anaheim-gazette 1921-04-28

MEGER IS GUILTY, DECLARES THE JURY One Year in the County Jail Will Be the Sentence. After being out more than ten hours the jury in the case of Gottlieb Meger, 71, charged with a serious offense by his 18-year-old granddaughter, Elsie Semreau, returned a verdict of guilty at 2:53 o'clock Friday morning. The jury retired at 4:46 o'clock on Thursday afternoon after receiving its instructions from Superior Judge Williams. It is reported that the jury stood 8 to 4 for conviction on the first ballot, 9 to 3 on the second, 10 to 2 on the third and 11 to 1 on the fifth. There were three women on the jury. "We, the jury, find the defendant guilty as charged in the information," read the verdict, signed by F. J. Adams, foreman, "but find that at the time of the offense was committed the said Elsie Semreau was under the age of 18 years and over 16 years of age, and that the defendant be confined in the county jail. Recommend lenency." Judge Williams set the time for pronouncing judgment for April 26 at 1 p.m. The defendant was released on the same ball put up at the time of his arraignment in the justice court, $5,000. The penalty which will be imposed on the aged man is one year in the county jail, it is understood. Several members of the Meger family were in the court room when the verdict was returned. None of them showed any sign of emotion, according to court attaches. The jury in the case established a precedent for returning a verdict at a late hour in the Orange county courts. The latest hour previously on record for a verdict was less than 11 per cent. In the Madera region there is considerable gravity water and the pumping is largely from shallower wells and for shorter periods of time than in the Kern district, where many of the wells are deep and pumping must be carried on practically continuously during the irrigation season. On applying the new rate for 1920 three things were developed; first the supposed 11 per cent increase ran from 40 to 110 per cent by the new schedule when applied to the pumping from deep wells under long service; second, these grossly increased bills either added materially to general losses of the farmers or were so heavy that farmers were compelled to abandon irrigation, leaving their crops to burn up in the fields; third, from the evidence at the hearing it developed that the corporation had received under the new schedules a considerably higher return in money than that determined by the railroad commission as fair. The investigation into the emergency rates of 1920 was ordered by the commission itself. Hearings were held in Bakersfield on March 23rd and in Fresno on March 24, 1921. The corporation was represented by its regular counsel and Mr. Egerton, formerly of the railroad commission, who in this matter took the lead. Appearances were made on behalf of the Kern county Farm Bureau, the Alpaugh Irrigation District and the city of Bakersfield. None of the commercial power users appeared and no evidence was introduced on behalf of the municipality. The California Federation of Farm Bureaus, through its utility department by F. S. Brittain, appeared in the matter, taking a leading part in both hearings, and filed the only brief with the railroad commission on behalf of the consumers. Evidence was testing better We are putting with the expected smelter to work and silver price but indications ward climb. Other fitted that the body Our mine is worth and gold." SPEAKERS FOR SCHOOL A number of U faculty men are of the education state as commerical just issu extension division lecturers and 11 choices for additions. The announcement most popular ley. Last year supplied high school speakers in near state and it is b engagements with These high school planned not only students, but portunity for others who attend these schools. The wide one, include Value of Science Altken, astronomy; "Theodore ham Bishop, so rapher; "The Breitwieser, philising expert; "Redwoods," by "Citizenship as J. Hume, directed at Berkeley." his arraignment in the justice court, $5,000. The penalty which will be imposed on the aged man is one year in the county jail, it is understood. Several members of the Meger family were in the court room when the verdict was returned. None of them showed any sign of emotion, according to court attaches. The jury in the case established a precedent for returning a verdict at a late hour in the Orange county courts. The latest hour previously on record for a verdict was 2:30 a.m. The Meger trial began on the morning of Wednesday, April 13. It attracted more public attention than any trial conducted in the superior court of this county in the past year, possibly because of the nature of the charge and because of the prominence of Earl Rogers, who until Wednesday noon was the leading counsel for the defense. Attorneys for the prosecution declare that they never heard a witness subjected to a more grilling cross examination than that to which the complaining witness, Elsie Semreau, was subjected by Attorney Rogers and his associates. They point to the fact that under this cross fire she did not make a single contradiction of her statements as made on direct examination. The aged defendant did not take the stand, but practically every member of his large family was called. Twice the trial had to be continued on account of the illness of the defendant. During the last three days of the trial he was brought into the court room on a wheel chair. The alleged offenses which were charged against him extended over a period of six years. A number of doctors were called to give expert medical testimony. Probably one of the strongest witnesses for the prosecution was a German Baptist minister of Anaheim, who told of a reported confession of guilt having been made to him by the aged defendant. FARMERS SAVED THOUSANDS IN POWER RATES Farm Bureau Presenting User's Side to Railroad Commission It should be of interest to every member of county Farm Bureaus and particular interest to directors of county Farm Bureaus to know that in the first matter in which a decision was rendered by the railroad commission after the new utilities department of the California Farm Bureau Federation made on behalf of the Kern county Farm Bureau, the Alpaugh Irrigation District and the city of Bakersfield. None of the commercial power users appeared and no evidence was introduced on behalf of the municipality. The California Federation of Farm Bureaus, through its utility department by F.S.Brittain, appeared in the matter, taking a leading part in both hearings, and filed the only brief with the railroad commission on behalf of the consumers. Evidence was introduced on behalf of the Kern county Farm Bureau and the irrigation district, as well as by the federation. A new schedule was adopted which engineers of the commission state will equalize the agricultural rates throughout the district and will save for the district the amount stated above. For the most heavily overburdened consumers of last year the rates will be considerably decreased, and by reason of the equalization a slightly increased rate will be placed on the consumers using only small amounts of power. These consumers, however, are given the option of taking their power under commercial schedules where this will effect a saving. The net result will be a saving of somewhat more than the total amount for the farmers who were operating under practically continuous demand last season. CONDITIONS IN MEXICO "Conditions in Mexico are gradually improving, and the outlook is decidedly encouraging." This is the declaration of A.M.McDermott, of Santa Ana, general manager of the El Fuerte Mining and Smelting company, which has its works at Choix, Sinaloa, Mexico. McDermott returned Thursday after a stay of a month in Mexico, during which time he visited points in Sinaloa and Chihuahua. Last Monday at Las Mochis he had a visit with C.E.Utt, of Tustin, and Utt's son-in-law, Thos.Robertson, whose home is at Las Mochis. "From them," said McDermott, "I got information that rather typifies the general trend toward better conditions on the west coast," said McDermott. "The Las Mochis Sugar company has become allied with the American Sugar company, and a large new acreage is to be opened up immediately for the growing of sugar cane. In other words, development is getting under way." "I found numerous instances of that Farm Bureau Presenting User's Side to Railroad Commission It should be of interest to every member of county Farm Bureau and particular interest to directors of county Farm Bureau to know that in the first matter in which a decision was rendered by the railroad commission after the new utilities department of the California Farm Bureau Federation was organized, was beneficial to the farmers in the lower San Joaquin valley, served by the San Joaquin Light & Power company. That corporation strenuously contended that no new agricultural rate schedule should be adopted which would diminish its income from agricultural service. The engineers of the railroad commission, on an estimate based on last year's agricultural income of the San Joaquin Light & Power company of $821,644, state that the new schedule will reduce the agricultural income of the corporation about five per cent, so that the farmers in the entire district will effect a saving this year of from $24,000 to $45,000. To understand what has been accomplished, farmers in other parts of the state should be informed in regard to certain local conditions in the counties served by this corporation. It supplies power to the counties of Merced, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Kern and also supplies power to another corporation which serves a portion of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. Prior to the adoption of the 1920 schedule covering all electric rates of the corporation, two surcharges had been added aggregating 15 per cent on consumers' bills on pre-war schedules. In 1920 an entire new series of rate schedules was adopted, which it was said, would increase the rates little. "From them," said McDermott, "I got information that rather typifies the general trend toward better conditions on the west coast," said McDermott. "The Las Mochis Sugar company has become allied with the American Sugar company, and a large new acreage is to be opened up immediately for growing of sugar cane. In other words, development is getting under way. "I found numerous instances of that kind. At San Blas was a group of Americans, just arrived, there for the announced purpose of making a modern city of San Blas. The arrival of a party of Englishmen representing a syndicate interested in the Oriental railroad is counted as important. There remains 157 miles of railroad to be built between Fuerte and Sinaloa and Sanchez in Chihuahua. When this gap is filled there will be a direct line from Kansas City to the west coast port, Topolobampo. "The whole atmosphere is good. There was a decided change for the better since January, when I came out of Mexico after a stay of several months there." McDermott said that conditions for laborers are a bit improved, but the working classes are lacking employment. "We have a continuous stream of applicants for work in our mines," he said. "There are five applicants for every job." McDermott said that tomatoes are now coming from Mexico to the United States through Nogales at the rate of 100 carloads a wook. Farmers are netting at place of shipment $1.50 a lug box. Around Fuerte growers are producing 160 packed lug boxes to the acre. "In our own property," said McDermott, "we are continuing piling up ore, which is looking better and Madera gravity only from later per district, sleep and tractitil irrigation rate for good; first please ran the new pumping service; red bills general so heavy to aban- crops to from the developed lived unolderably that decommissionmergen-by the were held and in The cor-acts regularly no in this clearances own coun- Irriga-Bakers' al power once municipal of utility depeared in part in only brief on behalf was intro-testing better than I had expected. We are putting the ore in the dump with the expectation of starting our smelter to work next fall. Copper and silver prices have gone down, but indications now are for an upward climb. Ot least, we are satisfied that the bottom has been reached. Our mine is worked for copper, silver and gold." SPEAKERS FOR HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT A number of University of California faculty men are placed at the disposal of the educational institutions of the state as commencement speakers. A circular just issued by the university extension division, Berkeley, lists 35 lecturers and 116 subjects from which choices for addresses can be made. The announcement contains some of the most popular lecturers at Berkeley. Last year the extension division supplied high school commencement speakers in nearly every county in the state and it is believed that even more engagements will be filled this year. These high school addresses are planned not only as an inspiration to the students, but as an educational opportunity for others in the community who attend the closing exercises of the schools. The list of subjects is a wide one, including such titles as "The Value of Science," by Robert Grant Alken, astronomer at Lick observatory; "Theodore Roosevelt," by Farnham Bishop, son of Roosevelt's biographer; "The 'Also-Rans,'" by J. V. Brettwieser, psychologist and advertising expert; "Saving the California Redwoods," by Newton B. Drury; "Citizenship as a Fine Art," by Samuel J. Hume, director of the Greek theatre at Berkeley; "The Meaning of Prog-ORANGE COUNTY SHRINERS GOING TO POMONA Orange county nobles of Al Malaikah temple, Shriners, are to be special guests at the Orange Belt ceremonial of the order, which will be held at Ganesha park, Pomona, Saturday, April 30th. City Marshal Sam Jernigan, county representative of the potentate, has arranged for a meeting of all local members of the order in front of St. Ann's Inn, Saturday morning at 8:30 o'clock. Promptly at 9 o'clock the Santa Ana delegation, comprising about 100 members, will start b yautomobile for Pomona, and go direct to the Masonic temple upon arriving in that city. Noble Joe Smith, who had charge of the barbecue when the ceremonial was held at Orange county park last fall, has consented to take his crew from Santa Ana and prepare another tempting repast. About 3000 members attended the ceremonial last fall and declared it to be one of the most delightful ever given by Al Malaikah temple. The day's festivities at Pomona Saturday will begin with a grand parade, starting from the Masonic temple, Fourth and Thomas streets, promptly at 11 a.m. The uniformed organizations will be in line, and as a compliment to the city of Pomona it is desired that as many of the members of the order as possible take part in the parade. Automobiles with representatives from every important city in the southern half of the state will be a feature. The barbecue luncheon will be served promptly at 12 noon at Ganesha park. After the feast the Shriners will have a few idle moments to roam through the park. The business session will be held at 1:45 p.m., and the Spcial at Kneip’s Market 118 W. Chartres St. The Store that Undersells Coffee Hills Bro’s Best 2 1-2 lb. can $1.05 ” ” ” 1 ” ” 44c Mary Jane 1 ” ” 32c Bacon Rex, per lb. . . . . . 33c Meats You will Find the Regular Saturday Specials here Ice We have taken over the Anaheim Ice plant and can serve you while you wait You will Find the Regular Saturday Specials here Ice We have taken over the Anaheim Ice plant and can serve you while you wait Wesson Oil A most Seasonable Suggestion, and very Economic Snowdrift Shortening Make your favorite cake with SNOWDRIFT and see how rich and delicate and good it is. Fry egg plant in SNOWDRIFT—just for an instance—and see how the flavor of the egg-plant is improved, not lost. Melt a bit of SNOWDRIFT on a dish of piping hot lima beans or fresh peas and see how much richer they are—and how much their flavor is improved. SNOWDRIFT improves the flavor of the pool out to avoid it without adding any flavor. No good cook wants use a fat that has a strong taste of its own. Cake should be rich and delicate, but not taste of the fat used. Fried food should be rich and crispy and brown, but it should have itsOWN flavor—not taste merely of the fat it was fried in. We carry all the sizes of SNOWDRIFT Shortening—in sealed tins only. DODGE BROTHERS MOTOR CAR Dodge Brothers Motor Car is built for long life and endurance. The fine enamel finish, for instance, is practically indestructible and seldom requires more than a good cleaning and polishing to restore its original lustre The gasoline consumption is unusually low. The tire mileage is unusually high. Chas. H. Mann Exclusive Dealer for Anaheim 210 S. Los Angeles St. Phone 43 Chas. H. Mann Exclusive Dealer for Anaheim 210 S. Los Angeles St. Phone 43 JALMUR STEFANSSON artic explorer and discoverer of "the bolinde Eskimo." He comes to the Chautauqua with arerated lecture on his many years of explorationn work in the frozen North. This story has been tter crowds throughout the great cities of the county than any lecture event in recent years. ER CLARK WACFARLANE American writer and correspondednt who makes his initial Chautauqua appearance this summer White audiences. Macfarlane is one of the leading contributors to the Saturday Evening Post. many of the leadlinng nationa Imag-ines. He is rated as one of the best public speakers in th JUGO SLAV ORCHESTRA tra from Central Europe that is entirely unique upon the American concert platform. First auqua tour follows many seasons of European successes and notabel Eastern engagements. ous sizes of the tamburica, their household instrument for generations. Seven Days Filled With Splendid Attractions Twelve Concerts! Ten Lectures! JUGO SLAV ORCHESTRA Ara from Central Europe that is entirely unique upon the American concert platform. First tauqua tour follows many seasons of European successes and notabel Eastern engagements, various sizes of the tamburica, their household instrument for generations. Seven Days Filled With Splendid Attractions Twelve Concerts! Ten Lectures! A Big Play Production ORPHEUS FOUR Artist of the Orpheus Club of Los Angeles, winners of the first prize for male choruses at the Exposition. The Orpheus Four is acclaimed by musical critics to be one of the best, if not the best in the United States. Two concerts on the third day. SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Station created and coached by Thurlow Lieurance, noted American composer and authority on One of the finest stringed orchestras in the Chautauqua world. Jane Peterson, Chicago, conTwo concerts on the last day. Season Tickets On Sale Adults, $2.72; Students, $1.50; Child's, $1.00. No War Tax ANAHFIM, May 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 ELLISON-WHITE HAUTAUQUA