Brownsville herald. [volume], May 18, 1929, Image 1

About Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current

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THIRTY-SEVENTH YEAR-No. 318_BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS, SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1929_ SIX PAGES TODAY
‘Dagger’Pruit Leads Futile Jail Break at Dallas
I WOMEN PATIENTS RESCUED FROM HOSPITAL BLAST
3 CONDEMNED
MEN SAW OUT;
SLUG JAILER
Confusion Reigns As
Officers Rush Into
Jail In Droves To
Halt Prisoners
Interurban-Street
Car Collision at
Dallas Injures Six
DALLAS, Texas, May 18.—(JP)—Six persons were hurt and a street car
and interurban were derailed in a collision on the Oak Cliff viaduct here
today.
The street car jumped the track, its front end swinging around in
front of the interurban on the adjoining track.
'I—. 1 111 . ..- -. “ at* ii_a_* a a .
DALLAS. Texas. May 18.—UPh
Three desperate prisoners In 'death
row” in the Dallas county jail at
tempted to batter their way to free
dom here today, but were subdued
after a furious struggle with two
jailers.
The prisoners were Johnny Mey
ers. under a sentence of 99 years for
attempting to rob a department
store in the heart of the business
district here last Christmas; Wil
liam (Dagger) Pruett, under death
sentence for killing a high school
student on a downtown street here
several months ago; and H. R. Arm
strong, under a 25-year sentence for
robbery with firearms.
The attempted escape was started
about 2:45 a. m. Through a means
not discovered immediately, the
three prisoners, among the most
desperate of a number of desperate
criminals in the jail, congregated in
a single cell, where for several hours
they worked at severing bars of the
cell. They used saws which either
had been smuggled into the Jail by
friends of the prisoners, or had been
left behind by workmen. The pris
oners gained entrance into the run
around, and stole steathlly down the
jail corridor toward the entrance
to the entrance of the run-around
where they knew the Jailer would
be found.
Hearing a noise, Jailer Ben Cald
well left his office and went to the
run-around where he suddenly met
the prisoners face to face. He was
felled by a blow from an improvised
blackjack, but struggled to his feet
only to be knocked down again. Half
blinded, but struggling unconscious
ly, Caldwell grasped one of the men.
drew himself to his feet, and began
to fight, calling in the meanwhile
for assistance. Another jailer, Ben
Kuykendall, hearing the noise of
the battle, rushed into the run
around, and after a struggle that
lasted for several minutes the pris
oners we ersubdued and locked up -
again.
Officers began an investigation* to
determine how the saws were smug
gled into the jail. Because of the
large number of men in the Jail,
under long prison sentences or sen
tences of death and awaiting trans
portation to the state penitentiary
at Huntsville or action of the courts
on appeals, they had expected at
tempts to break jail and had taken
all means in their power to forestall
them. Only recently a small boy was
apprehended at the entrance to a
(Continued on page two)^
ZEP DISASTER
TO BE PROBED
Theory of Sabotage Openly
Advanced As Cause of
Motors Failing
FRIEDRICHSHAFEN. Germany.
May 18.—(A”)—Thorough tests and
examinations of the motors of the
Graf Zeppelin, which failed sc soon
after her departure for the United
States on her second transatlantic
voyage, will be made by German
motor experts to determine what
went wrong. The suspicion openly
voiced in many quarters that sab
otage was responsible was strongly j
doubted today by engineers and oth
er high officials.
While the man in the street still
could not conceive of any other the
ory for the failure of the Maybach
motors to function, inquiry among
engineers of the company indicated
they stanchly held to the belief
sabotage was out of the question.
“Why should the same thing hap
pen to two crankshafts?” he asked.
"I have been with the motors for
years and can't conceive of such du
(Continued on i»age two.)
• All the Injured suffered bruises
and cuts from broken windows
They were Mrs. E. M. McCombs and
daughter. Ma.dne; Mrs. Lee Wall;
Mrs. Ben C. Robins, all of Dallas;
Mrs. Ruby Odell. Waco; Mrs. Rob
erts, address unknown.
TEXAS STORMS
INJURE SEVEN
Wichita Falls-Vernon Area
Hit Hardest; Honeymoon
ers Seriously Hurt
DALLAS. Teaxs. May 18.——
Disrupted telephone communication
today delayed accurate accounting
of storm damage in northwest Texas
last night in which seven persons
were injured.
The Wichita Falls-Vernon area
was hardest hit. Reports today said
Mr. and Mrs. Merell Wilkerson, mar
ried last Sunday, had been seriously
hurt when a twister, wrecked their
home 20 miles south of Vernon
where they were spending their
honeymoon. The wind carried the
ocoupants and the wreckage of their
house about 100 yards. A heavy rain
accompanied the wind.
Fears of possible further damage
were expressed at Wichita Falls.
Skies remained overcast and a warn
ing had been received that flood
waters were sweeping down the Red
River. A watchman way posted at
the railway bridge as a precaution
ary measure.
At least three persons were hurt
at Dundee, heaviest suffered from
the storm. Two were injured at
Clara. None of those was believed
to have been seriously Injured.
The interruption to telegraph and
power service was short, but tele
phone communication to many
towns had not been restored today.
Dundee remained Isolated.
A message from Byers said that
"half the buildings in the town were
damaged" and that the loss would
approximate $20,000. No estimate of
lass In other communities was made.
Scores of derricks in northwest oil
fields toppled In the wind.
women patients at the Cleveland. Ohio, clinic hospital being removed from the building after an explosion and fire. (Picture by tele
photo from Cleveland).
• • • sf--————
I HOSPITAL FIRE
I, INVESTIGATED
| Information Reveals Cigar
ettes Were Smoked Near
-i'isj
Film Storage Room
Seventy-Six Seniors
Receive Diplomas at
Closing Exercises
BELIEVE CAPONE
SOUGHT PRISON
Gangster Goes to Jail With
Smile and No Indication
Of Appeal
Lindy to Map Air
Route For Pan-Am
In South America
NEW YORK. May 18.—<AV-Col.
Charles A. Lindbergh is contem
-fdating a flight from Miami, Fla.,
to Buenos Aires, fof a survey of a
mail and passenger route.
Plans for the proposed service
were announced by Colonel Lind
bergh and J. T. Treppe. president
and general manager of the Pan
American Airways. Inc. Colonel
Lindbergh is technical advisor for
the company. . _ J ..
The route proposed is down tne
west coast of South America to Val
paraiso. Chile, thence across the
Andes to Buenos Aires. The distance
is 6.300 miles. The time for the
trip as planned is 80 hours.
Bringing to a triumphant close their careers in the public schools here.
76 seniors received their diplomas at the commencement exercises held
in the high school auditorium at 8 p. m. Friday.
The auditorium was packed with spectators at the opening hour. G.
W. Gotke, superintendent of schools, and Dr. B. F. Pittenger, dean of the
' CLEVELAND. May 18.—(JPh-In
vestigation into the Cleveland clinic
fire which caused the deaths of 122
persons from gas generated by blaz
ing x-ray films went forward to
day with information that cigarettes
were smoked near the film storage
room and that the clinic had been
warned of the danger.
These facts had been uncovered in
testimony before an inquest con
ducted by Coroner A. J. Pearse and
County Prosecutor Ray T. Miller,
newspapermen were told. The In
quiry was held behind closed doors.
Mrs. Roose Reber, charwoman at
the clinic, told later of her testi
mony. She testified men frequently
smoked cigarettes in the basement
near the room where the film was
stored, and that she never had seen
the steel fire door closed.
A report of the Ohio Inspection
bureau warning the clinic to safe
guard the building by removing the
film was read into the record. Pearse
admitted after the hearing was
Closed.
Officials of the clinic today an
nounced the death list to date in
cluded 122 names. Fifty persons were
in hospitals, they said.
PHILADELPHIA, May 18.—(JT\—
“Scarface AT* Capone, sentenced
yesterday to one year in Jail for
carrying a concealed deadly weapon,
was believed in some quarters today
to have sought jail as an asylum
from the bullets of rival gangsters.
At the brief hearing at which he
pleaded guilty it was intimated he
had courted arrest and the loaded
revolver he turned over to police
was carried for that express purpose.
The Philadelphia Record said to
day his action followed receipt of
word at Atlantic City, where he had
asked hostile Chicago gang leaders
to meet him for a peace pact, that
not only would they refuse to meet
him but he would be "put on the
spot" and killed at the first oppor
tunity.
Capone went to Jail with a smile
on his lips and no mention was
made of an appeal from the sen
tence, the maximum jail term for
the offense.
He declared the rumor that the
so-called peace pact in Atlantic City
had fallen through was not true.
"That suggestion is absolutely
wrong," he said. “I'm here because
I'm here, although I do feel secure
for the first time in a long, long
while.” -
**I have tried hard to stop all tlkt
> killing and gang rivalry," he sai<*.
"That was my purpose in going to
Atlantic City. It was a peace con
ference: I engineered it. Some of
the biggest men in the business in
Chicago were there.
“We talked over our trouble and
at the end agreed to sign on the
dotted line, bury the past and for
get warfare for the general good of
all concerned."
RICH INDIAN
TO LOSE MONEY
Handling of Funds By Com
mission Is Upheld By
Federal Court
•scnooi oi eaucation at the universi
ty of Texas, who was the speaker for
the evening, led the procession, at
tired in their academic robes, with
members of the high school faculty
bringing up the rear.
Rev. J. E. Lovett gave the invo
cation, followed by a piano solo,
Lizst's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2,
by Pauline Marler.
Elizabeth Rowe, salutatorian,
greeted the audience, expressing the
gratitude of the class of the splen
did facilities provided for them, and
paying a tribute to the late S. C.
Tucker for his work in behalf of
the schools.
Nancy Stringfellow, who ranked
third in the class, presented the
class banner to Ernesto Duarte, first
honor student of the juniors, who
accepted on behalf of his class.
Raul Garza .senior honor student,
gave the valedictory address.
Dr. Plttenger, the speaker for the
evening, was introduced by Mr.
Gotke, and gave an inspiring ad
dress on the choice of a vocation. He
stressed the idea that a well-round
ed personality is one of the greatest
objects to be attained, through a
business or professional career. He
said the object of an educe tion is
not primarily practicality, but to
provide a background for other at
tainments, and to give richness and
breadth of viewpoint, that the stu
dent may get the most out of all
phases of life.
Dr. O. V. Lawrence, president of
the school board, then presented
diplomas to the graduates, preced
ing the presentation with a few
words of appreciation, for the co
operation of all branches of the
school system, and calling attention
to the growth from a class of two
graduates in 1895 to a total of 76 In
1929.
Honors were announced by S. A.
Caldwell, principal, who presented
Raul Garza and Elizabeth Rowe,
students having highest averages,
with scholarships, members of lo
cal chapter of the National Honor
society, including Raul Garza. Eliz
abeth Rowe. Nancy Stringfellow.
Jeanie McClughan. Ida Laura Mon
roe. Robert O’Bryan. Doris Smith.
Homer Sexton. Preston Wilson, se
niors, and Ernesto Duarte and Angel i
Hernandez, juniors, received pins. ,
Winners in the Stephen F. Austin
historical essay contest, sponsored
by the Federated Womens clubs of
the city, were also announced at
this time. Robert Stllwell. a blind
student, won first prize out of 176
competitors, and was presented with
a $10 gold piece. Hermit Kromack.
second, received a $5 award, and
Rachel Barnes, third. $2.50.
The high school glee club sang
one number. “From the Land of the
Skv Blue Water.” and the senior
class sang “Farewell, Speedwell ”
closing the program with “Auld
Lang Syne.”
Miss Annie Putegnat and John
McCleary. violists, played the pro
cessional and recessional.
Relic Colie c t i o n
Is Being Displayed
At C. of C. Building
A collection of Civil war relics
is being made at the chamber of
commerce building and put on dis
play in the tourists’ room. Cases
have been arranged and the first
group of antiques have been placed
in them.
The initial collection on display
is the porperty of W. O. Washing
ton. county engineer. The collec
tion consists of a couple of old guns,
bayonets and uniform buttons pick
ed up on the old Palmetto hill bat
tlefield.
It is expected that the American
Legion collection will be loaned for
this display. Others will be added
from time to time.
SPECIAL COURSE TO
BE TAUGHT IN TEXAS
AUSTIN. May 18.—(£V-All Texas
schools will be required to teach
courses in the history and mean
ing of the constitution during their
summer terms through passage of
a law during the regular session, the
operation of which solons today at
tempted to postpone until August
31 . The new law goes Into effect
June 17.
WASHINGTON. May 18.—
Secretary Wilbur has received a de
cision rendered by Judge John C.
Pollock in federal court at Oklaho
ma City which upholds the action
of former Sec. Work and the com
mission of Indian affairs in hand
ling funds of Jackson Barnett, an
incompetent Indian.
The case of Barnett has been In!
controversy since almost the time:
the wealthy Creek Indian, who made
more than a million dollars from an,
oil gusher on his Oklahoma farm.!
married Anna Laura Lowe, a white
woman, in Kansas about seven years
ago. This marriage took place after
what has been described as the kid
naping of Barnett.
After the marriage, and with ap-j
proval of the Indian bureau, which!
held the Indian's funds in trust I
Barnett's wealth was divided equal-j
ly between the American Baptist j
Home Missionary society and his
wife, on the ground that he was an
incompetent and not able to take
care of his money.
Charges of conspiracy brought
against officials of the Indian bu
reau growing out of the case were
dropped, and the gift to the Baptist
society was set aside by the courts.
The conspiracy charges were aired
last winter before the senate Indian
affairs committee in Its investiga
tion of the government's treatment
of the Indian, but the committee
has not yet made a final report on
the case.
The department of justice
through a special investigator, how
ever. has exonerated the Indian of
ficials.
ARKANSAS RIVER IS
FLOODING COUNTRY
RUSSELVILLE. Ark . May 18 —
The Holly Bend levee on the
Arkansas river 12 mile^ southeast of
here broke early today and approxi
mately 1500 acres of farm land were
flooded. A heavy rain and wind
storm caused the break, which was
about 100 yards wide.
HOOVER FISHING
WASHINGTON. May 18,-^TV
President Hoover left the White
House today for his fishing pre
serve near Madison, Va.
One Killed As Planes
Crash In Mid-Air At
National Maneuvers
r>r»T rnurmTQ ohin Mav 18.—(/P)—One man was killed and, another
was slightly Injured here today when two planes which ^ey were piloting
in the national rmy air maneuvers crashed over a north side residenti
AlSThl dead^manw^Ueut. E. L. Meadows of the 95th pursuit squadroo
from Rockwell field, San Diego, Cal.* " "
Ho died when his ship crashed. i r "
MORE ROOMS
ARE NEEDED
FOR DOCTORS
Only a few rooms now are
available and many doctors are
expected to arrive here Sunday
and Monday without arrange -
nents for lodgings, acording to
Dr. W. E. Spivey.
Dr. Spivey said former appeals
!or rooms had met with splendid
•esponse, but that he hoped ad
litional rooms would be placed at
ihe disposal of his committee.
is the duty of this committee
to see that every visitor to the
3tate Medical convention be
lared for comfortably.
Alsace-Lorraine Of
South America Are
To Be Divided Soon
1 WASHINGTON. May 18.—
Tacna &nd Arlcft* cslicd AIsj&cc
Jboraine of Stvth America, are to
be divided. , , t .. .
After 46 years of international
'ontroversy. Chile has agreed to re
am Tacna to Peru while retaining
Arica. . ._.
The agreement was reached |
through direct negotiations madei
possible bv the resumption of diplo
matic relations between the two
governments last year at the sug
gestion of former Sec. Kellogg.
Fred Salter. Los Angeles. Cal., al
so attached to the 95th pursuit
squadron, jumped with a parachute
and landed in a ravine, suffering
only burned about the face. He was
taken to a doctor’s where his in
juries were pronounced minor.
The crash occurred during the
biggest single sham battle staged
thus far in the mimic warfare be
tween the red and blue armies.
There were 104 airplanes partici
pating in the maneuvers. Forty
two pursuit planes from the red air
headquarters at Norton field here
went out to engage in mock combat
with 15 bombers. 32 attack planes
and 15 pursuit planes from the blue
headquarters at Wright field. Day
ton.
It was reported one of the planes
struck the tail of another, then burst
Into flames. Eye witnesses said one
ship suddenly became a mass of
fire then plunged to the earth. The
pilot of the other ship tried vainly
to fly It but it went into a tail
spin and spiraled down.
The crash occurred at an altitude
of approximately 15,000 feet. Both
pilots attempted to use the para
chutes. Lieut. Salter was successful,
but Sergeant Meadows’ chute caught
in the undercarriage of his plane,
and he was dragged to the ground
with the flames from the burning
ship whipping about him. As he
neared the ground he swung under
the shin which landed on top of
him. The ship came down in the
rear of a residence and set fire to a
garage.
MACHINE GUN MAY
ELECT NEW GANG HEAD
CHICAGO, May 18.—(/Pi—Now.
with A1 Capone “put away” for a
year in a Pennsylvania prison, it re
mains to be seen whether the riddle
of Chicago gang crime has been
solved. There were ominous sug
gestions today that it had only been
intensified.
The roost that Capone ruled was
not one that the most optimistic po
lice officers believed would collapse
merely because its support was
taken away. Even without its chief,
the Capone mob remained a potent
and sinister threat.
The gangsters themselves were
not using a brass band to advertise
their reaction to the jailing of Scar
face Al, but police read several
signs, none of which indicated any
termination of gang warfare.
There was police speculation over
a rumor that a “machine gun elec
tion” was being planned to elevate
a new leader to Capone's vacant
throne,
WORKERS AWAIT FATE
OF 86 MILL STRIKERS
ELIZABETHTON, Tehn., May 18.
—UP)—Union rayon mill workers
here awaited today a decision in
the case of 86 of their fellow strik
ers charged with conspiracy to com
mit murder, rioting and intimidation
which may decide to what extent
they will be permitted to carry their
picketing tactics without fear of in
terferring by law.
COMMITTEE WRESTLES
WITH EDUCATION BILL
AUSTIN, May 18.—UP)—A free
conference committee was wrestling
with the board of education bill to
day trying to adjust differences be
tween the house and senate. The
senate late yesterday refused to con
cur in house amendments,
i
•
French And Yankee
Crews Battling For
Ocean Flight Honors
new YORK. May 13.—(/Pi—A race
between a French and an American
crew for the honor of being the
first this year to cross the Atlantia
by air appeared today to be in
prospect for next week.
Roger Q. Williams planned to take
nff Sunday from Teterboro airport.
Hasbrouck Heights. N. J., on the
first leg of a flight to Rome, while
Anne no Lotti, Jr., said his French
plane was virtually ready for its pro
jected flight to Paris.
RICHARDSON WILL
ARRIVE SUNDAY
O. C. Richardson, manager of the
chamber of commerce, will arrive
here Sunday afternoon by air from
Cleveland, where he has been at
tending a national convention of the
Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce,
according to a telegram received this
morning. He will take the plane
at San Antonio.
He left Cleveland immediately aft
er the close of the convention that
he might arrive here In time for
the state medical convention which
begins Monday.
VICTIM DYING
AS RESULT OF
LAND DISPUTE
4 Bullets Enter Body
Of Man As Crowd of
Spectators at Mark
et See Tragedy
Calxto Garcia, about 35. prom
inent Matamoros farmer and unde
of Guillermo Shears, president* mu
nicipal. is near the point of death
and Fidel Bianco has been lodged
in the Matamoros jail as the result
of a shooting on the crowded Mar
ket plaza about 11 a. m. Saturday.
Garcia was struck by pistol bullets
four times at close range, suffering
wounds on his right wrist, right and
left shoulders, and In the left side of
the jaw. He was mounted m a
horse at the time of the outbreak
of firing. The horse was shot^n the
neck. Blanco's pistol was empty
following the shooting.
The most sertews of Garcia's
wounds is that in the jaw and physi
cians fear that an Infection may ast
in. Blanco had made no statement
at 1 p. m. and no motive had been
established for the affair. There
were many witnesses to the shooting.
Although Garcia wore a pistol at
the time, he was unable to take It
from his pocket and fire due to the
fact that his right wrist was dm
first, officers say. Despite the fact
that Garcia has lived on the !*«■
Arboles ranch about three miles west
of Matamoros for many years he
is said to be an American citiara. He
was born near San Benito and lived
there for sometime. He hat several
children.
The two men are said to hav*
been at odds over a piece of land.
They are said to have had a fight
over the afair recently.
Blanco also is a farmer and Is
about 38 years of age. Both men are
well known in Matamoros.
The market plaza waa crowded
with shoppers when the firing broke
out. A scene of confusion followed
as the women, children and mm
scampered to safety from the flying
bullets.
Police soon arrived on the scene
and took Blanco into custody.
Garcia was rushed off for medical
attention.
Olmito Sportsman
Purchases 28-Foot
4 Baby Gar* Vessel
A 28-foot ' Baby Oar” motor boat
was delivered to Lloyd Parker. Ol
mito yetserday. and is desert oed aa
being one of the most beautiful wa
ter vehicles on the Point Isabel bay,
where it got its initial trial Satur
day morning.
The boat is finished in mahogany,
and will carry 11 passenger*. The
dash board resembles that of a high
priced automobile, and comalm oil
and gasoline gauges, speedometer,
cigar lighter, and other dash board
dials.
The vessel has a speed of 40 to
42 miles per hour with a 200-horse
power Kermath motor.
An entire freight car waa required
to bring the boat from Detroit from
detroit to Brownsville where It sms
unloaded yesterday. It was carried
to tit / Point Friday afternoon and
placed In the water.
The purchase sms made through
Batsell-Wells, local agents for Oar
Wood boats. It cost tOOO f. a fe
Detroit.
i.—..——..— - 1-L!!-^- »
THE WEATHER
•
For Brownsville and the Valley:
Mostly cloudy and unsettled tonight
and Sunday, with local showers
this afternoon and tonight; not
much change in temperature.
Light to moderate winds on the
west coast, mostly southerly.
For East Texas: Cloudy tonight:
thundershowers in eaat portion;
cooler in northwest portion; Sun
day partly cloudy. Light to fresh
southerly winds on the coast.
RIVER FORECAST
With weather conditions favor
able for rains over the Ban Juan
and middle Rio Grande watersheds
there is a probability of a rise in
the river from Rio Grande Cltv
down during the next 24 to 48
hours.
flood PWHM 34-ilr. **-ilr.
Star* Stare Ou»e IKain
Eagle Pass .. 16 49 16 JO
Laredo . 27 -J3 -01 JO
Rio Grande . 21 4J» -0,1 JO
Mission. 22 5 6 -1.0 .00
San Benito . 23 11.4 -14 JO
Brownsville . 18 6.7 00 JO
TIDE TABLE
High and low tide at Point Isa
bel tomorrow, under normal met
eorological condition:
High. 1:38 a. m.: 12:17 p. m.
Low . 7:49 a. m.; 7:42 p. m.
MISCELLANEOUS DATA
Sunset today. 7:10
Sunrise tomorrow . 1:42