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 --- Our outgoing mail is checked by avast! AntiVirus. Avast! Is Free To Home Users.

Barbara McGrath was a very attractive woman, in her manner, and in her looks. She left Modoc County and came to Sacramento, as did your correspondent. My wife one day called the personal shopper at Breuners to make some purchases. When she gave her name, this lady asked if she was married to "Ronnie" Morgan from Alturas. When this fact was affirmed, she told my wife that she was Barbara McGrath and asked that my wife inform me of this. She did. I immediately called her. We talked, every once in awhile, on the telephone for years, until Breuners, downtown was closed. She was a Modoc Girl, and proud of it. She was horribly embarrassed by the story that is related in this issue. However, she held her head high and said that she did the correct thing. No remorse. Ron Morgan > 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 > === message truncated ===