The Bismarck tribune. [volume], December 31, 1937, Image 1

About The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current

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PIRACY ON PACIFIC
ENDS WHEN YOUTHS
TOSS MAN INTO SEA
6 Survivors Taken Off IIMated
Craft 500 Miles South
west of San Pedro
TELL OF 5-DAY SEA DRAMA
1937 Pirate Dozes at WhMl.
Make* Wife, Expectant
Mother, Help Steer
Los Angeles, Dec. 31—(yP)—Murder,
piracy and retribution on the high
seas a stranger-than-fiction story
written with the blood of two men
was unfolded to government agents
early Friday by six haggard survivors
of a cruise on the schooner yacht
Aafje.
Dwight L. Paulding, 48, Santa Bar
bara hotel man and the Aaf je's owner,
is dead, his bullet-riddled body
dumped overboard somewhere off the
Southern California coast.
Jack Morgan, the man accused of
his slaying by the federal bureau of
investigation, also is dead. Two youths
told Chief FBI Agent John Hanson
they threw Morgan into the sea after
five terror-stricken days under his
mad rule.
An official statement by Hanson
summed up the details of one of the
Pacific's strangest sea dramas after
hours of questioning the survivors
Thursday night.
Killed First Afternoon
Die
Ul-fated cruise was marked by
death on the very afternoon the
Aafje sailed out of San Pedro Dec. 30,
bound for Catallna island 90 miles
distant. Aboard, besides Paulding ^and
Morgan, who had chartered the
yacht, were Paulding's fiancee, Mrs.
Gertrude Turner and her 8-year-old
eon, Robert Mrs. Morgan, an expect
ant mother her nurse, Mia
Berdan Robert Home and George
Spernak, amateur crewmen.
Paulding, at the helm, heard a
terse order. "Get away from that
wheel. I'm taking command here.'
It was Morgan, emerging from the
shadow of the hatch, Hanson said.
Paulding started toward his ad'
versary. Three bullets from a re
volver poured into the yachtman's
body.
Late that night Morgan forced his
terrified companions to drop Pauld
ing's body overboard.
'Seemed to Go Crasy*
"I don't know what came
Jack," Mrs. Morgan told investigators.
"He seemed to go crasy. After he
killed Paulding he ran the boat with
an iron hand and we were in terror.
Morgan, a former houseboy in Los
Angeles apartment buildings and ho
ytels, pointed the now of the H-foot
schooner south. He stayed at the
wheel, taking only catnaps. When he
slept he forced his wife to take con
trol.
A revolver always ready, be wai
abusive to the crew. At time some
were locked in cabins. They could
only guess at Morgan's ultimate pur
pose, but investigators theorised be
had a vision of establishing a colony
of some kind in the South Pacific.
With the Aafje provisioned for a
two-day voyage, Morgan put his com
panlons on rations, Apparently in
tending to stop at small ports alone
the Mexican coast for supplies.
Pair Attack Morgan
Five hundred miles southwest of
fian Pedro, and five days after de
parture, Home and Spernak seised an
opportunity to attack Morgan.
"Home and Spernak were working
near the wheel of the yacht," Han
son said they told him.
"Home taw his opportunity. He
picked up a marlin spike, hit Mor
gan over the head, crushing his skull,
and with the aid of Spemak, tossed
the man overboard.
"They do not know whether he was
dead or not."
Hoping to reach the mainland under
sails, conserving fuel for the auxiliary
engine in event of a storm, the sur
vivors turned back.
On the morning of Dec. 39 one
painted an "SOS" on the mainsail.
The distress signal was sighted by a
navy flier from San Diego, who sum
moned coast guard aid.
Shoot Customer, Take
$225 From Forks Store
Grand Porks, N. D., Dec. 31.—(IP)—
Two bandits late Thursday held up a
Tweet grocery store here, shot a cus
tomer In the arm, and escaped with
$235. The customer, Adolph Lannard
son, received a flesh wound. Police
questioned several suspects.
.INK MAN
-OBBED FABGO STOKER
Pargo, N. D, Dec. 31—(JPi—Fargo
police Mday believed that one of the
two bandits who Thursday robbed
the Tweet grocery store at Grand
Forks, shooting a customer and flee
ing with $335 was the same man who
in recent weeks has twloe held up
the Baldwin grocery store here. One
Orand Porks bandit was described as
•bout six feet tall, wearing a Scotch
plaid cap and ilpper overalls. This
inscription is identical with that of
the Pargo store robber.
48 BELOW Of MAINE
Caribou, Me., Dec. 31.—(/Pi—Unof
Iffcial theremotneters recorded 40 de
below am bare Mdajr.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
(An Editorial)
This is the season for New Years resolutions,* for ap
praisals of the past 12 months and for looking into the
future.
It dawns upon a nation which is troubled in spirit and
in many parts of its body, both economic and politic. There
seems no certainty ahead. No sure and safe harbor for
those troubled by the problems of the day.
Yet there is much to be thankful for.
Despite wars and rumors of wars elsewhere, weare at
peace.
While dictators crush freedom to earth in other na
tions, we Still have the royal prerogative to think, speak
and do as we please.
In a world where hunger, thirst, privation and suffer
ing are all too common, we still maintain the highest stand
ard of living this earth has ever known.
This fact neither discounts or ignores the troubles still
facing us or the enormity of the obstacles to be overcome.
They are both numerous and serious and they challenge our
genius for self-government as it has beeji challenged few
times in the past.
But there is reason to believe that we possess certain
solid, American virtues which will carry us successfully
through.
There is, for example, the quality of tolerance. We are
going to need it in full measure if we are to settle our in
ternal difficulties amicably.
The quality of confidence is needed. We have always
had our full share in the past and there is no reason why it
should desert us now.
And over and above these and all other virtues, there
is the quality of sincere patriotism. If it is not kept alive
by a free people there is no safe refuge for it anywhere in
the world. When times seem darkest is when we need it
most.
The cultivation of these and other virtues necessary to
us if we are to live together in peace, harmony and prosper
ity could well be a New Year's resolution for all Americans
everywhere.
At the very least, it would do no harm to try them.
The spirit of the season is one of good will and good
wishes, but wishing never made anything come true and
wishes are not enough now. America must have the united
will to better things if it is to achieve them.
It is in the confidence that it will achieve them and the
surety that this nation and this region are slowly but surely
working toward a better order of things that The Tribune
wishes its subscribers and friends everywhere a Happy and
Prosperous New Year.
MOOTS MOTS
OF RAMS
Morgan Partners, Others Dis
pose of Stocks in Moder
ate Quantities
Washington, Dec. 31.—JP—Mem
bers of the banking firm of J. P. Mor
gan & Co., Richard Whitney, former
president of the New York stock ex
change and Floyd B. Odium, invest
ment company magnate were among
sellers of stocks in November, a com
pilation by the securities and exchange
commission showed.
Partners in the Morgan firm dis
posed of moderate amounts of stock
in the following companies in which
they are directors: General Motors,
Pullman, Johns-Man vllle, Consoli
dated Edison of New York, Phelps
Dodge and Continental Oil.
On the other hand securities were
bought during November by Pierre S.
du Pont, William K. Vanderbllt and
Benjamin P. Pair leas, recently ap
pointed operating chief of U. S. Steel
corporation.
K iRQUIS, IN, DIES
Moulins, Ptance, Dec. 31.—(AV-The
100-year-old Marquk de Garidel
Thorn died Friday
Modern Morgan Kills Yachtsman, Rules Ship
Make Sure Election
Pledge Is Fulfilled
Cleveland, Dec. 31.—(JP)—Shef
field Lake's retiring council, de
feated to a man in last fall's elec
tions, slashed the salary of the in
coming mayor,
C.
W. King, from
$1,000 to $375, and the pay of other
officials in the same ratio.
Explained Retiring Mayor K. H.
Dier:
"They had pledged themselves
to drastic salary reductions and
we gave them what they wanted.
California Fire
Victims Buried
Los Ahgeles, Dec. 31.—(JPi—Joint fu
neral services were held Thursday for
Mrs. Margaret Garber, 33, formerly of
Bismarck, N. D., and her son, David,
3, who died together last Sunday when
fire broke out in the home in which
they were visiting. The husband and
father, Ben Garber, came here from
Minneapolis when informed of the
tragedy. Mother and son were buried
here.
Gottlieb Bittner,
Glen Ullin, Dies
Ji h.] UU HI juuhhiii imiin.tuimmm^w ...iai. mw.ju
THE BISMARCK TRIBUNE
The tentative plan, as adopted by
members of the church vestry, is to
build a new parish house as well as a
church on the location.
Dnllam Negotiates
Negotiations for the property were
conducted by George* S. Dullam, clerk
of the vestry, with the F. E. Heddsn
real estate agency, representing the
corporation which owned the prop'
erty. Members of the vestry are O. N.
Dunham, senior warden Gordon Cox.
B. E. Jones, James Trimble and
George Bird.
The purchase was made possible by
the gift to the church, about a year
and a half ago, of the lots on Fourth
St. where the Elks lodge building now
is being erected. To money received
trom the Elks in the sale of those lots
enough was added by the congregation
to buy the property which now has
been purchased.
Lots Are Gift
The gift of the Fourth street lots
was made by Rev. De Forrest Bowles,
a retired minister of St. Paul, Minn.
Rev. Bowles Inherited them from his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank D.
Bowles, pioneer Bismarck residents.
The elder Bowles came to Bismarck
in 1878 and was for many years a
printer in the employ of the Bismarck
Tribune Co.
Announcement also was made Fri
day that the church will hold its an
nual meeting at 8 p. m., on Jan. 6, the
feast of the Epiphany. The meeting
will be held in the parish house and
the principal business will be recep
tion of reports from all church organ
izations and the election of vestrymen.
Refreshments will be served.
A feature of the social program will
be the cutting and service of the tra
ditional Epiphany cake, Into which
has been baked a number of small
articles. The person who gets the
ring is, by custom, required to bake
for the succeeding year.
Barnes Pioneer, 82,
Dies in Valley City
Valley City, N. D., Dec. 31.—(/P)—
Funeral services will be held Monday
for Louis M. Larson, 83, resident of
Barnee county for 53 years and a
pioneer school teacher and farmer,
who died here Thursday. Surviving
Gottlieb Bittner, 64, Glen train,
died Wednesday at a Mandan bos- ate a son, Mtivin of Valley City, and
pital. Amund Larson of Kathryn, N. D,
North Dakota's Oldest Newspaper
ESTABLISHED 187S BISMARCK, N. D„ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 19S7 PRICE FIVE CENTS
Bismarck Continues Steady Growth
BUILD IN FUTURE
Property at Fourth and Ac
quired Congregation to
Meet Jan. 6
Purchase by St. George's Episcopal
church of lots at Vvenue and Fourth
St., upon which the local congregation
plans to build a new church at some
future time was anounced Friday.
The property, on the Northeast
comer of the intersection. Is 100 by
150 feet in dimension and now is occu
pied by four small frame houses.
These will be left In place until such
time as the new church gets under
way. When that will be was not in
dlcated but it was inferred that there
is no immediate prospects of such
activity.
(Copyright NBA Service
Loyalists Blow Up
Teruel Alcazar'
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
BUYS LOTS WILL
Hundreds Dead Struggle for
Key City Is Greatest of
Civil War
Hendaye, Franro-Spanish Fron
tier, Dec. 31.—(/P)—The Spanish
Insurgents in a radio broadcast,
announced the advance guard a
Gen. Miguel Aran da's attacking
army entered Teruel Friday after
noon and hoped to recapture the
strategic South Aragon city to
night.
By RAMON BLARDONT
Teruel, Spain, Dec. 31.—The
Spanish civil war rocketed to a bloody
zenith Friday in the tumbled hills
west of Teruel where massed Insur
gent forces stabbed Into the Govern
ment line to recapture this strategic
provincial capital.
More than 300,000 Insurgent and
government troops and 300 airplanes
were thrown Into this greatest battle
of the civil war.
Within the Government-held city
hundreds of persons—Insurgent sold
iers, women and children—were be
lieved burled in the blasted granite
and masonry of the Bank of Spain
where they had resisted siege in the
war's "second Alcazar."
Confronted with bitter, unyielding
reslst&nce of the beleaguered Insur
gent garrison and the civilians under
itr. protection—as well as the fierce
pressure of the Insurgent army to the
nest—Government sapen laid dyna
mite mines under one of the places
of refuge, the bank building, and blew
it up Thursday in a thunderous ex
plosion.
Hudreds Caught
Some of the Insurgents escaped to
the cellars of the old 8anta Clara
convent and the civil governor's pal
ace but hundreds were believed caught
by the explosion.
The government made no new at
tack on the convent and palace. Of
ficers said they would give the Insur
gent survivors still another chance to
surrender.
To the rumbling accompaniment of
land and air bombardment. Insur
gents outside Teruel foroed the gov
ernment troops back slightly between
Concud and Camplllo, north and
southwest of the city.
(Insurgents called the battle of Te
ruel "the most extensive operation"
of the 17-months-old war, reporting
more than 1,000 government soldiers
killed Thursday. The government had
put Insurgent casualties at 9,000 for
the two-week struggle.)
Center Lad Badly
Hurt While Sliding
Condition of Stephen Dilgen, 10,
Center child critically Injured while
sliding near his home Thursday, waa
reported unchanged Friday night
by physicians in a Mandan hospital.
Hospital attendants said he suffered
a crushed chest, internal injuries and
Jaw
fractures after crashing Into a
parked truck while riding on a sled
with his cousin, John Dilgen. The
other child is being treated for acalp
lacerations and minor bruises.
PIONEER WOMAN DIES
East Grand Porks, Minn., Dec. 31—
W)—Mrs. Catherine Clynch, 64, a
resident here for 50 years, died early
Friday.
Survivors include a son and three
daughters. Funeral services will be
Monday.
ICKES JOINS ATTACK
ON 'BIG BUSINESS'
SEES FINISH FIGHT
T/Hril/V
VAfltA IflMVIf MV
Says Capital Is Threatening
Sit-Down Strike to Force
Concessions
ATTACKS FORD, GIRDLER
Bitter Blast Points to Road
Now Deal Is Taking in
Face of Recession
Washington, Dec. 31.—VP)—Secre
tary Icke's contention that a finish
fight must take place between Ameri
ca's millions and an asserted pluto
cracy of "80 families" drew quick re
buttal Friday from several members
of congress.
The interior secretary said In a radio
address Thursday night that "econom
ic power in this country does not rest
in the mass of the people as it must if
a democracy is to endure."
FR USES PARABLE TO
SAY MINORITY ARE TARGET
Washington, Dec. 31.—(IP)—Pres
ident Roosevelt indicated with a
parable Friday that anti-monopoly
attacks on business by administra
tion officials were directed at only
a small minority in the business
world.
"Here In America," he said "It Is the
old struggle between the power of
money and the power of democratic
instinct
"In the last few months this irre
concilable conflict, long growing in
our history, has come into the open
as never before, has taken a form and
Intensity which makes it clear that It
must be fought through to a finish—
until plutocracy or democracy, until
America's so families or America's
130,000,000 people—win."
Some legislates expressed agree'
ment with Ickes' views, but others in
both major parties, commenting on his
speech, Sailed for greater co-opera
tion between government and business.
The address followed two denuncia
tlons of "big business" by Robert H.
Jackson, head of the justice depart
ment's anti-trust division, who with
Ickes was a guest on President Roose
velt's recent fishing trip off the Flor
ida coast.
These addresses bare created wide
spread speculation over what Presi
dent Roosevelt would say In his an
nual message to congress Monday.
In the background of all speculation
over the president's attitude was the
current business downspln, and what
it may mean politically to those who
oppose administration recommenda
ttoni,
Ickes, taking a phrase from a book
by Ferdinand Lund berg, talked re
peatedly of "90 families" who he said
controlled one-fourth of the country's
mltti
Asserting that the "(0 families" had
attempted to use the economic re
cession as a lever to pry concessions
from the government, he added:
'Will Rave Strike'
"To the 130,000,000 people of the
United States, they have made the
(Continued on Page Three)
CHINESE ABANDON
THiGTAO JAPAN'S
HOLDINGS IN RUINS
Foreign Vigilantes Try to Stem
Looting 200 Americans
Still in City
(By the Associated Press)
Chinese devastation squads marched
out of Tstngtao Mday, leaving un
defended the once-rich North China
seaport marked .for conquest by ad
vancing Japanese armies.
A oorps of foreign vigilantes armed
with clubs attempted to maintain or
der in the city, from which an exodus
of Americana and other foreigners was
under vtf.
When Chinese police started leav
ing, however, looters ran Into the Jap
anese business section. They ran
sacked what Japanese property bad
not been destroyed in nearly two
weeks of systematic dynamiting.
Chief aim of the foreign vigilantes
s to prevent damage to foreign
property.
Start New Fires
Hie departing Chinese units started
dosen new fires. A Japanese silk
factory and a Japanese tobacco com
pany building were among the struc
tures in flames.
Arrival of Japanese forces was ex
pected momentarily.
Reports from Tslngtao were that
more than 300 Americans remained
there, with the U. S. Cruiser Maitle
head and the destroyer Pope standing
by to take them to safety.
On advice of American consular au
thoritles, the Americans did not join
the vigilante corps which was com
posed of some 340 British, German
and Russian civilians.
Meanwhile, reports that Japanese
peace overtures were being conveyed
to the Chinese government through
German channels gained ground In
foreign official circles.
The property, located on Third St.,
just north of the Postoffice building,
is a three-story brick structure con
taining 18 apartments and was built
In 1917 by the late P. W. Murphy and
Mrs. Rose Murphy, his wife. The pur
chase wss made from Mrs. Murphy
as executrix of her husband's estate.
Mr. Murphy was killed in an auto
mobile accident more than a year ago.
In addition to the structure, the
property consists of 35 feet to the
north of the building which is so ar
ranged that it can be practically
doubled in size at small expense.
Rue will take possession Jan. 1. He
said the building will be renovated
and Improved in some respects, one
detail being the installation of electric
refrigerators in all apartments.
Mrs. Murphy also is owner of the
Murphy apartments on Main Avenue
and will continue to manage that
property.
FAinDOWN
21 PER CENT IN'37
Failure of Industrial Prices to
Drop Too Heightens
Severity
Washington, Dec. 31.—(m—Agricul
ture department economists reported
Friday that the level of farm prices
declined 31 per cent during the last
year.
Their report brought from Dr. A. O.
Black, chief agriculture department
economist, an immediate assertion
that further economic setbacks are in
store for farmers unless congress
quickly provides legislation to mini
mize fluctuations in prices and sup
plies.
Black and other officials attributed
the farm price decline to this year's
bumper crops and to a recent slump
in demands for agricultural products
in cities where unemployment has in
creased.
Government economists said that
the price decline this year would not
have been so severe had it been ac
companied by a similar drop in prices
of industrial goods and services which
fanners buy.
The Weather
Generally fair tonight
and Saturday not so
cold Saturday.
Living Standard
High Estimated
Population 16,000
Dry Years, Slump Fail to Check City's Progress
All But Two Indexes Point to Larger,
Richer Trade Center
HAS MOST PHONES PER CAPITA IN N. D.
Real Estate Transfers, Expenditures on Public
Improvements Up Population Grows
30 Families Per Month
Bismarck during 1937 continued the steady growth that
has marked the state capital as the fastest growing city in the
state since 1920, and with an exceptionally high standard of
living.
All indexes bear out a conservative estimate that the popu
lation on Jan. 1, 1938, is approximately 16,000 with the tele
phone company's figure of 15,500 marking one extreme and
the more rabid boosters setting 18,000 at the other extreme.
Accumulated effects of drouth and depression have failed
to stem the tide of progress, with only two indexes showing a
decrease during the last 12 months—a decline in bank deposits
and building permits.
Indexes of Bismarck's Growth
Electric meters .... 3,387 3,418
Telephones .... 3,877 3430
School Pupils .... 3,151 3,303
$ 338,608 $341,549
483,997 (141) 371,337
8,783,483 8450,890
1,934,804 3,110,475
143,303430 153,075,000
373" 349
•Includes Bank of North Dakota
"Last nine months only
Particularly indicative of Bismarck's leadership in popukt
tion growth and prosperity are the figues of the Northwestern
Bell Telephone company which show the Capital City ranking
first in the state in telephones per 100 population in 1937.
The figures by cittes are Bismarck, 26.7 per 100 Fargo,
26.2 Grand Forks, 23.3 Mandan, 22.9 Valley City, 22 James*
town, 20.5 Williston, 20. Minot and other cities where the
Northwestern company does not operate exchanges are not
included. The average of the state in company territory is 20
telephones per 100 persons.
MILTON RUE BUYS
ROSE APARTMENTS
FROM MRS. MURPHY
Purchase of 3-Story Building on
Third St., Year's Outstand
ing Deal Estate Deal
Milton Rue Wednesday purchased
the Rose apartments from the P. W.
Murphy estate in what was probably
the outstanding Bismarck real estate
transaction for 1937.
1938 1937
18,000
1,888
3.394
Real estate transfers for both city
and county were ahead of a yeas
ago, a reflection of confidence in the
future of the Missouri Slope and
optimism over the benefits to be de
rived from infant Irrigation proj
ects.
Bismarck spent $37,346.83 more
public improvements in 1S37 than tt
did in 1934, including WPA funds.
Water mains laid cost *19,560.64. Other
expenditures were $14,830.44 for
sewers and
$8,268.19
for sidewalks,
curbs and gutters.
Bank deposits In the three institu
tions of the city dropped $10,333,983
from $35,198,031 to $34,884,038. Prin
cipal factors in this decline were the
withdrawal of federal relief funds
from deposit here and the retirement
of state bonds before maturity. Local
deposits, however, showed a gain,
bankers said.
BaOdlng Loss Offwt
While residential and commercial
construction was $100,000 less in total
worth than In 193S, this 1937 loss In
building permits was offset by ex
tensive rehabilitation programs of
the Northern Pacific Railway com
pany and the Northwestern Bell Tele
phone company, each spending ap
proximately $100,000 on improve
ments here.
City permits Issued authorised con
struction of nine commercial struc
tures and 51 residential structures.
Other permits sanctioned alterations
of five commercial structures and of
53 dwellings, while still others per
mitted erection of 18 private garagea
and one structure listed under the
heading of miscellaneous.
Papulation Grows Monthly
Bismarck's population increased by
approximately 30 families each month
during 1937, Mrs. D. B. Shipley, city
hostess, estimated. Mrs. Shipley called
upon 349 families during 1937, aba
said. Indicating that there may have
been others which did not coma tm
her attention and benoe are not In
cluded in that number. During the
last nine months ot 19M she visited
373 families new to the city. The of
fice of city hostess waa set up in
April, 1938. No record, of oourse, is
kept of families which leave the city.
Bismarck's high standard of health
was maintained throughout the year
with a mild epidemic of scarlet fever
last winter as the only extraordinary
manifestation of phjwical ill-being.
Calls Verbal Clash
'Misunderstanding*
at Paul. Dec. 31. (*»—The vetfcal
battle between liquor Commissioner
William Mahoney and county attor
neys at the convention of the attor
neys in St. Paul Wednesday was
termed "an unfortunate misunder
standing" by Mahoney Mday In an
open letter addressed to all oounty
attorneys hi Mlnneeota.
Mrs. John Lowe, 46,
Forest River, Dies
Porest River, N. D., Dee. 31,—
Funeral servloea will be held Saturday
for Mrs. John Lowe, 48. who died a*
her home near here Thursday.
viving are her husband, two
three brothers, and ens 4