SURPRISE VALLEY RECORD, CEDARVILLE, MODOC COUNTY, CAL WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1935 FORT BIDWELL HIGHLIGHTS Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Buel made a hurried trip to Reno last Friday to get Mr. Buel’s daughter, Lila Lee, who will spend the summer here at her father’s home. Miss Ida Heard and niece, Miss Norma Conlan, left for Standish last Wednesday, where Miss Ida will be associated with her brother, Claude Heard in a store. Miss Norma will return home after the 4th of July. Dr. and Mrs. Snoddy departed for Arizona last Thursday, where the Doctor will work as Field Physician for the Indians. Dr. Snoddy has been the head Physician at the government hospital here for the past two-years on account of the illness of his wife asked for a transfer to a warmer climate. J. J. WILEY IS CONVICTED OF CATTLE RUSTLING BY JURY JURY DELIBERATES MORE THAN ELEVEN HOURS BEFORE RETURNING VERDICT IN CATTLE CASE John J. Wiley, Camino and Eagleville rancher lies in the Modoc County jail at Alturas awaiting sentence, following his conviction Saturday by a Superior Court jury under Judge Jamison, of the crime of grand theft. The specific instance of which Wiley is convicted was the theft of four-head of cattle from Glenn C. Talbott, Lassen and Modoc County rancher, on February 27, 1935. The verdict of the jury was returned at 10:55 after it had deliberated since 2:55 P. M., Friday. Wiley will be sentenced today. Wiley’s conviction came with dramatic suddenness after practically everyone who had followed the case had abandoned hope that a verdict would be reached. The bombshell fell in an almost deserted courtroom, the interested crowd of spectators and stockmen, being caught unaware when the jury suddenly reached a verdict. When the court asked the jury if they had agreed upon a verdict, A. L. Hays arose, as foreman and handed the two slips to the Judge. Judge Jamison read the verdict through in silence and then tendering the one verdict back to Mr. Hays, asked him to read it. "…..Find the defendant guilty of the crime as charged in the indictment", solemnly intoned Vern Hays. Kes Wylie in his final address to the jury rose to oratorical heights greater than any other counsel had touched in the case…. Visibly moved he assailed Russell’s action for slurring John Sharp… He pointed to the testimony of Mrs. Allen … He asked why, if Russell sought to discredit the testimony of Cantrall, McCrary and Smith, that he had not done so… Russell was on his feet with an indignant protest, that the counsel for the defense had not implied that these witnesses were unworthy and Wylie countered with a quotation from the record of Russell’s statement, "I could, in one hour bring a thousand witnesses into this court to impeach the testimony of McCrary, Smith and Cantrall.".. Judge Jamison stopped Wylie’s line of argument, but denied a motion of Russell to strike from the records Wylie’s comment on the defense’s failure to produce certain witnesses… As Wiley nervously fingered his cravat, Wylie thundered, "If you don’t stop these men with money, we will by faced with an utter disregard of law... If a man of means can come into Modoc County and steal cattle and get away with it, we might as well dismiss our officers, we might as take the doors off our jails and stop trying" "I SAY TO YOU THAT EVERY BOND OF CONSCIENCE IS CALLING ON YOU TO CONVICT THIS MAN. I IMPLORE AND ASK YOU IN THE NAME OF FAIRNESS, IN the NAME OF JUSTICE, AND FOR THE SECURITY OF PROPERTY LET’S GET THE BELL-WETHERS AND RING-LEADERS." Judge Jamison in his twenty-one instructions to the jury did not take advantage of the recently passed statute to comment on the evidence but confined himself to rules of the law. The instructions were very fair, apparently, for the defense… As Hays returned to read the verdict, the Adams Apple of Jack Wiley began to move up and down rapidly, but that was the only visible of his intense interest of the drama, which would affect his life regardless of which way it went. The external jugular vein in his neck began to race, as his pulse quickened. His jaws were set, the muscles at each side standing out. Otherwise, he was looking straight ahead, his face a swarthy mask. His expression failed to change as the import of the verdict impressed itself on his mind. His little daughter, who with his wife, was seated beside him, leaned over and whispered something to her daddy, apparently asking of the verdict meant he was convicted, for he nodded in reply District Attorney, A. K. Wylie, who with Sheriff John Sharp had developed the state’s case and who had presented it to the jury, arose and thanked the jurors for their consideration of the evidence and for their verdict. Judge Jamison set Wednesday, July 3, as the date for sentence and remanded the defendant to the custody of the Sheriff pending that date. Then he turned to the jury. "The court also wishes to thank you for your indulgence," he said, "And for reaching a decision which appears to be a proper one." Wiley’s conviction came after 4 days of trial. It came after 11 hours of deliberation in the case and twenty hours after the case was turned over to them for their decision. It came after even the prosecution had all but abandoned hope of a verdict being reached and after stockmen had begun to ominously mutter that "If Wiley goes free, there is no use of us trying to remain in business". It came after Wiley’s demeanor had visibly perked up from the half-worried stance he affected during the early part of the trial. He had expressed himself as being confident the jury would hang, and apparently he believed that would materially aid his chance for going free at a subsequent trial. The case had attracted statewide attention. Bowler Rucker of the cattle protection service having aided the state in the preparation of its case and "sat in" with District Attorney Wylie throughout the trial. Cattlemen throughout the state had been vitally interested and every press service had carried lengthy accounts of the trial. Packed courtrooms were on hand throughout the trial. The evidence as presented by Prosecution Wylie appeared to be clean-cut and convincing. The defense offered nothing save the word of the defendant and his previous character, devoting most of its time to attempts to discredit testimony of prosecution witnesses. Two highlights of the trial.. The query shot at Wallace McCrary at the conclusion of his testimony, on cross-examination, by Cliff Russell: "You steal cattle from your friends," and the sudden appearance in the courtroom door while Judge Jamison was addressing the jury of a man, who remarked to a bystander, "It looks to me as if they have a juryman bought". (There is more on how the jury was accepted) LIGHTNING FALLS TREE ON HIM JOHN OBERHOUSE SUFFERS SKULL FRACTURE Lightning, Wednesday night fell a tree on John Oberhouse, forest service worker, as he was fighting a fire started by another lightning bolt. Oberhouse sustained a skull fracture and bad concussion and his lower lip was almost severed. He was brought to Modoc General Hospital where he is recovering under medical treatment. RHUA HOBBS COUGHAN SUMMONED BY DEATH SATURDAY MORNING "Did you hear His gentle whisper? Did you see the Gates unfold? Ah, yes, dear little sister Walking now His streets of gold." Dear little Rhua is no more; How bravely she fought for life against the ravages of typhoid fever only those who were privileged to be with her knows. Stricken with what was then thought to be intestinal flu, Rhua remained under a doctor’s care at Malin for several days, until her condition became so alarmingly bad, she was rushed to the hospital at Klamath Falls. Here everything possible was done for her, but to no avail and last Saturday at 10 P.M., God whispered and she slept. To her a beautiful blessing; a true little Christian, what a reward she will reap in that Beautiful Land over there! To us who loved her what a loss? No one can ever fill the little niche she occupied. Always ready with a loving word, a beautiful smile, a cheery wave of the hand for everyone. To husband, little children, father, mother, sisters and other loved ones the loss is extremely great, indeed. Theirs is a firm faith that "there is no sorrow there"; so with streaming eyes, they bid farewell to mortal remains and know sometime, they'll meet her where sorrows are no more. Rhua Hobbs Coughan was born in this valley almost twenty-three years ago. Most of her life has been spent in and around Lake City, excepting a few years in Ashland, Oregon. She was married to Sylvester Coughan about five years ago, to this union were born two children, Raymond and little Gladys, who is only two months old. She also leaves her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Hobbs, a sister, Mrs. Thelma Childs, two other sisters, Phyllis and Barbara Hobbs, all of Lake City, besides numerous other relatives. To these loved ones our hearts go out in sincere sympathy, as do all the people in Surprise Valley and elsewhere, who know and loved her. May the dear God bless and comfort them all. "Fare thee well, dear little Rhua, You are not beneath the sod Only in a quiet corner, Blooming in the garden of God." (1:6) ALTURAS NEWS NOTES Frank Nolan of Eagleville was a visitor Sunday in Alturas bringing his son, Franklin Jr., for treatment. Mrs. Pearl Porter Gibson has been released from Modoc General Hospital and is now at her home. Angelina Goni was a patient at Modoc General Hospital last week. Mrs. Guy Wimer of Eagleville was an operative patient Monday at Modoc General hospital. Mrs. Charles Maxfield has sustained a broken foot and is painfully recovering. A large charivari was held for Mr. and Mrs. Herb Faulkner, Saturday night.. she was formerly Miss Lelah Boyd. FRANK HARBERT GOES TO SAN FRANCISCO Adin – Frank D. Harbert, Justice of the Peace and a candidate last year for Sheriff, left Sunday for San Francisco, where he will spend a few days under the care of a specialist for skin cancer. Mr. Harbert has been suffering from the affliction for several months and had it removed unsatisfactorily last summer by a process of solar-therapy. NEWSY NOTES FROM NEW PINE CREEK Davie Brickey is the happiest boy in our little city these days on account of being paid a visit by his sister, Pauline of Susanville, California. Miss Pauline will return home soon and Davie will go with her and return in time for school this fall. Carl Briggs, who was wounded at Lakeview by having his gun explode, is a brother of our citizen, P. N. Briggs. Rev. Lee Hall and family left here last Monday, July 1st, for Terrebonne, Oregon, where they will locate. The writer joins their many friends here in wishing them success, happiness and contentment. Alvin Butler and family went camping first of the week expecting to remain until Sunday but the cold snap that is visiting this section was too uncomfortable for them so they returned much sooner then they expected. DOINGS AT EAGLEVILLE Young Frank Nolan was taken to Alturas hospital; he is improving slowly but surely. Farmers anxiously awaiting the day when they can finish their haying. Farm hands wishing for the 4th to come. Young Murphy falls asleep while returning home from ??? and proceeded to mow fence posts to the ground. ~~~~~~ Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds Family Researcher of "The Last Frontier" Modoc County, California --- Our outgoing mail is checked by ZoneAlarm AntiVirus.