SURPRISE VALLEY RECORD – CEDARVILLE, MODOC COUNTY, CAL
NOVEMBER 4TH, 1931
AVIATOR ACQUITTED IN TRIAL THAT IS FIASCO
The trial of Fred McKinley, San Francisco aviator, charged with assault to
commit rape upon Miss Barbara McGrath of Alturas, was held in Susanville
last Wednesday, developed into a plain fiasco before it was completed.
Miss McGrath plainly endeavored to shield the defendant at every
opportunity. The testimony of the defendant was not sufficiently strong to
have secured his acquittal, but when coupled with the evident reluctance of
the prosecuting witness to say anything detrimental about the young aviator,
the verdict of not guilty was foreseen before she left the witness stand.
The district attorney by a supreme effort was able to drag from the witness
the statement while in the air the defendant tried to kiss her, that he
caused the plane in which they were riding to tip from side to side to
frighten her and that in reply to her question why he was landing out in the
center of Honey Lake, he stated: "You know why."
After they had landed she ran a short distance before being overtaken by
McKinley, who threw her to the ground. She fought him off and he permitted
her to arise. She again ran and McKinley caught her and forced her into the
ship but she resisted. He released her and flew into the air for a short
distance and then returned to the ground. He taxied after the fleeting girl
and after he had overtaken her, persuaded her to return with him to Alturas.
During the scuffles on the ground, the girls’ dress and skirt were torn and
her bloomers ripped from her body.
McKinley under direct examination repeatedly stated that the girl was sick
and vomited three times before she reached Alturas. That when she walked or
ran it was in a staggering manner. He explained his reason for landing by
stating that he noticed the girl was becoming ill and that he was afraid she
would jump from the plane.
Miss McGrath completely surprised and dismayed the district attorney in her
right about face, between the time she first told her story to him
immediately following the alleged attack and appearance on the witness
stand.
When asked by the prosecution if McKinley knocked her down when she first
got out of the plane, she emphatically denied that she ever made such a
statement. The district attorney later took the stand himself and offered
testimony impeaching this statement.
Miss McGrath’s testimony and her manner on the witness stand of apparently
resenting the district attorney’s attempt to prove she had been assaulted
did more to clear McKinley than his own evidence.
The case was given to the jury at 5:30 and a verdict of not guilty was
returned at 8:00 o’clock.
From LASSEN MAIL, Susanville’s leading paper
AGED MAN DROWNS SELF IN PIT RIVER
Alturas, NOVEMBER 2ND, - After several hours search, the body of Thomas
Miller, an aged inmate of the county hospital, was found by peace officers
in a shallow hole in Pit River.
Missing the old man, Mrs. Amanda Pack, matron of the hospital, instituted a
search. After the body was discovered she found a note in which Miller
stated that he intended to commit suicide, giving as reason that he no
longer wanted to be a public charge.
WEIGHTED HIS BODY
Miller, who was about 75 years of age, had made careful preparations to end
his life. Going to the riverbank, he tied several pieces of heavy iron to
his body and cast himself into the water, which was only a foot in depth at
that point. Weighted as he was and crippled with rheumatism, he was unable
to arise.
The deceased was formerly a rancher in the Devils Garden County. (5:1)
LEAVES FOR LONG BEACH
Mrs. Rose Day, who has been spending the summer in Surprise Valley, left
last Wednesday for Long Beach, where she will visit with her daughter, Mrs.
Carrol Gilmore of the place. She was accompanied on her trip by Mrs. Jesse
Strotts as far as Escondido, who is enroute to Oklahoma, where she has been
called to the bedside of her sister.
Davie Groves Sr., and Louis have purchased the Eagleville Garage, which was
operated by Emmett Powers. They will put in an up to date Blacksmith shop
and will be prepared to do all kinds of mechanical work. Powers has leased
the Hide Barber Service Station, which he will conduct.
Born September 16th, 1931 at San Jose, California to Mrs. Edgar Bales (nee
Cecil Turner), a fine six-pound daughter.
NOVEMBER 11, 1931
TAKEN TO STATE INSTITUTION
Sheriff Sharp left Alturas last Thursday for Napa taking with him Earnest
Van Riper, of Lake City, who was found to be mentally unbalanced after an
examination, which was held November fifth and was being committed to the
State Institution for treatment. Sheriff Sharp was expected to return
Friday.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Cummins returned last Wednesday from a trip to the
South. They spent sometime in Berkeley, visiting their daughter, Miss Irma,
who is attending college in that city; they also visited relatives in
Woodland and report a splendid trip.
A. R. Johnstone was arrested last Thursday, Nov 5th, in Alturas on a charge
of petty larceny. His trial was held on Friday morning in the Justice Court,
before Judge W. E. Armstrong, of Alturas. As he pleaded guilty, the Judge
levied a sentence of ninety days in the County Bastille. Johnstone was
arrested on the charge of taking a gun from the car belonging to Joe Leonard
and took it to a business house in Alturas and pawned it for a sum of money.
George Miller, Jr., of Lake City, was stricken with appendicitis yesterday
and taken to the Hospital at Alturas and was operated on by Dr. Kennedy, of
this place and is reported doing very well.
NOVEMBER 18TH, 1931
PET DEER IS VICTIM OF AUTO ACCIDENT
A four-year old Mule Tail doe back of a hay stack; Forest Ranger A. E. Noren
coming north in his Dodge Sedan; Doe jumps out from behind rack.
Noren slides wheels, can’t stop; hits doe’s hind legs with bumper; breaks
them; doe has to be killed; Noren should be fined $500.00
Such is the case of what happened one day last week when Forest Ranger Noren
was coming to town and accidentally hit one of the beautiful does belonging
to Jesse Stiner. This particular animal has ranged outside of the corral
during the entire summer, feeding in the alfalfa field nearby, but never
attempting to leave for the mountains or stray away.
Probably one of the most beautiful sights in Surprise Valley is the little
band of deer, belonging to Jesse Stiner and kept at his place just south of
town. At this time, he has ten deer, including one three-year old buck. All
of these have been born and raised at his ranch and probably this is the
only ranch in Northern California that can boast of having a small band of
mule tail deer.
EARLY HISTORY WILL REMAIN A MYSTERY
The true history of the early days when Modoc was settled by hardy pioneers
will probably never be known, but little if any record has been kept, that
we are aware of. True, we are told of how the little band of immigrants on
their way from the East to settle in the sun-kissed valleys of California
arrived in this valley and called it "Surprise", as it was a real surprise
to them after crossing the hot barren plains to see a valley of this size
with grass almost as tall as a horse growing over it. Many of the immigrants
passed on tot he Sacramento valley and some returned to Surprise. But many
of their names are now unknown and the manner of their lives and death are
shrouded in mysteries of the past. This was hostile ground and the hardy
frontier settler, who paved the way for civilization, endured many hardships
and privations, until the band of Modoc Indians were captured in their
stronghold.
Peace was proclaimed, but it had been obtained at the cost of human life.
Nearly all of those who braved the danger of frontier life have passed away,
taking with them the true history of how many of the pioneers lived and died
that this fertile valley might become the peaceful homes of people then
unborn.
~~~~~~
Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds
Modoc County, California
"The Last Frontier"
www.rh2o.com/modoc
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