SURPRISE VALLEY RECORD - CEDARVILLE, MODOC COUNTY, CAL
NOVEMBER 2, 1932
SERIOUS OPERATION ON NECK PREFORMED LAST SUNDAY MORNING
A serious neck operation was performed last Sunday afternoon, which required
the skill and united efforts of Tom Knight, Ray Abrams, Lauren Adams, Prof.
Tandy and several others to complete the job. The object of the operation
was placed in the center of Hawkins’ Garage workshop with a great tank of
clean water beside it and then the operation took place. Prof. Tandy
suggested one way while John Hawkins suggested another and then after some
controversy, a wool string was carefully wrapped around its neck. Poor
thing! We know it must have felt terrible, but nevertheless, it had to be
done. A quantity of gas was then poured n the wool string and John stood
with a box of matches in his hand. Just imagine how you would feel with a
string saturated with gas, tied around your neck and a fellow standing by
ready to apply the match. It was a perilous moment and we all felt sorry for
it, but it had to be done. Then the striking of the match was heard and John
goes forward with lighted match – and then it was afire. We could almost
realize how painful and hot it was, then up jumps Tom Knight (he must have
felt sorry for it) and dumps it head first into the tank of water, - and
"crack" – off comes the neck and the "gruesome" task was finished.
Well,
folks, laying all jokes aside, it was a delicate operation, for Ray Abrams
has a number of gold fish, for which he had to have a large glass bowl for
them this winter and the only suitable receptacle he could find was a
five-gallon acid jug from the Hawkins’ Garage and hence the removal of the
neck was necessary. It was the only jug of this size he could find in town
and its neck had to come off in order to allow an opening for the fish to be
placed in it.
WALKER G. ROBINSON PASSED AWAY LAST FRIDAY
Walker G. Robinson aged 74, passed away at the U. C. Hospital at Berkeley,
last Friday, following an operation for the amputation of his leg. Mr.
Robinson has been ill for sometime. His funeral was held from the M. E.
Church here this morning at 10:30, services were conducted by the pastor,
Rev. Virgil A. Vinyard, assisted by the choir.
His obituary will appear in next week’s issue.
The record, along with a host of warm friends, extends heartfelt sympathy to
the bereaved family. (1:4)
MONROE PAYS LIFE PENALTY FOR SLAYING
Last Friday, Oct. 28th, Billy Monroe, 30-year out law was hanged for the
murder of Stacy Baccala, Plumas County Deputy Sheriff, in Lassen County.
Shortly before he was led to the gallows, he buckled his artificial leg,
which had been taken from him after he admitted using it as a hiding place
for a razor blade, with which he attempted suicide Wednesday. Previously, in
the Lassen County jail, he took nearly a dozen saw blades from the leg and
gave them to the sheriff.
His feeble attempt to end his life after his father, Earl Monroe, visited
him, was the only evidence of nervousness or fear he displayed while in
prison. The gashes he inflicted on his throat and wrist were superficial.
KILLED PLUMAS OFFICER
Monroe shot and killed Baccala last June 16th, when the deputy overtook him
and his father near Milford after a robbery at Greenville. As Baccala
ordered them from their car, the younger Monroe shot him with a rifle, then
emptied the contents of two pistols into the prostrate of the officer’s
body.
The son was arrested a short time later and his father was apprehended in
Reno. Billy was convicted of the killing and sentenced to death. The elder
Monroe was convicted of manslaughter and is serving a ten-year sentence in
the prison.
BODY TO STANFORD
Upon learning that he would hang, Monroe willed his body to the Stanford
University for scientific purposes. Attorney General, U. S. Webb, however,
informed Warden James B. Holohan it was illegal for a person to direct the
disposition of his body to others than those entitled by law to receive it.
Since Monroe’s father is in prison and cannot claim the body, the youth’s
sister, of Reno, declared she would order the body given to the university.
(2:3)
GUANO VALLEY MAN ARRESTED
Maynard Shadden, young resident of Guano Valley, was arrested a week ago by
sheriff Priday and deputy sheriff Carroll on a charge of stealing a quantity
of steel traps from Raymond Powell on or about September 1st.
He was brought to Lakeview and in the circuit court he plead guilty, was
sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and then paroled.
The officers recovered 332 traps. Four were found at Shadden’s place and had
been worked over. An additional two dozen had been cached were unearthed and
the rest of the number were on his trap line. – Examiner
SURPRISE RANCHES CHANGE HANDS
By deeds recorded recently in the County Recorder, T. H. Ballard’s office,
R. M. Miller and wife transferred the old Miller property above Lake City,
owned by them to Gherald Wilson and his wife, Gheraldine Wilson, consisting
341 and ¼ acres and the Millers acquired from the Samuel B. Strief, the old
Joshua Strief property owned by Robert Niles immediately joining Lake City
on the south, one of the oldest and finest ranches in Surprise Valley as is
also the property sold by Miller to the Wilsons. – Plaindealer
Mrs. McElwain, resident of Joseph Creek, passed away at that place, last
week after a brief illness. Her funeral was held Monday afternoon. (8:4)
Miss Gay Delmas, of this place and Mrs. Charles Decious of Fort Bidwell,
accompanied by Ferdinand Delmas and Ray Adams left Monday morning to be at
the bedside of Mrs. Delmas, their mother in San Jose.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Frakes in south Warner Valley was destroyed
by fire early last Friday morning and the house and all of its contents were
a total loss. The dwelling was a two-story, six-room house, located some
seven miles south of Adel at the former post office of Warner Lake. The
cause of the fire could not be determined. – Examiner
LEGAL TRANSFERS
Decree of Distribution: Estate of Marguerite Rinehart, to William E.
Rinehart, Harry E. Rinehart, Marion W. Rinehart, Effie M. Sizer and Grace l.
Beebe, to each 1/5 interest in Cedarville property.
Cecil, young son of Somer Beeson of Davis Creek is at the Alturas hospital
recovering from an abscessed appendix operation. Dr. M. R. Kennedy and Dr.
John R. Stile were the physicians.
ELOPED
Tom Buel and Lavene Vaughn, of Fort Bidwell, stole a march on their friends
and were married, we are informed. We did not get any information as to when
and where the ceremony was performed.
Johnnie Laxague is confined to his bed this week on account of a wrenched
knee.
CELEBRATES 21ST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Seminario celebrated their twenty-first wedding
anniversary yesterday at the French Hotel here. They were married in Carson
City, Nevada, on November 1st, 1911, shortly after coming from their native
country, Spain.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH, 1932
DEER WRECKS CAR ON CEDAR CANYON ROAD
A unique accident which might have been attended with fatal consequences,
but fortunately was not, occurred in the Cedar Canyon about four miles west
of town last night when Mr. and Mrs. Charles Akins, of Alturas, while
enroute to Cedarville, drove their car into a small herd of deer and ran
over the side of the grade.
Akins, who was apparently traveling down the grade with his car in second
gear, rounded a turn and met the deer, which were blinded by the car lights.
One of the animals ran straight into the on-coming machine putting out one
of the headlights and during the collision the auto, an Oakland touring carm
careened over the side of the grade and plunged down the steep bank, turning
over twice and lodging against a large boulder.
Akins suffered a severely wrenched shoulder and both he and his wife were
shaken and bruised, but neither seriously.
GRAND JURY IS SELECTED
According to an announcement by John Sharp, Sheriff of Modoc County, the
names of 30 Modoc County citizens have been drawn from the grand jury box in
the Courthouse by County Clerk, L. S. Smith and these persons were
officially notified to appear in the Courthouse at Alturas at 10 o’clock,
Monday morning, November 14th.
Those whose names have been drawn as prospective grand jurors and who are
expected to appear in the Modoc County Superior Court on November 14,
follow:
Mrs. Frances Carpenter, Lloyd B. Laver, Rufus Ward, Leo F. Mulkey, Charles
E. Cummins, C. W. Mapes, Mrs. Nettie B. Harris, Frank D. Harbert, Lee
Heryford, Walter F. Lorenzen, George M. Clark, J. B. Kelley, V. F.
Christensen, Mrs. Mabel E. Perry, R. J. Graham, Jr.; Alfred t. Coffman, Mark
A. Livingston, Mrs. Thelma Tillotson, W. T. Withers, Lawrence J. Fee.
Mrs. Ira D. Ash, Mrs. Bertha Harris, Mark Belli, William T. Gould, Frank
Powers, Arthur Criss, C. F. Fulcher, R. E, Snyder, P. S. Dorris, W. A.
Odbert.
Glenn Hill, our colored wood-saw operator, took his equipment to Nubieber
last Friday, where he will harvest the wood crop for the residents in that
section for the next two-weeks.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH, 1932
JUDGE WESTERVELT RE-OPENS CASES; DECISION ON FINE CUTS MEETS WITH FAVOR
JAURENA TO PAY $50.00 REMAINDER TO BE SUSPENDED
Davis BROS. UNABLE TO PAY DEER FINE; MAGISTRATE FORCED TO SENTENCE
Two cases were re-opened in the local court last Friday before Justice of
the Peace, J. H. Westervelt.
C. H. and Ed Davis, were arrested in November, 1931, by Game Warden A. A.
Jordan, for possessing deer meat out of season, were hailed before the local
court and after they plead guilty, were fined $25.00 a piece and given
six-months in which to pay the fine. This was later extended. The men
testified, upon their appearance in court last Friday, that they were still
unable to pay the fine and the court was left no alternative but to sentence
them to serve out the fines in the County Jail. Constable Cavin delivered
the two men at Alturas Monday.
In the other case to reappear before the court, Valentin Jaurena, Pool Hall
operator of this place, had been fined $200.00 last spring for liquor
possession and given time in which to pay.
The raid, which was conducted by Federal Agent J. H. Burns, it later became
known, was made in a more forceful than legal manner and the seizure of the
"evidence" of approximately ¾ of a pint of jackass was netted as the result
of a search of Jaurena’s premises without the benefit of a search warrant.
The rather unconstitutional aspects of the raid caused local public
sentiment to favor the defendant, with the result that several prominent
citizens sought leniency for Jaurena. In consideration of all the
circumstances of the case, Judge Westervelt, last Friday morning, suspended
$150.00 of the fine and gave Jaurena until December 1 to pay the remaining
$50.00.
OBITUARY OF W. G. ROBINSON
Walker G. Robinson was born in Cato, Wisconsin, September 1, 1858. When
about seven, his folks moved to Garden City, Minn., and two years later to
Alexandra, Minn., where he lived until grown to manhood. As a young man he
took up a homestead in North Dakota and followed the occupation of farming.
In 1890, he was united in marriage to Miss Alice Carpenter, of North Dakota.
In 1909, he came to Surprise Valley with his family and has resided here
since then until the time of his death, October 28, 1932.
In 1919, he was appointed as caretaker of the Cedarville cemetery, which
work he has performed faithfully and well and many friends will ever hold
his memory dear for the many kindly acts he has extended when they were
bereft of a loved one; also for the service rendered in keeping the "Silent
City" so neat and attractive by caring for the shrubs, flowers and trees.
He is survived by his widow, one daughter, Miss Doris, of San Jose and one
son, Warren C. Robinson, of Cedarville; also three brothers and two sisters,
who reside elsewhere and a host of warm friends, who extend heartfelt
sympathy to the bereaved family.
His funeral was held November 2, from the M. E. Church here, Rev. Virgil A.
Vinyard officiating and the remains were tenderly laid to rest in the
Cedarville cemetery.
"When the curtains of life draw together,
And deep silence enshrouds the soul,
When the last act is finally recorded
In mem’ries more precious than gold,
There’s a silence of triumph that lingers
To soothe the aching heart,
For the life was that of a conqueror
Who acted well his part." (1:1)
The many friends of Mrs. Jennie S. baker, of this place regret to hear that
she is confined to St. Mary’s Hospital in Reno undergoing treatment for her
eyes.
SURPRISE PIONEER IS LAID TO REST
Mrs. Frances Delmas, who was stricken with paralysis Sunday, October 30 and
passed away at her San Jose home Monday, November 7, was laid to rest in the
Cedarville Cemetery last Friday, November 11, with funeral services
conducted by Father O’Driscoll of Alturas.
Mrs. Delmas was born Frances Caney, in Paris, France, March 9, 1849 and came
to America at an early age, where she met and became the bride of J. B.
Delmas. Mr. and Mrs. Delmas were early pioneers in Surprise, coming to this
community about a half-century ago. A short time after the death of her
husband, Mrs. Delmas moved to San Jose and made her home in 1909, where she
lived the remainder of her days.
The decedent is survived by the following children: Miss Gay Delmas, Louis
and Ferdinand Delmas of Cedarville; Mrs. Charles Decious of Fort Bidwell;
Andrew Delmas and Mrs. J. V. Herman of Reno. (1:5)
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1932
MAN HELD IN MURDER CASE
With only meager clues for the officers to work on at the time of finding of
a decomposed body of a stranger, about a mile from here last week, Sheriff
W. W. Sublett has worked persistently on the case until now the suspected
murderer is behind the bars in the County Jail at Redding, held on a murder
charge signed Wednesday, November 16, by District Attorney Ross.
It appears fro the evidence, as related by Charles Burns, aged trapper of
this place, as told by him to Sheriff Sublett, that the dead man, whose name
was James Scott Evans, with a police record, was murdered by his companion,
James G. Mattingly, with whom he had been camping for sometime. Burns
related that he had chatted with them both on various occasions. A woman,
Mrs. Carmen Randolph, was with them at the time and place described by the
trapper, in his story to Sheriff Sublett, but the woman, who is held as a
material witness, denied ever seeing Evans, the murdered man.
The identity of the murdered man was furnished by finger prints of the dead
man from the State Bureau of Criminal Identification, who informed Sheriff
Sublett that the dead man was named James Scott Evans, with a police record.
Burns submitted evidence that the murder was probably committed one mile
east of Fall River Mills on land used as a dumping grounds for rubbish. –
Fall River Tidings (1:2)
PHEASANT FLIES INTO CAR WINDSHIELD
While returning from a trip to the lower end of the valley last Thursday
morning, Fred Ash and Will Monroe of Fort Bidwell were driving north toward
Cedarville a few miles south of here when a large Chinese Pheasant, flushed
from the side of the road, flew into the windshield of the car. The bird hit
with such force that he was almost instantly killed.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Jake Garrison, last Sunday morning, November 20, at
Cedarville, a baby daughter.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Frances (Frogs) Ballard, Sunday, November 20, at
Alturas, twin-daughters. Mrs. Ballard is the former Miss Josephine Arabolad.
ALTURAS MAN IN CITY HOSPITAL CONDITION IS GRAVE
Walter Brown, genial, well-known proprietor of "Brown’s Coffee Shop," in
Alturas, has been seriously ill for the past two weeks in the Lane Hospital
in San Francisco, latest reports indicating his condition as being very
serious.
The Alturas restaurant man, who is suffering from a lingering ailment, was
taken to the city hospital on November 9, where he was subjected to
treatment, several blood transfusions being necessary to save the stricken
man’s life.
According to the latest available reports, Mr. Brown will be returned to his
Alturas home the early part of the week. His condition is still regarded as
grave.
CAR RUNS OFF GRADE NEAR FORT BIDWELL AND BURNS
His car out of control as what is believed to have been the result of a
broken steering knuckle, Frank Harden plunged over the grade on Neasham
Hill, this side of Fort Bidwell, early Sunday evening, the automobile
turning over and landing up-side down, where it caught on fire and burned
up, its driver escaping death by a narrow margin; sustaining minor bruises
and a severe shaking up.
Harden, who is from Alturas, was enroute home from Fort Bidwell and the
accident occurred about six-miles this side of that town.
The car, a Buick six-cylinder coupe, was completely consumed by the flames,
which are believed to have been caused by the ignition of gasoline from a
broken gas line by the hot motor.
It is believed that the car was partially covered by insurance.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1932
FLAMES DESTROY WAREHOUSE OF FORT BIDWELL STORE
A. C. LOWELL COMPANY SUFFERS $4,000 DAMAGE
Believed to have started from faulty wiring on the Delco Lighting plant,
fire broke out in a small engine shop near the warehouse of the A. C.
Lowell, Inc., the hardware and grocery store, conducted by C. G. lowell, in
Fort Bidwell, last Monday evening and the flames spread into the warehouse,
wood shed and two other out houses entirely destroying them and causing an
estimated damage to the firm of $4,000.
The conflagration, which started about 5 o’clock in the evening burned up
approximately $1,000 worth of merchandise housed in the warehouse and would
have spread to other buildings if a large number of volunteer firefighters
had not appeared on the scene and controlled the flames. According to
reports, some of the merchandise was saved by the volunteer firefighters.
The entire loss is partially covered by insurance.
Messrs. A. Olson and L. E. McKenny of Portland, who arrived here November
15, to remodel the home of Harry Rinehart, finished their work yesterday and
left this morning for Lakeview. The Rinehart home was completely modernized
with stucco on the outside and plaster within.
Paul McAfee arrived here last Saturday from Los Angeles for a two weeks’
visit with his aunt, Mrs. Jane Wallace.
FORT BIDWELL HIGH SCHOOL GIRL IS SUDDENLY STRICKEN SUNDAY MORNING
PASSES AWAY AT HOME AFTER DANCE; CAUSE OF DEATH IS UNKNOWN
Physicians Puzzled Over Death of Kathryn Peterson; Examination Reveals
Nothing; Analysis To Be Made; Buried Yesterday
Suddenly stricken after returning to her home from a dance early last Sunday
morning, Miss Kathryn Peterson, 18-year-old high school girl of Fort
Bidwell, called her mother, complained of pains all over her body and passed
away before a hurriedly summoned physician could arrive.
An autopsy performed later in the day by Dr. P. W. McKenney of Alturas and
Dr. Jewett of the Reservation Hospital at Fort Bidwell revealed no
indications as to the cause of the girls’ death. The examination proved the
girl to be in a healthy condition and offered no clues to the puzzled
physicians, who sent stomach contents and blood samples to city laboratories
for analysis.
Miss Peterson, who was a senior in the Fort Bidwell branch of the Surprise
Valley Union High School, attended the dance at Fort Bidwell last Saturday
night, apparently enjoying good health at the time and having a good time.
She returned to her home after the dance about 4 a.m. Sunday morning,
retired and apparently slept peacefully until 6 o’clock, when she called her
mother and complained of pains all over her body. A messenger was
immediately dispatched for Dr. Jewett at the Reservation Hospital but the
stricken girl expired before he could reach her bedside.
Funeral services were held at the home yesterday afternoon and interment was
made in the Fort Bidwell cemetery, Rev. Scwabenland of the Alturas Baptist
Church officiating.
The decedent, who was born and reared at Fort Bidwell, is survived by her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. jack Peterson, six sisters and two brothers: Esther,
Mary Lee, Betty, Elbert and Granville Peterson, Mrs. Mitchell Santiago, all
of Fort Bidwell, Mrs. Foster Winnship of Grimes and another married sister
in Oakland, whose name was not learned. (1:3-4 Headline)
SURPRISE VALLEY MAN SUCCUMBS TO STRANGE MALADY AFTER LONG ILLNESS
Tom Smith, 52, life-long resident of Surprise Valley, passed away at his
home near Cedarville, at 5 o’clock yesterday morning after a three weeks’
serious illness, which culminated a two-year period during which he had been
in poor health.
Funeral services will be held in Cedarville tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock
and interment will take place in the Cedarville cemetery, Rev. V. A. Vinyard
officiating.
The direct cause of his death was due to an ailment, which was diagnosed by
Dr. m. R. Kennedy, attending physician, as Agranucystic Angina, a rare form
of anemia, differing from the conventional form in that the ravages of the
disease resulted in the destruction of the white corpuscles of the blood
rather than the re corpuscles, which is the case of the latter malady. Mr.
Smith suffered infection of the oral cavity and tonsils about two years ago
and as a result of the consequent weakening of his system, the fatal anemia
set in three weeks ago.
Tom Smith was born and reared in Surprise Valley and spent his entire life
here. His wife, Mrs. Blanche Smith, is the sole survivor. (1:3-4)
DEATH TAKES ONE OF BALLARD TWINS
Living a brief life span of but 8 days, one of the twin baby daughters born
to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Ballard, Sunday, November 20, was claimed by death
last Monday, November 28.
Funeral services were held Tuesday from the Alturas Catholic church and in
the interment was made in the Alturas cemetery, Father O’Driscoll
officiating.
The surviving twin daughter is reported to be doing nicely at the home of
her young parents. (1:5)
Dick Wilcox, formerly well-known in this county, is reported to have dropped
dead on the streets of Lakeview from heart failure sometime during the
weekend. (4:4)
A party composed of Mr. and Mrs. Alec Ash and son, Mr. and Mrs. William
Rinehart and family, of Vya, Nev., and Mrs. Martin Espil, motored below for
a brief thanksgiving visit last Thursday, returning Sunday evening.
Mr. and Mrs. Ash visited Mr. Ash’s parents in Chico; the Rinehart’s visited
Mrs. Rinehart’s mother, Mrs. Rebecca Prewitt, at Roseville and Mrs. Espil
visited her two daughters, Marie at Berkeley and Janie at San Francisco.
~~~~~~
Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds
Modoc County, California
"The Last Frontier"
www.rh2o.com/modoc
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