Iowa
Old Press
The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Thursday, March 3, 1936
GOT WEDDING LICENSE BEFORE ASKING GIRL; SANITY IS
QUESTIONED
NEW HAMPTON - The sanity hearing for Francis Mark MALZAHN, 40,
Fredericksburg farmer, was continued Monday until Tuesday
afternoon in order to hear more testimony. The petition asking
for a hearing was filed here Monday by Chris MAZER, neighbor of
MALZAHN, after MALZAHN had applied for a marriage license to wed
a girl, who said she had never gone with him. MALZAHN and Carl
GITCH, Fredericksburg filling station owner, last Thursday
obtained a marriage license from the Chickasaw county clerk's
office. The license was signed by GITCH. It was for Francis Mark
MALZAHN, legal, and Christina C. MAZER. The to-be bridegroom
purchased a new suit and two wedding rings from New Hampton
merchants. The MAZER family did not know anything about it until
the father was going to the creamery Saturday when neighbors
"ribbed" him about getting a rich son-in-law.
[transcribed by S.R.B., March 2012]
-----
The Globe-Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Wednesday, March 11, 1936
Page 2
SCANS CASE OF LUCAS TEACHER - Miss Samuelson to
Rule on Miss Gookin and School With No Pupils.
DES MOINES, (AP) - Miss Agnes SAMUELSON, state superintendent of
public instruction, had under advisement Wednesday the cas of
Sarah GOOKIN, 20, who has been "teaching" a Lucas
county rural school without any pupils since Christmas vacation.
It was up to Miss SAMUELSON to decide whether Miss GOOKIN is
competent to teach a school with pupils. Parents of the 12 pupils
who had been attending the Bethel school decalre she isn't, and
withdrew the pupils. Miss GOOKIN, daughter of the school board's
president, went right on "teaching," even though Helen
PFRIMMER, county school superintendent, revoked her teaching
certificate. F. B. GOOKIN, her father, signed the salary checks.
Miss GOOKIN appealed Miss PFRIMMER'S decision to Miss SAMUELSON.
Miss GOOKIN, her attorney said at the hearing Tuesday, ws the
victim of a conspiracy led by the wife of a school board
candidate in the last election who was defeated by Mr. GOOKIN.
Attorney John K. JARVIS, appearing in behalf of Miss PFRIMMER,
recalled the transcript of testimony in Miss GOOKIN'S original
hearing. He said Miss GOOKIN once asked her pupils to describe
"three story" farming in an examination. He declared
"she described it herself in the initial hearing as 'having
fruit on trees, then corn on stalks, and then something lower,
like tomatoes.'"
Body of Extensive Farm Land Owner Is Found Hanging
VINTON, (AP) - The body of A. F. BOYD, 70, extensive Benton and
Tama county farm land owner, was found hanging in the garage at
his home here Wednesday. Coroner John BURROWS and Sheriff Leland
FRY, after an investigation, declared BOYD had committed suicide.
They said they believed BOYD had been despondent over farm
financial troubles. The officers said BOYD'S body had been
hanging in the garage since at least last Friday.
[transcribed by S.R.B., March 2012]
-----
The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Thursday, March 14, 1936
Page 1
ELKADER JURY DELIBERATES THOMSEN FATE IN SLAYING
ELKADER (AP) - A Clayton county jury at 1:45 o'clock Saturday
afternoon began its deliberation in the Thomas Thomsen
manslaughter case. The case was given to the jury at 12:30
o'clock after the attorneys for the state and defense completed
their final pleas followed by the court's instruction but the
jurors took a lunch recess before convening in secret session. An
early verdict was expected.
Thomsen, prominent Elkader attorney and Legion official, was
charged with the fatal shooting of Jimmie Jacobsen, 24, a Clayton
county farmhand, at the Elkader fairgrounds here last night.
Thomsen, who is secretary of the fair association, claimed that
he was performing his duty and that he merely fired two shots
into the air in an effort to frighten Jacobsen and two other
youths with him because they were creating a disturbance. He said
he did not realize he fired the third shot which, it is claimed,
caused Jacobsen's death. The state contended Thomsen was
negligent and reckless in the use of a deadly weapon.
RODNEY PACE ARRAIGNED, HEARING SET WEDNESDAY
INDEPENDENCE (AP) - Rodney Pace, 16, was arrainged (sic) Saturday
in district court here on charge of murder, filed as result of
the fatal shooting of his brother, Ogden, 18, here Tuesday
evening. Arraignment was on county attorney's true information,
filed by Ray Kremer, and Judge R. W. Hasner set hearing for 10
a.m. Wednesday, March 18. The court appointed Paul Smith, former
county attorney, counsel for the young defendant. Pace appeared
in court in custody of Sheriff August W. Hammelman, apparently
the least concerned of the group assembled. He had learned only a
few hours before of the death of the brother he shot when the
latter chanced on an attempt of Rodney Pace to attack their young
sister, Thurza, 13. Ogden Pace, one of twin sons of Mrs. Myrtle
Pace, died early Wednesday as result of two rifle bullet wounds.
The girl, who had been struck down by a blow from the blunt side
of a hatchet, is reported improving at a hospital here. She has
regained consciousness, but does not remember any of the tragedy.
SHENANDOAH BARBER TAKES HIS OWN LIFE
SHENANDOAH, (AP) - Dan Eckles, 70, barber here for many years,
ended his life with a gun early Saturday in his barber shop.
OFFICERS SEEKING WORD OF TWO CRESCO YOUTHS
DES MOINES, (AP) - The investigation bureau asked Iowa officers
to be on the lookout Saturday for
Ivadore Becker, 14, and Laverne Becker, 12, missing from their
home at Cresco.
Page 2
TRAGEDY MARKS WEEK IN STATE - THE WEEK
IN Iowa, By The Associated Press.
Murder at Independence in Spotlight
ONE NIGHT - Mrs. Myrtle Pace hummed to herself as she prepared
supper for her five children living at home with her on a chicken
farm near Independence. Though separated from her husband, she
had succeeded in rearing her children. They were all good
students, all worked or helped in their own way to keep the
family solvent. Ogden, 18, was an all-state high school football
player, which probably would help him earn his way through
college. Ogden, at that moment, was upstairs changing from his
work clothes. Thurza, 13-year-old daughter, was in her room
getting ready for supper.
RIFLE SHOTS HEARD.
Rodney, 15, another son, came into the house and mounted the
stairs. Shortly after rifle shots crackled through the house. The
lilt of song died on Mrs. Pace's lips. She scurried upstairs.
"There," she told officers. "I found Thurza
stretched out on the floor moaning. Ogden stood swaying, his
hands over his stomach. Rodney crouched with a file in his hands.
"When I entered the room, Rodney ran out." That night
Ogden died of his wounds. Thurza was taken to a hospital,
unconscious. The next morning Dubuque officers captured Rodney in
the railroad yards there.
PLAN MURDER CHARGE.
Buchanan county officers brought him back to Independence, said
the boy confessed slugging his sister with his Boy Scout ax,
attempting to mistreat her, shooting his brother in sudden fear
that he might be discovered. A coroner's jury accused him of
murder. County Attorney R. J. Kremer said he would file a murder
charge against the boy. Physicians said the sister he slugged
probably will survive.
[transcribed by S.R.B., March 2012]
-----
The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Tuesday, March 24, 1936
Page 1
LUCAS TEACHER LOSES LICENSE - Miss Samuelson
Orders Pay at "Pupil-less" School Stopped At Once.
DES MOINES, (AP) - Miss Agnes SAMUELSON, state superintendent of
public instruction, Tuesday upheld revocation of the license of
the teacher of a Lucas county rural "pupil-less"
school. The education department head returned a five page
opinion in the case of Sarah GOOKIN, whose 12 pupils withdrew
from the Bethel school last December when their parents declared
her incompetent to teach.
Miss GOOKIN, daughter of the school board's president, had
continued to "teach" without pupils and carried an
appeal from the decision of Helen PFRIMMER, county school
superintendent, to Miss SAMUELSON. Miss GOODKIN'S salary checks,
meanwhile, have been signed by her father, F. B. GOOKIN. Miss
SAMUELSON said her pay stops "as of today."
"THREE STORY FARMING."
Questions Miss GOOKIN asked her pupils in examinations were among
the factors involved in consideration of the case. One of these -
to define "three story farming" - set agriculturists as
well as educators on a still hunt for an answer. One educator
found it had no relation to the stories a farmer might tell about
the size of his crops. Miss GOOKIN defined it as "having
fruit on trees, then corn on stalks, and then something lower,
like tomatoes." Miss SAMUELSON said her perusal of the
examination papers offered "as exhibits of Miss GOODKIN'S
incompetency and in the light of her own attempted explanation of
her grading" revealed a "standard of work very inferior
to that which may reasonably be expected from a competent
teacher."
SCHOOL WORK DIFFICULT.
Letters from Miss GOODKIN'S former teachers, Miss SAMUELSON
added, "bring out the fact that school work was difficult
for her." The opinion stated that Miss GOOKIN'S grade in the
examination for a certificate was 82 per cent. She received her
high school normal training certificate in November, 1923, the
opinion stated, and was unemployed as a teacher until she
obtained a contract in her home district in 1935-36. Miss
SAMUELSON said she had found no evidence that the county
superintendent was prejudiced in deciding Miss GOOKIN'S case.
Miss GOOKIN had contended, through her attorney, that she was the
victim of a conspiracy instigated by the wife of a school board
candidate whom Mr. GOOKIN defeated in the last election.
Four Men Held At Clarinda, Accused of Chicken Thefts
CLARINDA, (AP) - Authorities Tuesday held four men on charges of
participating in a two state chicken theft ring, and declared
three others are being held at Tarkio, Mo. Sheriff's officers
said the men held here were Merrill BOARDMAN of Coin, W.J.
WILFONG, Jr., Clarence WHITE and Forrest LIVINGSTON, all of
Shenandoah. They declared Don STRUCK of Shenandoah and two
others, whose names were not divulged, were held at Tarkio. The
men are being held for grand jury action, authorities said.
Page 5
Le Mars Clinic Sues to Force Surgeon to Get Out of Town
LE MARS, (AP) - Physicians associated in the Le Mars
clinic filed suite Tuesday asking that Dr. H. H. BORROUGHS, a
surgeon, be enjoined from practicing in this city. The clinic
physicians, Doctors W. W. LARSON, M. J. JOYNT, W. L. DOWING and
L. C. O'TOOLE, declared in their petition that Dr. BURROUGHS
signed a contract stating he would not practice medicine here
after severing connections with the clinic. They charged he now
is engaged in private practice with Dr. T. E. COLE. Dr. BURROUGHS
declared the clinic abrogated this contract by not permitting him
to handle surgical cases as it provided.
[transcribed by S.R.B., March 2012]