Ukiah Dispatch Democrat from Ukiah, California • Page 1

I 1 Actual, bonatide paid circulation nearly DOUBLE in Mendocino Co. that of any other newspaper published Dispatch memocrat VOLUME UKIAH CITY, MENDOCINO COUNTY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1917 NUMBER 9 "CONTRACT DATE WAS SAYS HUTSELL That the contract whereby he ported to have purchased an automobile from C. A. Bernhard, secretary and manager of the Farmers' Club, of Ukiah, had been altered 80 as to bring the date or the purchase several days earlier than it was originally intended, thereby seeming to make Hutsell liable' for the smashing up of the machine, was the startling charge brought forth at the trial of the case of Bernhard vs. Hutsell in the superior court last Saturday morning.

The case was tried without a jury and at the conclusion of the evidence was postponed until next Saturday. The case was brought by Bernhard agent for an automobile concern, to recover the value of the car. According to the complaint, Hutsell had' signed the contract to take the car on June 23 last. While Hutsell and a demonstrator were en route to Ukiah with the car, June 24, it went over the grade and was smashed up. Hutsell maintained that he had signed the contract to buy, but that it was dated the first of July, and that therefore he was not the owner of the car at the time it was smashed and was not liable for the damages.

The date on the contract and its duplicate, both of which were in the possession of Bernhard, was June 23, as plain as writing could make them, but Hutsell's attorneys were not contented to let the matter go so easily and the contract and duplicate were sent to Theodore Kytka, a San Francisco expert in such matters. Kytka's examination of the documents indicated the fact that the date. originally had been July and that it had been erased and altered to June 23. In the presence of the court Saturday morning Kytka demonstrated the fact before Judge White, using a chemical on the papers which brought out the erased pers which brought out portions of the erased words very plainly. Bernhard states that he does not deny there was an erasure.

but maintains that Hutsell signed the contract after the alteration and with full knowledge of Hutsell contends just as strongly that the alteration is an attempt at forgery. Smith, who was the party representing Bernhard in making the sale, testified that there had never been any erasure at all and that the contract had been dated June 23 from the first and that he wrote that date himself. However, the slip transferring the car number to Hutsell which dealers are required to file with the state motor vehicle department bore the date of July 1 and this fact is urged by the defendants as bearing out very strongly Hutsell's contention that he was to take possession of the car July 1. What disposition will be made of the case next Saturday remains to be seen. COAST RANCHER OVER GRADE W.

S. Lightbody, a well known rancher of the section back of Greenwood, was severely injured last Sunday, when an automobile he was driving, went over the grade. He had reached around to close the door to the tonneau of his car, and the steering wheel. He suffeged 8 fractured elbow, wrist and collar bone. GETS SECOND DAUGHTER Mr.

and Mrs. Franz Grothe, of Bell Springs are rejoicing in the birth of their second daughter. The little lass arrived Wednesday evening. Mother and daughter are both doing nicely at one of the local hospitals. DEATH OF J.

N. NOBLE J. N. Noble, a pioneers of Ukiah, where he has resided for 39. years, passed away in this city last evening He was 89 years of age.

"NOT GUILTY" VERDICT IN BENNET CASE "Have you got any beer?" "No, but I have some near beer." "I want some real beer." "Well, this is damn fine near beer." Such, according to witnesses testifying in the case of the people vs. Dean Bennett in the superior court last Monday, was the ritual employed by the initiated to get a drink of Bennett's wet goods in Covelowhen they wanted something a little stronger than the regulation soft drinks supposed to be peddled by Bennett. Once initiated, this, ritual usually brought the desired result, according to the testimony. The witnesses were two government men who were in Covelo several months ago obtaining evidence against certain parties suspected by Uncle Sam of furnishing strong drink to his Inwards. However, Bennett they said, was too foxy to sell his wares by the bottle, dispensing them a drink at a time, making it impossible to get away from the premises with any of the evidence except what was imbibed.

It was this lack of samples of the various kinds of bug juice Bennett was said to have dispensed, that resulted in his acquittal of the charge by the jury last Monday evening. They were not satisfied beyond all shadow of a doubt that Bennett really served anything but soft drinks. FORMER UKIAH BOY WEDS IN SAN FRANCISCO Eugene Evans, a former Ukiah hoy, was married in San Francisco last Monday to Miss Ruth L. Thorsen, of St. Helena.

Young Evans' many friends here will join in good wishes to the couple. LAST CONTINGENT IS SUMMONED ON DRAFT The list of names of the seventeen men who are the last contingent called under the first draft has been given out by the draft board and the men will entrain from Ukiah on Wednesday, December 12. These men have been called to make up the deficiency caused by the rejection of some of the men in the previous drafts. The men will assemble here on next Tuesday afternoon and will leave on Wednesday's morning train. Tuesday evening the good people of Ukiah will show their good wishes and give the boys God-speed at an entertainment such as the other contingents have received.

Following are the names of the men called: Michael Lang, Ukiah; Steve Massoletti, Calpella; Chester Farrance, Ukiah; Frank Hartman, Glen Blair; Clarence Meyers, Ukiah; Pietro Gianicchini, Fort Bragg; Frank H. 'Berkovits, Fort Bragg; Brown Ray, Latonvillo; Pietro Tamagno, Mendocino; Jim Commita, Fort Bragg; Alvin D. Hufft, Covelo; Joseph V. Ramus, Fort Bragg; Elmer C. Stevens, Westport; Harry C.

Dolson, Willits; David Poe, Covelo; Manuel Jose Valladao, Caspar; Nat Pardini, Fort Bragg. HOPLAND MAN. ACQUITTED The case of People v8. Charles Pettit came up in tho justice court at Hopland last Monday, Pettit was arrested some time ago on a warrant sworn to by Mrs. Mary Bettrick charging him with disturbing the peace.

Attorney Will Van Dyke went down from here as special prosecut-1 or. The case against Pettit was weak and the jury acquitted him immediately. DONALD LIKELY'S PHIZ IN LESLIE'S WEEKLY Local readers of Leslie's weekly noticed in a recent issue in an illustration of a group of airmen at Oxford, England, the woll known physlognomy of Donald Likely, son of Mrs. Leila Likely of Ukialt) Likely looms up as natural as life. He is supposed ere this to be somewhere on the other side of the channel.

1917 Grand Jury Completes Work sensations attended the final session of the grand jury of 1917, which finished its labors and adjourned yesterday morning. The expert's which was placed with the jury the day previous, commends the work of the courthouse officials very highly, dwelling particularly on tho excellent work of Auditor J. J. Mathews and Tay Collector ('unningham. All the officers were straight in their accounts, the discrepancies, where there were any, being in favor of the officials instead of the county.

The report of the jury follows: The Grand Jury was empanucled on December 28th, 1916, and 1m- mediately thereafter organized and appointed committees, and then proceeded to take up the work properly coming before it. Brings Many Indictments We continued in session until December 29th, 1916; during this sion, one felony indictment was turned and recommendations were made, relative to the County Government Act to be introduced, during the 1917 session of the Legislature. The next session convened on February 13th, 1917, and continued until February 16th, 1917, both days, inclusive; during this session, two felony and fourteen misdemeanor indictments were returned and recommendations concerning the County Government BI1 effecting Mendocino County that had been introduced in the Legislature, were The presentt and last session of the Jury convened on December 3rd, 1917, and has been engaged in the work coming before it, from the time' of the last session up to the tion of this report, to-wit, Decem- SUGARMAN GREENBERG TO SACRIFICE GOODS Sugarman Greenberg, the salvage factors, who have been selling the H. Marks stock for the insurance companies here for the past two months, announce in their ad this week that they are closing the business and will leave Ukiah for good a week from Sunday, The sale will close a week from Saturday night. The final bargain rally will be one of the biggest ever offered here.

A perusal of their ad will show unheard-of slashes in prices, as their orders are to leave nothing unsold. Buyers should not fail to read their offers. MENDOCINO COUPLE GETS MARRIAGE LICENSE A "secret" marriage license was issued in the clerk's office the first of the week to Edward Ellison and Amanda Larson, of Mendocino. LOCAL GARAGE MAN HAS NARROW ESCAPE WED. Last Wednosday evening while H.

E. Davis, one of the new proprietors of the Richardson garage, was motoring to his home south of town when his lights failed and the car went over the grade, turning over twice. Luckily the top was down, and Davis escaped from the wreck with 8. bad bruising. He is congratulating himself on his lucky escape from serious injury.

NEW CASES FILED IN SUPERIOR COURT Estate of H. Newton, deceased. Petition for letters of administration fled by Fred. Warren. Deceased passed away Nov.

5, 1917 leaving $325 on deposit in the Firert National Bank of Fort Bragg. Estate of Nancy Darr, deceased. Petition of Fred Warren for special letters of administration. Deceased died Dec. 2, leaving real estate valued at $20,000 and stock valued at 'about $2750.

COAST MAN MURDERED AT UPPER LAKE SAT. George Haap, a well known resident of the north coast section; was found murdered near his hause on the ranch of the Lake County Canning at Upper Lake, last Sunday morning. Haap had been shot five times with a heavy caliber revolver. Robbery 1s thought to have been the motive for the crime. Sheriff Byrnes was called into the case by local officials of the company and went to Upper Lake' Wednesday to assist the Lake county sheriff in the investigations.

Byrnes returned yesterday morning, and states that the authorities are on the track of the murderer and expect to make the arrest at any time. Haap had been to an Upper Lake store to do some shopping Saturday night. About two hundred yards from his house he had stooped over a fence to lay his packages down on the other side preparatory to climbing was while he was stooping across the fence that the first shot is supposed to have been fired at close quarters. The bullet struck him in the cheek and ranged backward coming out the back of the neck. He evidently wheeled and his assailant then shot him a second time in the breast.

He ran a short way along the fence line and fell and the murderer then shot three more shots into the middle of his back. The deed was evidently premediated and cold-blooded in the extreme. All the shots were fired at close quarters, as attested by the powder burns. Haap was the brother of Mrs. Fred Werner, of Westport, and leaves a brother and three other sisters.

He bore a good reputation and was well thought of by the company, for which he had worked for about three years. He was a native of Philadelphia. NANCY DARR, PIONEER, PASSES AT FT. ARAGG Fort Bragg, Dec. Darr died Sunday night with pneumonia after a short illness.

She was a Pitt River Indian and came to this coast when -a young girl. She was raised by the father of Charles Hargrave, the well. known rancher of Pine Grove. Her age is estimated at about 70 years. She leaves the Bald Hil ranch, consisting of over 800 acres, and valued at $18,000.

Maurice Carey, is said to hold a mortgage of over $8000 on same. Fred Warren, Public Administrator, has filed a petition for letters of administration of the estate through Preston Preston. It is understood that Nancy left a will, giving all her property to a nephew, Tom Moore, who is now dead. Judge J. K.

Peirsol is named executor of the will. Sallie Haynes, of Round Valley, is said to be a cousin of Nancy's. Nancy inherited the property through her marriage to Fred Heldt, who died in 1892. The supposition is that poison was put in his whiskey. The estate was then divided, Nancy receiving the half of the property now included in her estate, and the other half going to the Heldt heirs.

The latter was later bought by the Ross Bros. COMMERCIAL BANK MAKES SPLENDID SHOWING I The statement of condition of the Commercial Bank of Ukiah is published elsewhere in the Dispatch this week. The statement shows over 8 half million resources now for this splendid institution, which is one of the most substantial in the state. COAST GIRL MARRIED IN SOLANO COUNTY Miss Leona Curtis, of Mendocino, was married in Fairfield, Solano county last Tuesday to Robert J. Carlisle.

The bride is well known on the coast, where she enjoys the esteem of many friends, who will wish the couple much joy. I UKIAH TO HAVE A PUBLIC TREE ON CHRISTMAS ber 6th, 1917. During the present session, we have returned one felony indictment. Of the felony Indictments returned by this Grand Jury one conviction hasb een secured for grand larceny, and one trial resulted in the acquittal of the defendant; The other felony charges have not yet been tried, for the reason that the defendants have not yet been apprehended and brought before the Court. In the misdemeanor cases, six convictions and pleas of guilty have been secured, and the remainder of said indictments.

have not been brought to trial, for the reason, that the authorities have not been able to locate any of said defendants to bring them to trial. Expert Employed Under authority given the Grand Jury by the law of this State, and with the aproval of the Court O. F. Callison was employed, during tho February session of this Grand Jury, to eypert the books in eth various county offices, within the county. Said Callison however failed to appear, and make an ekamination said books, and on October 27th, 1917, tendered his resignation to the Grand Jury which was accepted, and on November 8th, 1917, the Grand Jury, with the approval of the Court, eniployed C.

J. Rambo, to expert and examine and report on the condition of the books and the work in the various county offices, including the Board of Supervisors of the County. The report of the expert is hereto attached and made a part of this report. Thetime covered by the expert's (Continued on page 6-) LOCAL RED CROSS FIRST IN STATE Chester J. Smith, the state representative of all Red Cross chapters, visited the local chapter last Tuesday.

In his official capacity he has. visited practically all of the in the state and he reported that the Ukiah chapter ranks Arst among the various chapters that he has visited, in organization, efficient management, amount of donations per member and the excellent condition of work sent to Red Cross Headquarters in San Francisco. The local chapter announces that it would be greatly pleased if those men whom have been rejected and returned from the army on account of physical disability, and to whom sweaters were given, would return those sweaters in order that the 10- cal chapter may turn them over to men who are as unsupplied on account of delays in forwarding etc. AUTO COLLISION ON LAKE COUNTY ROAD While' coming to Ukiah yesterday morning, an auto driven by W. L.

Meredith, of Upper Lake, came in collision with an outbound car driven by J. A. Waldtoufel, of this place. Meredith states that he was on the right side of the road hugging the bank and that Waldtoufel came around a turn, also hugging the bank. The collision seems to have been unavoidable.

Waldteufel's car was badly damaged and the passengers in both cars were badly shaken up. Meredith's car was able to come to town on its own power, but the Waldteufel car was laid up for repairs. MONORAIL WORKER KILLED AT FT. BRAGG Ft. Bragg, Dec.

Norbeck was killed here yesterday afternoon while working on the monorail in the lumber yard. Ho came in contact with a live electric wire and fell from the monorail to the ground, but whether the fall or the shock killed him has not been determned as yet. He leaves a wife and three children. Ukiah is to have a "Community Christmas This was the decision reached and the information received from a meeting of the various town organizations held in the City Hall Monday evening. Every little narrow fear, burrowing in the soul about a community tree creeping in and dissolving family clans and church trees and other little objections vanished in thin air as Mrs.

Catchpole, the leader and power back of the movement, and chairman of the evening, eloquently presented the true purpose and spirit of a community tree. These purposes stated were: to bring the people of the community together in a closer bond of union, with a truer understanding of the meaning of Christmas and to reach masses of the people who do not attend church trees and have forgotten its message. This was met with a hearty response. The delegation to a member voted decidedly in favor of going ahead with the tree with a promise of its assistance as called upon. Many prominent citizens of the town sent in their promise of any cooperation necessary, including one or more of the churches.

Private church trees are not to be interfered with but it is hoped that all will lend their hearty approval. The details for the community tree arrangements and consummation were thoroughly discussed--the kind of tree--the program, what to and the financial feature. Besides the giving of presents, which has now been derided on, several of the churches having decided to join the movement, the program will consist of varicus tableaux, of Christmas scenes--plays perhaps--or anything else of this nature, carols, anthems and operettas from the voices of hundreds of Ukiah's sweet singers found in the schools and churches. Dr. and Mrs.

Richards, from Talmage, were present, accompanied by Miss of the National Defense League, who addressed the delegation along this line, at some length, and then gave: an encouraging and big-souled view of community Christmas trees of which she had considerable knowledge and experience. Various committees were appointed of which only the executive will be mentioned which consists of the neads of the various committees as follows: Mrs. Catchpole, Mrs. W. M.

Cox, Mrs. A. L. Gibson, Mrs. Nell Frances Gibson, Mrs.

Marie Rea and Mrs. Ted LOADED WAGON AND TEAM THROUGH COAST BRIDGE Wendling, Dec. 2-W. Price, a Navarro river rancher, lost two valuable horses this week in an accident, while hauling potatoes from. his ranch on river.

The complete outfit, consisting of horses, wagon, seventeen of potatoes, five Indians and went through a bridge on the Navarro road. Besides the killing of the horses, all members of the party were badly shaken up. LINTON GOES TO SAN QUENTIN Al Linton, who was brought back to. Ukiah several weeks ago to answer for various misdeeds, came up before Judge, White yesterday for sentence. He interposed a plea for probation, which was refused, and he was sentenced to San Quentin.

The length of time he will serve ig determined by the parole board. FISHERMEN ARRESTED Game Warden Chas. Porkins, of Fort Bragg, last Monday arrested Charles Ellis and Fred Roberts, two Fort Bragg fishermen, and charged them with illogal fishing. The men were engaged in netting salmon at Ten Mile river, according to the inmation..