Imperial Valley Press.
VOL. VIII.
SIEGEL SKINNER'S
ROW WITH OXFORD
Contestants Fall. Out and Dis
close Their Methods «of
Operation.
Trial of Skinner on Charge of Destroy
ing a Bhack Upon Disputed Claim
Brings Partial Exposure of the Con
test Business and Makes Donny
brook Fair of the Court.
. Exposure of tho operations of the
Skinner-Oxford combination of land
jutnpers<*was the intoreating feature
of la.* trial before a jury In Justice
Tout's court thla week.
The case was a charge of malicious
mischief against Sigel E. Skinner, and
the chief witness for tho prosecution
was Clark Oxford, who had been
Skinner'd associate and partner in
several contests of desert land entries
Ju the valley.
Skinner had won a contest against
ua original entryman and had a pre
ference . right of entry on a certain
numbered tract. He and Oxford
quarreled .over division of the pro
ceeds of' certain "deals" in jumped
land, and Oxford set up a claim to
the tract in question and built a shack
upon it in Sklnner'3 absence. When
Skinner returned, he removed the
shack and took forcible possession of
the claim. In the row that ensued,
1t is alleged, Skinner drew a gun and
threatened Oxford and other persons.
A charge of assault with a deadly
■weapon was made, but fell' to the
ground because it was not proved that
the gun was loaded. Tho malicious
mischief prosecution was another
phase of the quarrel, and the case
depended upon the respective posses
sory rights of Skinner and a member
of the Oxford family.
District Attorney Eshleinan tried to
confine "the ■ evidence to the simple
issue of Skinner's right to destroy the
building, but Mr. McNainara, attor
ney for the defendant, opened the way
for a general threshing out of the
details of the land contest business
carried on by Skinner and his asso
ciates.
Correspondence " between Skinner
and Oxford was introduced, and from
the letters it. appeared that Oxford
accuned Skinner of retaining more
than his share of tho plunder and
sought to force him to divide. Pail
ing to get. iiny satisfaction, Oxford
developed a severe case of righteous
indignation and charged Skinner with
defrauding the persons from whom
•the pair had obtained money. Skin
ner's deafness to appeals for cash re
vealed his turpitude to the virtuous
Oxford, and the latter decided to havo
no more to do with so bad a man.
Th'? letters made it plain that the
pair were In the business of contest -
-ing land entries purely for personal
profit, and were not very particular
about how they got money or from
whom they got it.
John K. Davis, one of Skinner's
victims, was a witness for the prose
cution. He told of the contest which
■deprived him of his land, and said ho
believed the decision was given to
Skinner unjustly and in pursuance of
a conspiracy in which Skinner was
only a tool. He said he regarded
Skinner as a cold blooded scoundrel,
but only a minor member of a gang
. that was subjecting honest settlors In
Imperial Valley to injustice and hard
ship. He had reason to believe that
tho records of the land office in l<os
> Angeles had been misused for the
benefit of Skinner, and that Skinner
had help' and information to which
ho was not properly ontitled.
""Attorney McNainara tried to get
Davis to testify that he believed tho
officers of the land department to be
C th<» chiefs of a graft conspiracy In
which Skinner was merely an Instru
ment, but Davlß refused to make so
specific an accusation.
Character witnesses called by the
defense to impair tho value of Ox
ford's testimony testified 'that the
common reputation of Oxford was as
had ;is Sklnncr'u and was the result of
hlB close association with Skinner In
land jumping 'operations.
Skinner took the aland in his own
behalf yesterday and testified that he
was In actual possession of the land
by right of having won a contest;
that he did work on the tract, and
thata cabin on the land was his only
pluce of residence. During his ab
-
Official Paper off Imperial CoMtity atid City off I2i Cetitro.
uence, he said, Clark Oxford built a
shack upon a portion or the half-sec
tion, and a notice claiming tho land
for Oxford's mother was poHtod. lie
discovered the shack when he returned
and took the advice of an attorney
as to his proper course. He was ad
viced to nerve notice to quit upon Mm.
Oxford, if he' could find her upon the
land, und was told by the attorney
that he had a right to remove tho
building.
"Did you demolish the cabin?" ho
was asked. £j
"I did not."
"Who did?"
"Clark Oxford."
Skinner testified that ho saw Ox
ford in the act of tearing down tho
shack.
Subsequently his attorney said It
would not be donied that Skinner
completed the,. demolition begun by
Oxford, and offered to prove that Ox
ford partly destroyed the shack for
the purpose of making it appear that
Skinner had done so and getting Hd
of Skinnor by moans of criminal pros
ecution.
-The trial was largely a continuous
wrangle between attorneys, which de
veloped into bitter personalities, ac
cusations of pettifogging and invita
tions to single combat, all of which
the court tolerated with a patience
that would make a burro seem an Ir
ritable creature by contrast. The fur
ious declamation of counsel relieved
the tedium of the long wait in the
corridor imposed upon a hordo of wit
nesses.
Tbo trial is still in progress.
SEWER CONTRACT AWARDED
Frick & Ware Given Job of Construct
i
ing Septic Tank System For
El Centro— New Highways.
The LJoard of Trustees of. 101 Ceutro
met at tho City Hall on tho evening
of March 00, Trustees Brown and
Buttress being absent. City Clerk Ha
vens being absent from the city. Trus
tee Pellet acted as clerk.
On motion, the City Attorney was
Instructed to draw a contract with
f. N. Stevens regarding the purchase
of land for v sewer farm, in accord
ance with agreement made between
Mm board and Mr. Stevens at a pre
vious meeting.
Tho Sower Commissioner was in
structed to purchase from Dr. J. C.
r.lacklnton one aero of land located
in the northeast corner of the origin
al townsite, at a price not to exceed
$500.
The contract for constructing the
septic tank sewer system for El Cen
tro was formally awarded to Frlck &
Ware of Los Angelas for the price of
$26,444.65. The contractors are re
quired to file a bond as demanded by
law.
The Sewer Commissioner was in
structed to take up with Dr. Black
inton the matter of opening a road
commencing at tho northwest corner
of tho northeast quarter of section 1,
and running east along the north line
of section 4 ono-half mile to the Dog
wood canal, also commencing at the
southeast corner of section 1 and run
ning north one and one half miles to
the northeast corner of tho southeast
quarter of section 33, township 15
south, range 14 cast.
The board adjourned to meet on the
evening of Wednesday, March 31.
PROFITS IN CABBAGES
Heavy Shipments are Bringing Better
Than Forty Dollars a Ton,
Cabbage shipments from El Centro
continue at tho rate of two and three
cars a day, and the crop iti Ktill bring
ing to the growers net returns of bet
ter than $40 a ton. The average crop
Is about X tons to the aciv, and tho
fanners who planted cabbages and
grew them successfully are receiving
about $;{r>a an aery for their product.
The coHt of planting and cutivation
Is sight, and therefore cabbages are
more profitable this year than can
taloupes have been in some favorable
yours.
FIVE YEAR'B LEASE.
(Juorgo W, Hndden has leaned to
H. H. Puterson, for a term of five
years, the north half of the Bouth
wost quarter "of aoetlon 2, township
IS south, range 13, east, at a re\ita/t
of $500 per year, . r
EL CENTRO, CALIFORNIA, SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1909.
HOLLOW TILE WORKS
TO BE ESTABLISHED
Simon Brick Company' Seeks
A Location Near El
Centro.
Cheaper and More Substantial Build
ing Material to Be Supplied to the
Valley Settlers by Enterprise of Los
Angeles Capitalists at An Early
Date — Outlook Encouraging.
The manufacture of hollow tile and
roof tile for building uses will be es
tablished soon near El Centro by E.
0. Simon and associates, brickmakers
in Los Angeles. Mr. Simon was in
town this week looking over the j
ground with a view to securing a'
tract of fifty acres between El Centro
and Imperial upon which to locate
the" factory.
The material in the vicinity is suit
able for making of tiles, and the
prospects of demand for the product
of a factory are cousidered good
enough to justify investment of capi
tal in the enterprise. The Simon
brick company Is absolutely able to
establish works here without special
inducement, and does not ask a bonus
in land or any local assistance in
financing the project. It will buy the
land required, build the necessary
plant and establish an Industrial set
tlement of its own. The works will
employ a large number of men.
Hollow tiling is believed to be the
best material for building in .this cli
mate, and it can be manufactured here
and sold at a price that will make
it preferable to common brick or
lumber. Tiles are much lighter than
solid brick, and settlers may " haul
them to their farms in their own wag
ons at small coat. When the homes
of settlers are built of tiles with tile
roofs, an appearance of permanency
and solidity will be given to farm im
provements In the valley, and the
comfort of residents will bo Increased
substantially.
BRIDEGROOM ARRESTED
John William Holybee, Who Married
.Holtville Girl This Week, Ac- '
cused of Breaking Jail
in Texas/
.John William Holyoee, bridegroom
of less than a week, had the honey
moon shattered by the appearance
of an officer with a warrant for his
arrest. Holybee is now under the
surveillance of an officer at Holtville,
awaiting the arrival of the sheriff of
[lafderaan county. Texas, to claim his
prisoner.
On March 27, County Clerk Elder
issued to ITolybee a Hcenso to wed
Miss Matilda Bell Gray, a resident
of Holtville. and the wedding took
place that evening. On Thursday
Constable Harris of Holtville placed
Holybee under arrest, on instructions
from the Ilardemau county sheriff,
who is now on his way to California
to attempt to obtain requisition pa
pers. . ,
It is alleged that Holybee was in
dieted by tho Grand Jury of Harde
man county, more than a year ago, on
tho charge of larceny, the robbing of
Chinese laundry, and that Holybee was
sent to jail, from whence ho escaped
to California.
It was known that ho was some
where in tlila State, and that he would
probably reach Imperial Valley even
tually^ and officers hero have been on
tho lookout for him. Ho had been in
the valley but a short Mtfo before
ho secured the license to wed.
"MARKS OF MANLINESS."
Prbf. G. A. liagan, principal of the
HI Centro Grammar Schools, will give
an address on the subject of "The
Marks of Manliness," at the Christian
Church services In Holt Opera House
at 7:30 o'clock to-morrow evening.
The Hllble School will be hold to
morrow morning at 10 o'clock, and
tho public worhhip service at 11 o'clock
w(U bo conducted by J. P. Tout. Spe
cial music will be rendered at thoso
services by Mrs. Hayden, Mrs. Muck
and others.
MEN OF LOS ANGELES
EXTEND GLAD HAND
Chamber of Commerce Sends
Another Big Excursion to
Imperial Valley,
Visitors and Valley Residents go to
Yuma to Celebrate Completion of
Laguna Dam and Opening of Large
Tract in Imperial County to Recla
mation.
Having resumed its "glad hand" ex
cursions, the Ix)s Angeles Chamber
of Commerce sent a special train,
carrying about 150 passengers, into
Imperial Valley this week. The train
went through to Calexico on Monday
night, and after looking over the bor
der town on Monday morning It came
to El Centro and went over the In
ter-Urban line to Holtville, returning
to El Centro shortly after noon.
The atop at El Centro was long
enough to give the visitors an op
portunity to see the city and the
immediate neighborhood. No formal
reception was given, but committees
of,, civic bodies met the visitors and
placed vehicles at their disposal.
The excursion party was composed
of men representing the business in
terests of Los Angeles, who i were
much interested in the development of
this section and desirous of estab
lishing closer relations between the
valley and their city. Many of the
excursionists had been in the valley
with other visiting parties, and they
noted with interest the growth of
the valley towns and the rapid im
provement of the region as a whole.
Secretary Frank Wiggins wasN in
charge of the expedition.
The train stopped at Imperial and the
visitors were taken through the city
and shown what has been done there
since the last glad hand trip, and
at Brawley a public reception was
given to the party in the evening. At
10 p. m. the train left for Yuma.
All of these railway excursions in
to the valley are made on schedules
which do not enable visitors to see
much of the work that is being done
by settlers to reclaim the desert and
develope the productive possibilities
of the country. The excursionists see
the tQwns superficially and meet some
of the business men, but many of them
would like to visit the farms and see
what is grown and how the settlers
are turning a desert into the most
fertile and productive of farming re
gions. An excursionist who is whisked
in and out in less than a day does
not see Imperial Valley.
Laguna Dam is now dedicated — «
baptized would be more literal for
with the coming of the excursionists
to Potholes from all parts of Ari
zona and Southern California, came
also an unexpected rise in the Colo*
rado River, and dam and intakes, spill
ways and diversion canals had their
fill of water.
It is estimated that at least six
thousand people gathered at Potholes
on Wednesday to inspect the dam and
participate in the barbecue and pub
lic functions which were to dedicate
the biggest project of the Reclama
tion Sen' ice.
It was the intention of the Yuma
people to take their visitors across
the' top of the darn on Hie railroad
laid there, running cars from the Cal
ifornia side to the Arizoua side, but
by the time the trains arrived the
flood waters were pouring over the
tracks and 'nearly every section of
the mile-wide dam was Submerged.
The diversion canals were opened
and the huge steel gates were lifted,
so that the waters boiled down and
created a flue spectacle! Unfortun
ately the flood found one section of
the lower wii>g in the spillway oa
the California n'do unprotected, an 1
a soft spot back of tho cement wing
was eaten away until thirty feet orj
more of tho wall tumbled Into the
rapid current.
All nlglit Tuesday every available
man on the 'ob Til two trains were
<vt wfcrk dumping rock ami gravel and
bugs of sand info »he banks where
the Hood wa'.'irs wi-re cutting In, «in«l
thla was continued while tho cele
bration was in progress, the visitors
obtaining a slight Insight into flu
problems which face those whu have
to contend against the Bwlft cur
rent of thto Colorado at high water.
Features) of tho day were tbo visit
of the Los Angeles Chamber of Cora
merce excursionists, tho Phoenix
Hoard of Trade excursionists, both by
special train, the barbecue where
thousands were fed on beef and bean 1 ?;
tho band concerts and speech mak
ing. Oov. Klbby, of Arizona, had the
honor of being the dedicatory speak
er.
At Yuma the visitors were enter
tained in a style that was highly cred
itable to a city of its size. The busi
ness streets and many of the resi
dences wero decorated with the na
tional colors; a great electrical arch
way, announcing "Yuma, tho Gateway
of the Southwest," and resting on pil
lars representing "Agriculture" and
"Mining," presented an imposing as
pect, and generous electrical effects
were used along the principal street.
Carriages were provided for tho
purpose of showing the visitors Yuma's
back country; entertainments were
offered free to visitors, and the hos
pitable glad hand was extended ev
erywhere. Even the territorial prison
was open to the guests.
Yuma is proud of its back country
and the results sure to come by the
application from the Laguna Dam
will bring under a high state of cul
tivation one of tho richest areas in
the Southwest.
Most important in all this develop
ment, to readers of The Press is the
thought that while the Laguna Dam
is generally considered an Arizona
project, it is California and Imperial
county territory which receives the
first- direct results. The main canal
runs down from Potholes through
Imperial County, to a point opposite
Yuma, about 400 feet below the South
ern Pacific railroad bridge across the
Colorado River, where the water Is w>
I be syphoned under the river to the
Arizona side.
A system of laterals is under con
struction throughout the Yuma In
dian Reservation of 17,000 acres, all
lying w'ihin Imperial county, and
this nast territory will be- the first
to come under reclamation. It means
thousands upon thousands of dollars
added to the wealth of Imperial coun
ty. • '' «
The development of the Arizona
lands is another great enterprise and
with such a substantial backing. Yuma
should forge ahead and become one
of the largest, if not the main city of
Arizona.
The handling of the arrangements
for this celebration was in the hands
of the Yuma County Commercial Club.
The entertainment provided cost the
citizens of Yuma several thousands of
dollars, but it was money well ex
pended and will bring good results
to the city and entire district.
OREGON HOTEL REOPENS
El Centra's Big Hostelry to Resume
Business Tomorrow Morning Un
der New Management.
Holms & Pellet have given a trust
deed for the Hotel Oregon and its
equipment to their creditors, who are
represented by George A. Carter,
president of tht- Valley State Hank, as
trustee.
The hotel was temporarily closed
last Monday, but It will be reopened
in first -class stylo tomorrow morning,
and will continue to maintain its po
sition as the leading hotel of Imperial
Valley.
The place will bo in charge of an
experienced hotel manager from Los
Angeles.
CLUB RECEPTION
Mrs. Whitescarver Entertains Mem
bers and Visitors — Current
Events and Study of
Shakespeare.
Tho Woman's Culture Club und sev
eral visitors 'were guests of Mrs. VV.
C. Whlteticarver at her homo on south
Fifth street, Thursday afternoon. Tho
ovcni was one of tho ploasantest so
cial 'affalrn of tho sining, and was
largely attended *
After the period allotted for social
pleasures and tho serving of dainty
refreshments! the club session was
hold, with Mrs. Dan V, Noland as
leader. X discussion of current events
waa followed by a study of tho Ufo
of Shakespeare, as a preliminary to
tailing up Bomo of his plays.
The next mooting of the club will
be, held on Thursday afternoon, April
S, at the Darren Hotel, with Mrs.
Campbell as loader for the Beet lon In
English literaturo, and Mrs. Olass
leader of tho discussion of current
j events.
ARTESIAN BELT
LURES LOCATORS
Cawston Ostrich Farm Will
Be Moved to Imperial
Valley.
Many Wells Bored In Northwestern
Part of Valley Make Possible Re
clamation of New District— Town
Started and Settlers Going In to
Take Up Lairt.
Rapid movements have been taking
place in the territory along the north
western side of Imperial Valley the
past few months, and it appears prob
ablo that the -next extensive devel
opment of lands will occur in that
territory.
Sinking of wells at various poiita
indicates that a considerable section
may be included within the artesian
belt, or that wells may be made avail
able for pumping plants, and within
the ensuing few weeks several new
wells will be Hunk'* through the dis
trict.
It is probable that the valley may
become the greatest ostrich breeding
place in America, as conditions here
are almost similar, climatically, to
the native home of these birds.. Rep
resentatives of the Cawston Ostrich.
Farm have been making preparations
for the establishment of this indus
try by making entries on 2700 acres
of land in the district mentioned
above. It is said they will take im
mediate steps to reclaim the land, and
will begin the sinking of a. well next
week.
Notable among the movements In
this district are the activities of C.
1,. Cooper, of El Centro, and his as
sociates, who have had a corps of
surveyors working in the district for,;
the past three weeks,' aiA«jsjftjijJ^i
taking in maiiy people JlTlocate*oo
these lands. '''®%2tii 'r*
The townsite of Cooper, consisting
of forty acres, has been located on
section 2S, township 12, range 10, and
the first structures will be erected
there next week. Several trips each
week are made from El, Centro to
this district, which lies about thirty
miles northwest of tMs city. It has
been ascertained that traveling from
this point is the most advantageous,
and Indications point to El Centro
as the supply point for the new coun
try. \ : l/£:'l
A party of Los Angeles and Pasa
dena people who came to El Centro
on Tuesday, and went from here to
locate on these lands, included J. W.
Scott, Mrs. Entman. Miss toomls, M.
R. Johnson, William Hunter, A. I*
I<indskoog and H. Heineman.
CITY MUST BE CLEAN
Edict Issued By Women's Section of
El Centro Ten Thousand Club
Finds Ready Response.
El Centro is to have a spring house
cleaning that will put it in the top
notch class as a member of the
"Spotless Town" phalanx. This 1b to
be the outcome of . activities of the
Women's Section of the Ten Thous-.
and Club.
The Club met ou Thursday night
with one of tho largest gatherings
it has had for months. Two new
members were received.
The main subject under discussion
svas that of a general cleaning up of
the business and residence districts.
Mayor Pearson was present and pre
sented a plan outlined by the City
Trustees for the collection of garbage
In a systematic manner, and thla re
ceived the endorsement df the Club
members 1 .
It was decided to make a house to
house canvass to secure signers to
the contract which will provide for
tho Initial cleaning up of the prem
ises at a price of fifty cents per lot,
and the regular collection of garbage
thereafter at a rote of IKty cents per
mouth per household.
Mrs. Crawford and Mrs. Campbell
were made a special committee to ar
range ff>r the clearing away of-rub
bish pily s which have accumulated cm
vacant \ »t» and for which nobody '
seem a to\ stand responsible. The£*»
are all to\be removed, dtthj^-ctfießSt*
of the Wohoeu'B essfcWT*"^ / [I
No. 5£