W. R.
Potter of Bowie president of the
Texas federation probably will de-
cide problems which originated when
Mrs. Fields was relieved by the na-
tional board of her chairmanship of
the state committee on the grounds
that her position and that of Mrs.
Drought of San Anonio local chair-
man on arrangement! conflicted.
The executive board meeting to
held here Monday was called as a re-
sult of the demand of other hoard
members that such a sessioa be held
Mrs. Potter declared*
30 GUESTS OF
HOSTELRY ARE
•ORTED
F’re Started Early To*
day in Linen Room
Of North Carolina
Ir.r.; Register Saved
SHELBY N. C„ Feb. *3.—(iPh-
Three persons are dead and three
others are in a hospital as a result
of a fire which destroyed the Cen-
tral hotel here early today. The dead
and injured list may mount as 30 of
the 65 registered guests have not.
been accounted for.
The known dead aret J. S. Hen-
derson and H. H. Carmichael of
Charlotte N. C. and Henry Kerr hi
year old clerk who died from barns
received while awakening guests.
The injured: A. B. Stagg sales-
man Charlotte both legs broken in
jump from third floor window: a
man named Epps Charlotte injured
jumping from upper floor: Mias
Emma Frick hands cut and burned.
Spurgeon Hewitt assistant man*
ager at the hoel saved the register
in which 65 guests were entered.
Thirty guests have not been located
but it was said that this did not
necessarily mean they had been
killed as it was impossibl# to make
a complete check.
The lira originated in tha linaa
room from an undetermined causo
shortly before daybreak. Henry
Kerr the aged clerk ran from room
to room on the upper floors of tho
building awakening guests. He kept
at his task even when the flames
were leaping along the hallways and
finally staggered to the atreet to ba
taken to a hospital in a dying con-
dition.
Miss Frick who had an apartment
in the hotel sought to fight tho
fire with an extinguisher placed in
a hallway. Her hands were badly
cut when she broke a window to get
to the extinguisher and she waa
slightly burned.
The hotel occupies the upper floor*
of the block. In the building »re lo-
cated the First National bank th*
Cleveland Drug company. Cleveland
Building and Loan association* tha
A. V. Wray Mercantile company the
Stevenson Drug Co. and the Key
club a club for men.
Three Are Killed In
Grade Crossing Crash
QUAKERTOWN. Pa. Feb. 23.—(ft
—Three persons including a man and
wife were killed here today when
their automobile stalled on a grad*
crossing and was struck by a Read-
ing express train. The dead are:
Andrew Anders 55; his wife
Amelia 45. and Arthur Musselman
all of Quakertown.
A fourth occupant of the car.
Musselman’s wife. Carrie jumped
from the automobile a moment be-
fore the crash and escaped serious
injury. *
1---1
In the Battle
for Life
or Dollars
In any battle victory
goes with the strong—
or those who can bend
other strength to their
ends. Yo’. need only to
avail yourself of their
great power to reap
your share. Consult
this medium—and get
or sell profitably your
share of the worldly
goods.
HERALD
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The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 232, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 23, 1928, newspaper, February 23, 1928; Brownsville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1380094/m1/1/: accessed July 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .