Tales from the Morgue

1963: Jayne Mansfield Granted Juarez Divorce; To Wed Singer

04/30/1963

Jayne Mansfield arrived In El Paso today accompanied by a handsome, dark companion, Nelson Sardelli, and declined to comment on a new romantic interest.

She arrived for a quickie Juarez divorce from muscleman husband Mickey Hargitay.

Wearing a simple yellow dress, brown sable stole and carrying a tiny Chihuahua dog, the glamorous actress said it wouldn't be proper for her to say if she has a romantic interest in anyone right now.

"The reason is, I'm still married," she said.

Sardelli, who was described as her announcer, was extremely attentive to Miss Mansfield.

He wouldn't comment on a rumored romance.

But others in the party hinted that Sardelli is indeed a current romantic interest.

Miss Mansfield was asked if she would marry again.

"Sure," she said. "I can't say definitely now. But in the future I certainly hope to.” Miss Mansfield didn’t say whom she might marry.

Miss Mansfield said she and Mickey, her husband, of five years, could not live harmoniously together.

“Last May I filed suit for the first time in California,” she said. “My husband asked me to withdraw it. So I did.” She explained she went to Rome to make a movie, called “Panic Button.”

While she was in Rome, she filed for a separation suit, but later returned to Mickey.

“Our paths in life might be smoother separately,” she said. “It is better for our children than for us to stay together not in harmony.”

She explained her first suit charged “cruelty,” she said. “I have nothing but respect and admiration for Mickey and I wish him all the success in the world.

“But if you can’t get along together, there is no reason for continuing the marriage.”

She said she does not blame the movies or our careers in the movies for the break in the marriage.

“It’s as easy to be happy in Hollywood following a career there as it is for a bus driver and his wife to be happy anywhere,” she said.

Miss Mansfield has two children by Hargitay. They are Miklos, 4, and Zoltan, 2. The children are with Miss Mansfield’s mother, Mrs. Harry Peers in Dallas. Her daughter Jayne Marie, 12, is in Los Angeles with her first husband, Paul Mansfield.

Miss Mansfield said she is leaving this afternoon for Los Angeles to do a Jack Benny show and meet the co-star of her next picture, Freddie Quinn.

“He is supposed to be the Elvis Presley of Germany,” she explained.

She will go to Germany May 20 to start work on the film, which will be a musical. She said three of her pictures are to be released soon. They are “Panic Button,” “Las Vegas by Night,” and “Promises, Promises.”

The suit filed today will charge incompatibility. This is also standard and grounds meaning nothing. The out of court settlement regarding children and property has already been made.

Miss Mansfield and Sardelli spent last night in Dallas with Mrs. Peers and Miss Mansfield’s stepfather, Harry Peers. Her secretary, Russell Ray, also accompanied her.

Miss Mansfield was greeted at the airport by American Airlines officials, Sales Manager Dan Dengart of the Hilton Hotel and newsmen.

From the airport she went to the Hilton, where she had reserved the Presidential Suite. She went to Juarez after freshening up, to get her divorce, and was to leave at 5 p.m. today.

As a Texan, Miss Mansfield measures up to Texas standards and has been the despair of fashion designers trying to achieve a flat-chested look. Her measurements are 40-22-35 ½.

After invading Hollywood she attracted first attention in “Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?” The movieland press asked, “Will she be a new box office darling or just another bust?” Soon she was being called the “smartest dumb blond” who ever roped in Broadway and Hollywood, and he publicist recalled that she was a B average student for three years at Southern Methodist University, University of Texas, and UCLA.

Her first starring film was “The Girl Can’t Help It.” In 1960 she made “The Misfits.”

++

Judge Miguel Gomez Guerra this afternoon granted a divorce to Jayne Mansfield from Mickey Hargitay.

Immediately afterwards her escort, Nelson Sardelli, Brazilian born entertainer, said he and Miss Mansfield "Hope to

marry in the near future."

He said, "We are very much in love. She loves me. She plays on the strings of my heart." He is a native of Brazil of Italian extraction. He is & singer, entertainer and actor and has appeared with her.

Jayne sat and listened and didn't say anything. After the divorce they went back to the Hilton and prepared to leave for Los Angeles.

1967: Zsa Zsa Gabor Almost Gives Up Men

1952: ‘Louis Morningstar' Found El Paso Was “Wonderful Country” in 1896

11/23/1952

By Cleofas Calleros

With the publication of Tom Lea’s second novel “The Wonderful Country,” I am reminded of another man who also recognized that this is indeed, a wonderful country. He was distinguished world traveler Richard J. Vincent, known prominent as Louis Morningstar.

     “Louis Morningstar arrived in El Paso on March 20, 1896 to collect material for a book which he intended to write. Fifteen years old, he had seen all of the world, but it was this particular section which had caught his fancy. The people, the rugged, picturesque mountains and the Spanish culture here seemed to him “a remarkable blend.”

     Whether he ever got around to writing the book, I do not know. But undoubtedly he enjoyed his stay here for those by no means were full days. Something consequential, or highly controversial, was always happening. Then as now, we were in a ceaseless uproar.

     In fact, on the very day of Vincent’s arrival, the town was electrified by the capture of the desperadoes who had boldly robbed the W.T. Hixon Jewelry Co. in January. The news spread quickly these “bad hombres” had been taken to Mississippi and would be brought back here for trial.

     Then on March 25, the Westinghouse Manufacturing Co. reopened the old International Smelter. It had been shut down two years before because of the widespread scarcity of metal ore. Now, It appeared, large scale industry was in store for El Paso and to that every one (or almost everyone) had a drink.

Sandstorms Arrived  

     About the time Vincent arrived so did the sandstorms.  Juan S. Hart, El Paso noted Editor, observed in his column on March 28 that “the sand and the wind marked today as well as does the expression “Viernes de Dolores” – “Friday of Anguish”. He went on to comment in his entertaining style, that the disagreeable sandstorms did not put him in a bad humor, however, because it was his habit to think of tornadoes and hurricanes with every mouthful of sand. That is still good advice!

     How Mr. Vincent and Don Juan Hart would have enjoyed Don Tomas chapter VII of his “Wonderful Country”. Have you ever read a more vivid description of our early life in El Paso?

     On March 28 also, the partnership of Reckhart and Heckelman of the famous Custom Assay Firm was dissolved, but operation of the firm was continued by D.W. Reckhart.

     Hotel Dieu was in line for a facial, although not as complete a one as it is undergoing now, during the last days of March. Remodeling and construction of a new wing for the hospital was being considered by the Sisters of Charity. The first Hotel Dieu was opened at 1015 E. Overland St; later it was moved to the old Dieter home at the intersection of Prospect and Upson Avenue.

Bids for the summer ice business were being received that spring of 1896. The El Paso Ice and Refrigerator Co. received the contract on its bid of 50 cents per 100 pounds. Consumer Ice Co. bid was 60 cents.

Burro Ride Party 

     To give spring a rousing welcome, the Young Men’s Club honored the Young Ladies’ Club with a Burro Ride Party.  El Paso it seemed was becoming very sports minded with the organization of bicycle clubs, tennis clubs, and the reconstruction of magnificent indoors natatorium, 85 by 40 feet, at a cost of $3000.

     Not least among the controversial issues was H.L. Newman’s recent action leasing the El Paso National Bank Building and its fixtures.

All during August the bank’s receiver, Bechman, had attempted in vain to obtain enough money to settle the institution’s accounts.

     Then as now, the city’s leaders were deeply concerned over El Paso's water supply. Plans were being made for an extensive drilling program and $10,265.95 had already been spent for drilling an artesian well 700 feet. No water had yet appeared and Sylvester Watts, owner of Walls Water Workd, coolly observed, that he didn’t see "why they dig for water when I am furnishing the purist water in this section at such a nominal cost.”

     No, surely Mr. Vincent was not bored during his stay in El Paso if he was at all aware of what was humming around him.

Border Chorders still harmonize in El Paso

07/03/2010

By Trish Long
El Paso Times

Dear Trish,

I am a past president of the El Paso Border Chorders. Our Barbershop chapter was formed in 1947 when the Carlsbad chapter of Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA) helped a group about 18 men establish the El Paso chorus. I came to El Paso in 1953. By that time, the Border Chorders were sponsoring "Parade of Quartet" shows in the old Liberty Hall. Quite a number of prominent El Pasoans were members of the chapter over the years, and some won gold medals when the Border Chorders were name International Champion Chorus in 1964. Over the years, the chorus has numbered as high as 68 singers. A lot of the records are scattered among previous members. Anything you are able to find would be of interest.

Thanks,

Ron Dettman

The society was chartered April 18, 1948. A preview of the event was described this way, "Slurring. Sloshing and sliding harmony will be heard all over the Municipal Airport Sunday, starting at 3 p.m., when barber shop quartet groups from El Paso and Carlsbad, present a joint program in the recreation hall across from the airport administration building.

"A public address system will carry the program for the first public appearance of the local chapter of SPEBSQSA, national barber shop quartet organization. The charter for El Paso singers will be presented by the visiting team of harmonizers from Carlsbad, coming here in a caravan for the celebration.

An April 19 article about the event says, "The El Paso organization is headed by I.W. (Bus) Gillett, president, and Norman Burke, director. Sixty-two El Paso barber shoppers were on hand for the charter presentation and the subsequent program.

The first Parade of Quartets was April 7, 1951. The local chapter, then with 47 members, had two Society Quartets. The Sage Bloomers,consisted of Burton Johnson, tenor; Charles Van Dien, lead; Miland Rice, baritone; and Jack Severn, bass. The Desertairs were Jack Brown, tenor; Burt Dycus, lead; Louis Laurel, baritone; and Ernie Winter, bass.

Some of the signatures on the charter are Lloyd Bumpas, Jack Raspberry, Gillette, Dorrance Roderick, Ralph Homan, Charles Homan, Justin White, Hillard Bryan, Dr. C.L. Cunningham, Dr. J. Leighton Green, Tom Patterson, W.D. Richards, Roy Dahl, Vern Peters, C.L. Van Dien, Burton Johnson, Bill Frazier, R.B. Redic and Dr. C.F. Rennick.

Photo Caption: Mayor Fred Hervey, tired of being pictured signing proclamations, decided to sing one proclaiming the week of April 6-11, 1953, as Barbershop Harmony Week in conjunction with the third annual Parade of Quartets by the El Paso Chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America. With Hervey, left, are Joe F. Kemendo, society president; Louis Laurel, baritone; Bill Spooner, tenor; Burt Dycus, lead; and Ernie Winter, basso.

* * *

I received this question from one of my blog readers: Hi Trish! I wonder if you could post some articles about the now defunct Magic Landing. I remember the park being open when I was a child, I never got to go and it seemed like it was closed as soon as it opened.

You are right, it was open for only about five years.

Daniel Borunda wrote this in 2008: "Magic Landing, which was billed as El Paso's answer to Disneyland, opened July 4, 1984, along Interstate 10 between Americas Avenue and Horizon Boulevard. A 15-story-tall Ferris wheel loomed over the park at the end of its main boulevard, Texas Street, which was lined with shops selling ice cream, giant teddy bears and novelties. There were roller coasters, a log flume and other rides.

"In 1985, tragedy struck when an 18-year-old park employee, Frank Guzman Jr., was killed when his arm was severed by a roller-coaster car. The park closed in 1989."

A 1997 article reported, "Even though area residents would like to see Magic Landing back in business, its fate most likely was sealed years ago by the accidental death of a park worker that earned the park the name 'Tragic Landing.'

"Today, all that remains of the park along Interstate 10 between Americas and Horizon are silent buildings hidden behind brick walls covered in barbed wire, giving the park the ominous look of a prison camp. There have been hints of restoring it, but so far no one has been willing to take the risk on reopening what in 1984 was billed as El Paso's answer to Disneyland."

Have a question?

• If you want to know about El Paso's history, send Trish an email at tlong@elpasotimes.com or comment at her blog by visiting elpasotimes.com/blogs
Trish Long is the El Paso Times' archivist and spends her time in the morgue, where the newspaper keeps its old clippings and photos. She shares some of this history in her blog, Tales From The Morgue.

1931: Poetry-Reading Mayor Wins Bride With Verse

06/12/1931

Mrs. Sherman Has Never Cooked, But Likes Bridge, Reading And Outdoor Life

Hearts proved to be trumps for Mary Stedmond, secretary to the city engineer- and expert bridge player, who married Mayor R. E. Sherman after a city hall courtship.

Sherman wooed his bride with poetry, her sister, Lily Stedmond, said Friday.

"The mayor used to call over the telephone and mistake me for my sister, “ Lily said. “But I was well trained. When the telephone conversation began I discretely left the room.”

Both Sherman and his bride are avid readers. A mutual admiration for poetry brought them together. Miss Stedmond’s hobby is reading. She reads everything, her sister said.

She likes outdoor activities but favors no particular kind of sport. Camping trips intrigue her.

She is a conscientious student, and president of the University guild, a study club sponsored by Mrs. J. M. Frank, high school teacher. Miss Stedmond went to school in El Paso and Chicago, and was graduated from St. Joseph’s academy.

Doesn’t Like to Cook

“She doesn’t like to cook,” her sister said. “She never cooked a thing in her life.”

She is a Sunday school teacher.

She does not object to other women smoking, although she does not smoke herself. She takes an occasional glass of wine.

Mrs. Sherman is 31; her husband 45.

She has brown hair and brown eyes.

“She used to say her ideal man was one with lots of ambition,” Miss Stedmond said. “She is ambitious herself – she could save money where I couldn’t.”

Mrs. Sherman has invested in building and loan stock, her sister said.

Sleeps Late

“Her only bad point was sleeping late,” Miss Stedmond related. “She used to drink her coffee on the run as she hurried to work.”

Mrs. Sherman is a member of the St. Patrick’s cathedral congregation and has never missed going to church on Sunday. She was president of the Patrician club.

As the wife of Mayor Sherman she becomes the step-mother of his 11-year-old son, Ray.

“I wasn’t surprised a bit,” Ray said. “I knew about the marriage all the time.”

Of Irish Descent

Both Sherman and his wife are of Irish descent. Mrs. Sherman’s father was born in Ireland; married an El Paso girl, and was an electrical engineer in Aguasallentes, Mexico, where Mrs. Sherman was born. She has lived in El Paso for 24 years.

Mayor's Son Is Best Man

1960: El Paso Horologist Likes Fine Old Clocks

June 29, 1960

Do you have a valuable clock that doesn't work or needs refinishing? Have you neglected to get it done simply because you couldn't find anyone qualified?

There is a man in El Paso who can refurbish your grandfather or other antique dock, and he knows what he's doing.

He is Herman Abel, horologist — that means clock expert —who owns the Clock Manor at 4218 Montana avenue.

Wooden Movements

Mr. Abel is not just a clock fixer. He won't touch a $5 clock you bought at the variety store. He is a man who has devoted his life to the mechanics and principles of fine timepieces. He can order or make parts for a good clock, he can tell you why it runs and how it runs and how to best care for it. In short, Herman Abel loves clocks.

He has quite a collection of fine and ancient clocks of his own, on display in his shop — a wooden movement clock made in 1792 by S. Hoadley in Plymouth, England, another English clock made in England and presented to John Hanson, second president of the Continental Congress and signer of the Thirteen Articles of Confederation, clocks with moving religious figures, clocks with different traditional chimes, and transistor battery operated clocks.

Started as Child

However, Mr. Abel does not deal in antiques alone. He sells and repairs modern clocks—but only, he is careful to point out, clocks made by companies that have been in good reputation, for at least 50 years. "Modern clocks made traditional," as he puts it, are among his favorites.

Mr. Abel's love for fine clocks is perhaps explained by his phrase, "These clocks will be here when you and I are dead and gone." His father was a clockmaker and Mr. Abel took up the hobby—now a vocation — when he was eight years old. He has been working with clocks for the 45 years since then.

Mr. Abel built and repaired clocks in St. Louis before coming to El Paso last year with his wife and two children. "I was planning to retire down here," he said. "I lasted about six months before I decided I was going to go crazy if I didn't get back with my clocks."

Mr. Abel still receives letters from former customers in St. Louis wondering where he went. Some of them mail their clocks for repair.

"The trouble with people nowadays," said Mr. Abel, "is that they don't understand or appreciate what a good clock is. You can trace the history of civilization through man's attempts to tell time. The first method—and it's still used in Malaya - was to notch the inside of half of a large nut shell, put a pinhole in the bottom and set it in a vessel of water. The water would then slowly fill the shell to the various levels of the notches. The ancient Egyptians used a crude sundial—a long board marked into sections with a crossarm that cast the sun's lengthening shadow on the sections. The conventional sundial as we know it, probably came into use in the Eighth Century A.D., followed by the pendulum clock and finally the spring wound timepiece of today.

"A properly cared for, fine clock will last for generations," said Mr. Abel. "People these days seem to be impressed only by ornamentation. They don't even care for a high degree of efficiency. Of course, there's no such thing as a clock that keeps perfect time, but it stand to reason that a$5 or $10 clock isn’t going to give good service very long.

“And, of course, if you can have a functioning clock that is at the same time beautiful and ornamental – why, then you’ve really got something worthwhile.”

Craftsmanship is the only answer, Mr. Abel insists. The fin clock is one thing that modern civilization has not yet been able to duplicate with mass production.

“A clock is like silverware or literature or music,” Mr. Abel said. “It’s an indication of people’s cultural excellence. If people are satisfied with cheaply make, non-quality goods. Then there’s not much you can do unless you want to try to teach them.”

Mr. Abel does not want teach people to appreciate clocks. He is interested in the people who already know what a fine clock is.

1954: Early Morning Crash Kills Bowie High School Coaches

10/10/1954

El Paso High School football followers Saturday were stunned by the news of an early-morning accident which resulted in the death of two Bowie High School football coaches.

Buryl Baty, head football coach and assistant Bowie High School principal, and Jerry Simmang, athletic director and line coach of the South Side school, were killed when the car in which they were returning from Pecos, Texas, was struck head-on by a 10-ton truck on Highway 80, about 50 miles east of El Paso about 12:30 a.m. Saturday.

Fred Rosas, backfield coach, also a passenger in the car, was injured but his condition was reported good Saturday afternoon by attendants at Hotel Dieu Hospital.

Sheriff E.A. Wright of Sierra Blanca, Texas, said the late model car in which the coaches were returning to El Paso from scouting the Kermit-Pecos football game was demolished by the terrific impact.

WENT TO SLEEP

Robert Moore, 19, Spur, Texas, driver of the truck, told Texas highway Patrolman Sgt. James Mason, who conducted the preliminary investigation, that he apparently went to sleep at the wheel of his loaded truck. The truck was carrying cottonseed from Deming, N.M. to Spur.

Sgt. Mason said the truck was on the wrong side of the road when it crashed into the west-bound car. The impact, according to Sheriff Wright, hurled the automobile 140 feet. The truck turned over in a ditch after the crash.

Moore was taken before Hudspeth county Judge Tom Neeley and pleaded guilty to charges of negligent homicide, second degree. The complaint was filed by State Patrolmen J.P. Lynch and M.H. Hogan, stationed in Fabens.

Judge Neely ordered Moore returned to jail after deferring sentence.

IN FIAR SHAPE

Dr. Robert A. Nering, who treated Rosas, said the likeable backfield coach sustained a fractured jaw, dislocated left hip and multiple lacerations. However, he said, his condition was “fairly good.”

Baty, 30, a native of Paris, Texas, took over as head football coach at Bowie High School in 1950. He was a graduate of Texas A&M, where he was a standout football player. He was graduated in 1948, and in 1949 was named as football coach at Luling (Texas) High School. He lived at 7620 Veracruz Road in El Paso.

Survivors include his widow, Betty Jo; a 4-year-old son, Robert Gaines; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R.B. Baty of Paris Texas; three brothers, Earl and Harold Glenn Baty of Paris, and Albert Baty of Wichita Falls, and a sister, June Baty of Paris.

Coach Simmang was a graduate of Trinity University where he also was a star football player. In 1949 he was named assistant coach at Bowie, but returned to Trinity University in 1952 to receive his master’s degree. He was a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School of San Antonio.

LEAVES WIDOW, SON

He is survived by his widow Mrs. Ruth Sawyer Simmang; an 11-month-old son, Mark Thomas; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Simmang of San Antonio; a brother, Ralph of Houston; and a sister Jacquelyn also of San Antonio. The family resided at 352 George Orr Road. Funeral arrangements were pending with the Rodehaver-Miller Mortuary for both.

Rosas was appointed to the football coaching staff at Bowie after his graduation from Texas Western Collage. He was a backfield star for Bowie High.

Frank C. Pollitt, Bowie principal, was in Cloudcroft, N.M., when he was informed of the tragedy Saturday morning.

“It was certainly a big blow to us. We are going to miss Baty a great deal, not only as a football coach but also as an administrative official,” Pollitt said.

He said that memorial services for the two coaches will be held at the school as soon as arrangements are completed.

Tentative plans call for the holding of joint funeral services for the two coaches at 4 p.m. Monday in Asbury Methodist Church. However, the plans are subject to change, mortuary officials said.

A Weekly Letter For El Pasoans In The Armed Forces Of The U.S.

June 18, 1945

Dear Pal,

Well, it’s been a pretty eventful week in the old home town, so hold your hats and let’s go.

It’s beginning to warm up here again – you know how hot June can be around here. The hottest it’s been this week is 97 and the thermometer has stayed pretty much in that vicinity for the last few days.

We were just crossing Texas Street a few minutes ago and got our shoes smeared with tar. They’re putting a new surface on the street clear from the center of town to Alameda Avenue. It certainly has smoothed out the bumps.

And speaking of heat, like we were a few minutes ago, there was another fire in Juarez this week. You remember the old Market down on Sixteenth of September Street? Well, it burned completely Wednesday night, throwing about 200 persons out of means of making a living. Fire Chief Leonardo Solis thought there might be some defective wiring which started the fire. In the meantime, members of the Juarez Chamber of Commerce have decided to get more equipment for the Juarez fire department and to have more wells sunk.

Dr. Edgar T. Ruff, former professor at Texas Tech, has been named head of the modern languages department at the College of Mines, according to an announcement by Dr. D.M. Wiggins, president of the local institution.

Pat Hargrove, a veteran of both World Wars, has been named commander of the Disabled American Veterans, Borderland Chapter No. 10.

**

Some of you may have remembered Roy Culp when he worked for the sheriff’s department a few years ago. Well, Roy has been head of a soldier entertainment committee for the El Paso Junior Chamber of Commerce and has been doing a wonderful job. He has rounded up 75 entertainers and is putting on his 50th show for men in local military installations on June 27.

**

James R. Benner, son of Mr. And Mrs. A.V. Benner, Sr., 3605 Montana Street, has been wounded in action off Okinawa. He was on his ship when he was hurt. And you probably remember Bill Cummins, the guy who was such a whiz on the hurdles when he went to Austin High School – he was wounded on Okinawa. He has a fractured jaw and mortar shell wounds in his side.

**

Got some pictures the other day from T-5 Francis (Skip) Broaddus, who is now over in Germany. Skip had several good shots of what was left of Herr Hitler’s hideout in Berchtesgarden after the Allies got through with it. It doesn’t look so attractive now, even with a housing shortage.

**

Mrs. Horace B. Stevens, 84, who was one of El Paso’s early pioneers died in her home here this week.

**

They had to do a little scrambling around in the County Jail this week when some of the juvenile inmates came down with scarlet fever. The sick persons were taken out and the jail disinfected while the other inmates were placed under quarantine.

**

The Knights of Columbus elected officers this week. Heading the different groups are: El Paso Fourth Degree Assembly No. 638, Jaymond J. Ahern, faithful navigator; Del Norte Fourth Degree Assembly, Ernesto Valdes, faithful navigator; Del Norte Council No. 2592, Benjamin Louistanau, grand knight; El Paso Council No. 638, E.H. Knopf, grand knight.

**

Joe Prensky said he got so hungry that he just HAD to find some place to eat – so he bought Andrews’ Cafeteria, 204 Mills Street, for $12,000.

**

Judge Numa C. Grenger, one of the oldest judges in point of service in the Southwest, died Tuesday in his home in Las Cruces. He was judge of the third Judicial District of New Mexico and a native of Socorro. He was 69.

**

The El Paso Housing Authority has decided to ask a survey for a housing project in the Smelter District. County Judge M. Scarborough has protested against bad housing conditions in that area.

**

The ODT here, objecting loudly to alleged shortcomings in local taxi service, has asked the city to pass a few ordinances making it compulsory for cab drivers to comply with certain wartime restrictions – particularly on taking passengers to and from the Santa Fe Street bridge.

**

Charging that the Lower Valley Bus Line has been operating off schedule, the Texas Railroad Commission this week held a hearing in the case. Decision will be announced later.

**

A new Catholic church will be built in the Lower Valley and a site has already been purchased near St. Margaret’s Orphanage.

**

Maybe we told you that Dr. W. B. Prothro was resigned as head of the City-County Health Unit. He has a new job and said that, anyway, he wanted to make room for Dr. L.T. Cox, who will be coming home from the battlefields to resume his job. In the meantime, Dr. M.D. Hornedo has been named temporary director of the unit.

**

A forest fire near Alamogordo has been giving firefighters a tough time lately. Fort Bliss sent up some soldiers to help the forest ranger.

**

Curl your little finger and grasp the teacup daintily while we give you a few social notes now:

Miss Barbara Vaughn of Hollywood, Calif., married Curtis F. Corzelius this week in a quiet ceremony in first Presbyterian Church chapel. There have been quite a few parties lately honoring Miss Dorothy Byrne, who will be married to Capt. Owen F. Ladd of Biggs Field Monday. Miss Jeanette Surratt will wed Lt. G.L Haupt of Yuma, Ariz., in a ceremony in Clint Baptist church soon.

**

Heading sports news here this week was a highly-touted heavyweight boxing match between Ragon Kinney and Lotario Ramirez. Kinney, a Golden Gloves champion, knocked out the wicked-punching Ramirez in the sixth round in an open-air in the Juarez bull ring. The County Commissioners Court has set a catch limit and fee on fishing in Ascarate Lake now. The home-town ball club is back in town again, but had tough going against Saltillo in the opening game of the series, losing 13-10.

**

That’s just about all there is to say right now. We’ll see you next week.

Yours,

____________

1946: Ysleta Child Loses Both Hands In Explosion of Railroad Torpedo

May 15, 1946

A boy's curiosity, an experiment, an explosion . , .

Julian Armas, 13, of Ysleta, is in Hotel Dieu today recovering after amputation of both hands, mangled when a torpedo exploded Saturday.

Pete Armas, the boy's father, said Julian was given some "railroad torpedoes" by an Ysleta man. Julian and a friend, Dick Caples, 15, went to Dick's home in the Lower Valley in an attempt to attach a fuse to the torpedoes, he said.

"Julian said he had a torpedo cupped in the palm of his hand," Mr. Armas said. "He put his hands together, and began rubbing, with the torpedo between them. Then the explosion occurred."

Dick, who was standing nearby, but was not injured, took Julian to Ysleta in a truck, where he was given first aid by Dr. R. R. Delgado. The boy was rushed to Hotel Dieu where his hands were amputated.

"Julian always liked to experiment," said Mr. Armas. "He was always doing something. He would tell me, 'Dad, I want to know about things, and I want to experiment.' "I can't believe this has happened to my little boy. He didn't cry or say anything much about the pain. He took it like a soldier.

"In the hospital, he just looked t me and said:  'I can almost feel my fingers and hands Dad. It doesn't seem like they have been cut off."

Julian is in the sixth grade in Ysleta School. He is active in sports and is a member of the Boy Scouts. He is a brother of Constantino Armas, 20, Pete, Junior, 18 Beatriz, 15 and Eva, 8. Constantino and Pete served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater during the war.

Mr. Armas is employed as a butcher for the Food Mart in Ysleta.

July 20, 1977

Local 'celeb' changes name

Julian Armas, 8118 North Loop, wants to change his name because “the present situation has worked a hardship” on him.

To rectify the problem, he filed petition in 210th District Court last week, seeking to legally acquire the name he says he is known by “in the community and throughout the world.”

The name that has brought him some degree of fame for his diverse activities is: Jay J. Armes.

The private investigator, who ran unsuccessfully for El Paso County Sheriff, has no hands. In his petition, he said an identical name change was obtained in California 10 years ago,

Jay .J. Armes photo gallery