SURPRISE VALLEY RECORD - CEDARVILLE, MODOC COUNTY, CAL
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1935
SOLUTION OF ALTURAS BANK HOLD-UP IS IMMINENT (Headline)
RAY TIERNEY LEAVES FOR UNNOUNCED OREGON TOWN TO QUESTION PRISONER
GRIM LOOKING MAN WHO TOOK TELLER FOR A WALK MAY BE HELD IN OREGON COUNTY
JAIL
ALTURAS – it is definitely known that Deputy Sheriff Ray Tierney has left
Modoc County for an unnamed Oregon County seat to look over a man, who has
been tentatively identified as the gunman, who held up the Alturas Branch of
the Bank of America last December, and took Teller Ovie Nielsen for a walk
and robbed the teller’s cage of $472.00.
The suspicion of the sheriff’s office was directed a short while ago to a
man who was in Modoc County at the time and who disappeared shortly
afterward. The suspect was known to have made several statements, which were
termed as those of an enemy of society in general. A description of the man
coincided with the meager information furnished by the fear-choked bank
employees and spectators.
Saturday in response to a general hold order for a person of that
description, Sheriff Sharp was informed that a man was held in an Oregon
county jail, who had been in Modoc County at that time and Deputy Sheriff
Tierney left Monday morning to drill the prisoner and possibly to extradite,
if suspicions are grounded.
A photograph of the suspect was sent to the sheriff’s office and it is said
to have been tentatively identified by Ovie Nielsen and Beth Walls, who were
in the bank at the time.
The branch of the Alturas Bank of America here was robbed by an unmasked
lone gunman on Friday, December 14th, at noon. He forced Ovie Nielsen to
scoop all the currency in his cage into a sack and accompany him outside to
a Ford Coupe, which was parked north of the bank. While bank employees and
spectators stood by in horror, he drove off. He was variously reported as
going north, east and south. Three men were arrested at Ravendale and later
released. Some lawyers in the south, has one of the men deluded into filing
a $10,000.00 damage suit against Modoc County. The suit was recently
dismissed in court here after a demurrer had been filed by the county
officers. It is not known if it well be re-filed.
It is extremely likely that next week’s Record will present the full story
of an arrest. If that is the case, it will clear up the only remaining
unsolved case on the dockets of the sheriff’s office.
FORT BIDWELL HIGHLIGHTS
Chester Lowell motored to San Francisco last Wednesday to bring back his
mother, Mrs. A. c. Lowell after passing the winter months in Berkeley.
Born in Cedarville, Friday, June 7th, 1935, to Mr. and Mrs. Ruel Bucher of
this place, a son. Congratulations.
FUNERAL HELD WEDNESDAY FOR MRS. SURRILDA BALLARD
Funeral services were held last Wednesday afternoon for Mrs. Surrilda
Ballard, aged 85, from the Baptist Church in Alturas, Cal., the Rev.
Schawbenland, her pastor, officiating. "God touched her with His finger and
she slept", but not until a beautiful Christian life was lived, a noble
example of patience, fidelity to truth and faith were given.
Mrs. Ballard crossed the Plains in a covered wagon in 1852 and remembered
well the hardships and privations endured by the early pioneer. She lived at
Goose Lake during the hectic winter of 1872-72, when Captain Jack and Modoc
Indian renegades carried on a guerrilla warfare against the soldiers and
white civilians.
Surrilda Ballard was born in St. Joseph, DeCab, County, Missouri, March 26,
1849 and died at her home in Alturas, Cal., June 4, 1935. At the early age
of three, she came with her father’s family across the Plains by ox team
settling in Macinnville, Oregon. Early in her life, she was united in
marriage to James L. Ballard and in 1868, they came to California and
settled in Siskiyou County. In 1872 they settled in Modoc County and since
1903, she has been a resident of Alturas. She had ten children, 8 of whom
survive her. There are also 19 grandchildren left to mourn her passing. She
was a member of the Baptist Church of Alturas and held a charter membership.
After a long, busy and useful life, she died as she had lived – honored,
trusted and loved. She reared her own monument while she lived in the hearts
of all who knew her. Her life was completed of work all done and well done
constitutes completion. (1:3)
WILL RECOVER EYE SIGHT
Mrs. Elmer McCulley, who recently went to Berkeley, where she entered the
University Hospital to undergo a delicate operation on her eye. The
operation was performed last Thursday and Monday evening, her mother, Mrs.
Grace Stanley, received word that the doctors believe she will regain the
sight of the left eye. For a time it was feared that she would lose the
sight entirely.
ROMANCE SOURS FOR K. F. COUPLE
LONESOME LICENSE WILL NEVER BE CLAIMED
In the little green drawer of the office of County Clerk L. S. Smith, there
reposes a little tragedy. It is a marriage license to which a notation is
pinned. The license represents a romance that may never be.
Here on June 6, appeared Raymond Robertson and Mrs. Judy Patterson, a
divorcee. They applied for one of Bob’s marriage licenses and then returned
to their several homes to await the three-day limit.
Meanwhile, Raymond was apparently mopping, because his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Fred Robertson of Klamath Falls wormed from him the secret that he was about
to wed Mrs. Patterson.
The following Western Union Telegram completes the story of the romance that
was never to be: "Marriage License applied for by Raymond Robertson and Judy
Patterson Not Approved by Boy’s parents. Boy not of age".
Mrs. Bob Babcock returned Saturday from Los Angeles, where she has been
visiting her parents – Mr. and Mrs. Marcy Sloss and family visited his
mother, Mrs. Ella Sloss, Sunday and the children remained over for a brief
visit with their grandmother. Bob has been particularly happy, decked up, a
La Vaquero, with his Uncle John Rachford’s boots.
LEFT FOR FRISCO HOSPITAL
Dan House, who some four months ago had the misfortune of having his horse
fall with him just this side of Lake City and pinned his right leg under the
animal and injured his ankle badly. Very little improvement has been noted
and Dan has been forced to go about on crutches during this time. Yesterday
morning, he left for San Francisco, where he will receive treatment in a
hospital there for the injury.
FRANK ALLEN’S BABE IN S. F. HOSPITAL
The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Allen is now in a San Francisco
hospital receiving treatment. A blood transfusion was administered to the
little one, last week. At this writing, we have not had any word as to the
babe’s condition.
WAR VETERAN IS BURIED IN ADIN
Ralph Williams, 42, a World War veteran was buried Saturday at Adin cemetery
with military honors. Mr. Williams, who is a brother of Eva Williams, of
Likely, had been in Presidio hospital for sometime and a heart condition
hastened his death. An American Legion guard of honor accompanied the body
to the cemetery. (1:6)
FRANK SHAFFER HAS HIS ARM BROKEN
Frank Shaffer, who is employed by W. F. Cockrell, out on Duck Lake had the
misfortune of being thrown from a "bronco" and upon hitting the ground his
arm came in contact with a board, thus causing a fracture of the small bone.
He came to Cedarville and Dr. Kennedy treated the injured member.
TO BE MARRIED IN MISSOURI
Miss Katherine Hudspeth, a native of Cedarville, but has been residing in
San Francisco for a number of years, is reported to be on her way to
Missouri, where she will be married in the near future the report says.
Albert Erramouspe, employee of the California Public Utilities Company at
Montgomery Creek, who recently underwent an operation for appendicitis at
the Sisters’ Hospital at Red Bluff returned home last week and will lay off
for a month while recuperating.
ALTURAS NEWS NOTES
Mrs. Joe Cox of Willow ranch was operated on for an abdominal ailment Monday
and is reported recovering nicely.
Mr. and Mrs. Arch Dane are celebrating the arrival of a ten and one-half
pound, Friday evening. The young man has been named Archibald Lee.
Mrs. Fred Pope of Klamath Falls was in Alturas Wednesday for the funeral of
her mother, Mrs. Surrilda Thornton Ballard.
Chester (Slim) Colvin and Miss Elsie Neeley, both former residents of
northern Washoe County, Nevada, were married in Winnemucca last week.
In Westwood, California, Saturday, June 1, 1935, to Mr. and Mrs. Victor
Scammon, a 9-1/2 pound son, John Victor, Jr. The little fellow is the second
grandchild of Mr. and rms. E. G. Scammon of Westwood; a baby daughter was
born last fall to Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth Scammon, Jr.
OF INTEREST TO MODOC PEOPLE
Mort Hurley and family of Reno, arrived in Cedarville last weekend and will
make their home here for the next few months. Mr. Hurley is one of the
foreman at the Swinford CCC camp.
R. O. Ward, prominent Lake City rancher, was in Cedarville Monday consulting
Dr. Kennedy in regard to an injured leg. Mr. Ward recently had a horse fall
with him and had his leg pinned under the animal, badly injuring it.
Mrs. Lois Beeson and children of New Pine Creek spent the weekend in
Cedarville visiting with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Cummins.
Jim Deamer is going around these days with a bandaged hand, due to the fact
that while using the scythe he inflicted a gash on the member.
Tom Wylie, the local postmaster has his hand wrapped up these days due to
the fact that while hoeing the garden the other evening he ran a large
sliver into the member.
R. R. Baker and family of Alturas, spent Saturday in Cedarville, visiting
with Mr. Baker’s mother, Mrs. Seyton Baker, of this place.
Frank Bowers, while using his wife’s implement (the ax) had the misfortune
of badly lacerating his left hand. You know, Frank, you should take our
advice and leave the pesky thing alone. However, Frank laments that he was
only "spelling" his wife for a short time when the accident occurred.
LAKE CITY NEWS NOTES
Mrs. George Weilmunster was reported quite sick the first of last week.
Mrs. Grace Carter is reported improving at the General Hospital and may be
able to return home soon.
Winston Heard is the most popular young man in Lake City. He has a
Harley-Davidson motor cycle and do the girls like to hug Winston. It is
perfectly scandalous.
News reaches us, that Annabelle Hays, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lossie Hays
has been taken to a hospital in San Francisco for treatment.
Mrs. Fred Wimer is sure having her troubles – she had just gotten so she
could walk on her broken foot and now she has a case of shingles. Job had
nothing on Carrie.
NEWSY NOTES FROM NEW PINE CREEK
There came very near being another serious shooting accident in our
community Sunday. Layton Gentry, Kelton Butler and Orville Riggs were
returning from a squirrel hunt. Layton was on his bicycle with Kelton riding
on same bike back of him in lead of Orville, who was riding his bicycle with
his 22-rifle and in some way the gun was discharged, striking Layton and the
bullet passed thru the fleshy part of his leg. Layton was rushed to Lakeview
to Dr. Leithead and the wound was not serious unless some infection should
set in. This is another good lesson to every man or boy to unload a gun and
after they know it is empty, they should not point the gun in the direction
of anyone, for the old saying was that there were more people killed with
empty guns, than with loaded guns.
Charley Vincent received a telegram Saturday stating that his mother, Mrs.
Jane Vincent, who at present is living with her daughter, Latha at Dunsmuir,
had the appendicitis and on Sunday another telegram was received stating
that she was operated on Sunday morning and that the operation was
successful. Mrs. Vincent is seventy years of age and has up to this
operation been very active for her age.
Born on Tuesday, June 4th, an 8-pound baby boy born to Mr. and Mrs. James
Rafferty. The good old stork presented this boy for this New Pine Creek
happy couplet at the Lakeview hospital. The good mother and son are doing
nicely and you never saw a more satisfactory happy smile on any young daddy
than papa Jimmie is wearing.
A wedding party took place Wednesday, June 5th. The wedding ceremony took
place at the Methodist Church at Lakeview, Rev. W. W. Switzer, officiating.
The contracting parties were Mrs. Theresa Keller, daughter of the late
Edward E. Keller and Sadie Keller and Louis Jennings, son of Ralph Jennings,
many years the popular sheriff of Jackson County under whom Louis was
deputy. The happy couple left Saturday for Medford, where Mr. Jennings is in
partnership with his brother in the Service Station business. The writer
joins their many friends in extending congratulations.
~~~~~~
Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds
Family Researcher of
"The Last Frontier"
Modoc County, California
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