27 May 1931
Page 1
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Newspaper
The Mobile News Item
Location
Mobile, Alabama, United States of America
Date
May 27, 1931
Page
1
Captain John G. Murphy Mobile ship owner stands trial for conspiring to scuttle the steamer Rose Murphy as defense and prosecution clash over witnesses and evidence. Murphy fields questions on bond requests amid cross examination and his wife’s serious illness.
Police Officer Price Porter stopped an automobile on Morgan street near Jackson and seized five gallons of whiskey. Passenger Fred Matheny of 415 St. Joseph street was arrested for violating the prohibition law. The car, Florida licensed, was confiscated pending a court order and bore the inscription Florida For Health.
Senator John Craft of Mobile said he will seek an audience with Governor Miller before deciding if he will ask the senate to override the governor veto of the guardian ad litem bill for Mobile County. He stressed protecting funds of widows orphans and incompetents under the guardian ad litem. His decision will be announced at Friday's senate session.
In a Montgomery decision the state court of appeals ruled Alabama Power charged Mobile electric consumers higher rates than the PSC allowed. Refunds totaling 150000 are involved and a sweeping victory for Mobile power customers is declared. The ruling holds applying rate A in Mobile in 1928 instead of the lower A 3 in Montgomery was unlawful.
Two one story houses on Third Street near Engine Whistler were burned out by an undetermined origin at 12 30 Wednesday morning. Boy Scouts led by Lee Hammond saved adjoining property with volunteers and M and O Whistler shop firefighters. Clarice Turner and D Norwood first spotted the blaze and gave the alarm. The fire started in a vacant house and spread to the S E Thompson home. The Baumhauer property owned the destroyed dwellings.
Funeral services for Rev Father Joseph Clarence Kearns S J longtime president of Spring Hill College were conducted at 7 30 a m Wednesday in the college chapel. He died May 21 in Old Albuquerque New Mexico. Interment followed on the college grounds cemetery next to the chapel. Reche Mortuary arranged arrangements.
Mobile merchants joined with the Chamber of Commerce retail and wholesale committees to oppose a gross tax sales bill proposed by Rep. Allen of Etowah. The bill could tax some merchants up to 10 000 annually and faces organized resistance from the Alabama Commercial League. A league meeting is planned in Montgomery at 9 20 a m Thursday with telegrams sent to delegates urging defeat.
Representative E. J. Grove of Mobile seeks governor approval to transfer Pinto island state holdings to the First National Bank of Mobile and to the People’s Bank liquidating agents. Taylor of Mobile and Colonel W D A Anderson warn the measure would threaten Mobile port development. Grove says Palmer Gaillard prompted the bill and banks would swap frontage for dredging rights.
Five of Representative E. J. Groves Mobile seawall bills were reported to the house without recommendation, with a sixth constitutional amendment bill similarly reported. Sossaman said lawmakers seek the seawall by different routes as Craft prepares a substitute to limit expenses to five to six million dollars.
Junior Chamber of Commerce committees filed reports at the Wednesday noon meeting in Mobile at the Citronelle highway dedication drive. Oliver P. Dix said 15 cars had been pledged for the June 11 motorcade to Citronelle and urged firms to sign cars. Julius Marx noted a Mobile city commission action expected next Tuesday on daylight saving time. Cameron Pettiss reported on the ongoing golf tournament and Horace Turner announced cooperation from vacant-store owners on window decoration.
May 27 report shows new potato shipments heavy with Alabama 170 cars and Texas 118 while total U S shipments reach 931 cars. South Carolina has the largest gain over Monday, Alabama year to date about 2 500 cars, Baldwinsport market slightly stronger at 1 20 per cwt for No 1 Bliss car lots.
Thomas W. Lamont of J. P. Morgan urged reducing artificial barriers to foreign trade before National Foreign Trade convention delegates in New York. He did not name the tariff directly but its critics welcomed the link. James A. Farrell of U S Steel pressed building world markets while noting other factors disturb the production consumption balance.
A yacht cruise from the Southern Yacht club ends with Robert M. Ellis, a 38 year old cotton broker, falling from a stern rail near Spanish Fort and presumed drowned. The Ottelia and accompanying Southern Yacht club fleet searched the area for hours but found no trace. Mrs. Ellis, his wife, was aboard as a guest.
Former interior secretary Albert B. Fall asks the Supreme Court to overturn the District of Columbia appeals court decision upholding his 100000 dollar bribe conviction from Edward Doherty. The petition notes questions warrant high court review after the October 1929 DC Supreme Court verdict and April appeals affirmation.
Annual meeting of the Mobile County club elected R. E. De Neefe as president and Harry Stover as vice president with C. V. Kelly as secretary manager. Directors include C D Batson R L Crawford RE DeNeefe and others. A treasurer to be named later. plans for the state tournament at the Country club July 3 11 discussed.
Testimony before the power probe committee shows Alabama Power Company advertising in 1930 largely went to newspapers deemed friendly to the firm. W M Stanley reported $114,342 spent, with $22,379 to The Press in Mobile and $29,392 to The News and Age Herald in Birmingham. The Montgomery Advertiser received $9,137, while the rest went to assorted papers via Sparrow Advertising Agency. Baldwin avoided confirming ownership ties to Mobile papers while noting earlier $600 monthly contracts with Thompson papers due to perceived unfriendly stance.
The Jordan bill to form a state corporation to manufacture cheap fertilizers passed the Senate 19 to 14 and goes to the House. It would appoint the president of Alabama Polytechnic Institute, the agriculture commissioner, and a state farm leader to the board with $10,000 for a survey and up to $9 million in warrants subject to the governor’s approval.
Special wire report says the House passed a bill raising the state gasoline tax from 4 to 6 cents per gallon by a 61 to 36 vote. Proceeds to be shared with certain counties after October 1, 1932. The measure now moves to the Senate and faces likely defeat. A four hour heated debate preceded the vote with Governor Miller criticized.
A second body believed from the Sea Fox sailing party was recovered off Norwalk. Police later identified the victim as Doris Dewey, 31, a Bellevue Hospital psychologist, amid Coast Guard searches in Long Island Sound for the Sea Fox victims, four men and three women connected to New York medical and education circles.
Virgil Kirkland a Gary youth convicted of assault with intent to rape was given one to ten years in the Indiana reformatory at Pendleton for the death of Arlene Draves. Judge Crumpacker called the sentence light praising his lawyers and physician testimony. Sheriff Maxwell planned immediate transport to Pendleton.
Erwin Tennessee May 27 Deputy Sheriff Frank Harris and Mert Ingram were killed in a gun battle. Donie Williams and Jim Bailey are involved. Bailey’s son and Noah Yates are held in Washington county jail. Evidence indicates they drank home brew before the shooting.
The annual competitive drill of three cadet companies will be held Wednesday at 4 PM at Hartwell Field. Company A is led by Dudley Lang, Company B by Carl Kling, and Company C by Anderson Browne. The program includes exhibition drills, best-in-class tests, and a parade review. Sidney C. Phillips commands the battalion with Herbert MacDonald as captain and Harold Kearns as adjutant.
Mrs. Charles E. Brower of Atlanta asks the Mobile police for information on A. Abbott Wooten last heard from in July. Wooten is a church singer described as partly baldheaded with brown eyes and a weight between 175 and 188 pounds.
A Tuesday night gathering at Prichard featured H. H. Emmons of the Boot and Shoe Workers' Union speaking to local laborers. Walter F. Schaffer, vice president of the Alabama State Federation of Labor Mobile district, arranged the event.
The Weather Local predicts fair conditions for Wednesday night and Thursday. Alabama reports fair weather Wednesday while Mississippi expects fair conditions Wednesday night and Thursday with partly cloudy skies. Daily River Bulletin notes 7 am observations from Aberdeen, Columbus, Demopolis, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Selma with river readings of 39 to 46.
River forecast notes minimal change for the Tombigbee River with only slight adjustments expected around Montgomery and Selma as the week progresses. Officials warn residents to monitor updates for potential impacts on local waterways and drainage.
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