Tales from the Morgue

1935: Habitual Speeders To Face Jail

10/30/1935

TWO OFFICERS ARREST 28 IN TRAFFIC DRIVE

Police Take Action For Heavier Penalties, In Violations

 URGE DRIVERS' BILL

 County Attorney Explains How Convictions Can Be Had in Courts

 Habitual speeders will face jail sentences in El Paso under State laws, it was announced by officials today. The new law was found today in search of statutes for stronger methods of handling traffic violators.

A 60-day jail sentence and a maximum fine of $500 may be assessed persons arrested more than twice for violation of a State law regulating the operation of motor vehicles on highways.

The law passed in 1935, covers the speed of vehicles, and height, weight and length of trucks.

Buried in the statute is a paragraph reading: "Any person violating any provision of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and the punishment for the first offense shall be a maximum fine of S50; the punishment for the second offense shall be a maximum fine of $200 and for the third and any subsequent violations thereafter the punishment shall be a maximum, fine of $500 or 60 days in the County Jail or both."

To Transfer Violators

County Atty. David E. Mulcahy interpreted the provision to mean that a person may be fined in Justice or Corporation Court twice for speeding charges and then, at the discretion of the officers, any subsequent violations may be filed in County Court-at-Law where the jail sentence can be imposed.

Two Officers Busy

Two El Paso motorcycle patrolmen waged a two-man war on traffic violators last night and turned in 23 tickets to the traffic office today. Formerly officers made two to five arrests each daily.

Patrolmen Ray Espersen and R. A. Bush "covered the town" in their campaign. Tickets were issued in all parts of the city and for many different types of offenses.

Langford Hits Back

Judge R. P. Langford struck back at persons who criticized the light fines he has been assessing traffic, violators by saying that the schedule he has been following is one agreed to by himself. Police Chief L. T. Robey and Captain Stowe.

Capt. Stowe said there are only three courses open to a person who receives a traffic ticket.

"He can appear in court and plead his case with the judge; he can post a bond at the traffic office; or he can get out of town as quick as he can," the captain explained.

"When an officer writes out a ticket, there's no "taking it up" or "fixing" that can be done," he said.

 Capt. Stowe said his motorcycle officers will continue their campaign as vigorously as they did last night.

County Atty. Mulcahy said there is no provision in the state laws whereby the Corporation Court or Justice Court judges may assess a jail sentence except to the habitual violator.

“The offenses are punishable by fine only,” he said. “Of course, if a person is unable to pay the fine, he must serve out the time.”

Speeding, passing traffic signals and other infractions, save driving while intoxicated are misdemeanors, Mr. Mulcahy said.

These are punishable by fines of $200 maximum in Justice court and $100 in Corporation Court.

If a drive crashes into another automobile or strikes a person causing injury less than death, the driver is guilty of aggravated assault with an automobile and the offense is punishable by a jail sentence in the County Court at Law, Mr. Mulcahy explained.

Funeral arrangements were pending today for Harold Kuhn, 4754 Alameda Ave. who died last night from injuries received Sunday night after crashing into a tree on the Lower Valley

1955: Ceremony Planned For Colonel Bliss; Body Is Found

11/11/1955

The remains of Col William Wallace Smith Bliss, for whom Ft. Bliss was named, were found today in New Orleans cemetery.

Ft. Bliss authorities, who have been hunting the colonel's grave for five years, said the casket was in a concrete and brick tomb four feet beneath a monument in Girod Street Cemetery.

The casket was taken to a New Orleans mortuary, where it will remain until arrangements are made to bring the colonel's remains here for burial in the Ft. Bliss National Cemetery with honors. The body of the man for whom Ft. Bliss was named, Col. William Wallace Smith Bliss, will arrive in El Paso in about 10 days, according to Maj. L. B. Anderson, Ft. Bliss Public Information officer.

The body was found yesterday afternoon beneath a monument in Girod Cemetery in New Orleans, after a search that lasted for five years.

Major Anderson said that the body will rest in a New Orleans funeral home until suitable plans are made for its relocation here. A public ceremony is planned when the body will be brought to a place of honor at Ft Bliss. Final arrangements will be made by Maj. Gen. Paul W. Rutledge, Ft. Bliss commanding general.

Lieut. Col. T. N. Chavez, deputy chief of staff, for operations at the post here, handled much of the research on seeking Colonel Bliss' body. Lieut. Col. Robert W. Sanders, executive officer to the post quartermaster, went to New Orleans

about 10 days ago to supervise the dismantling of the Bliss monument. New Orleans military, personnel did the actual dismantling work with the aid of civilian experts.

Army searchers some time ago discovered that Col. Bliss was likely buried in New Orleans. Colonel Bliss died in 1853 at the age of 38 in Pascagoula, Miss. His. Body apparently was taken by boat for burial in New Orleans.

When 'the Bliss monument — a 20-foot shaft which bears the names of the battles in which Colonel Bliss distinguished himself during the Mexican War — was discovered, it was believed his body must be under it.

Colonel Bliss' features were recognizable from photographs. Scraps of a flag remain on the body. The body is well preserved.

Site Chosen for Burial Of Colonel Bliss' Body

Pallbearers Named For Bliss Burial

1906: Home Is Acquired For El Paso Country Club

04/28/1906

Ten Lots With Large House Are Purchased This Side of Washington Park – Club Will Be Opened June 1 – Plan of Building.

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The deal for the transfer of the grounds for which the El Paso Country Club had been negotiating was completed yesterday and the title to the property was formally transferred to the club. The consideration was $3,250. The property consists of ten lots.

Work on the grounds and clubhouse, located this side of Washington park, is progressing rapidly, and the directors plan to open the club with a mammoth entertainment June 1. A nine-hole golf course is being prepared, with the home green just in front of the clubhouse and the final T winding up at the house. Tennis courts and croquet grounds are also being prepared.

The ground surrounding the club will be turfed and will present a beautiful appearance when completed.

A porch 80 by 16 surrounds the clubhouse. A lounging room, 24x12, a ladies room of the same dimensions, a buffet 14x14, bathrooms, cloakrooms, etc., will make the little clubhouse modern in every respect.

The charter has been applied for.

R.J. Kerr of the Kerr-Cline company, with offices in the Buckler building, who spends much of his time in Mexico City and is a member of the golf club of that city, is one of the charter members of the Country Club.

06/08/1906

COUNTRY CLUB HAS A FORMAL OPENING

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Society Folks Out In Force at the Big Reception and the Event Was an Auspicious One.

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In a blaze of social splendor the new club house and grounds of the El Paso Country club were dedicated last evening. Society folks were out in force to attend the reception, which was the principal feature of the evening, and thus make the opening of the club an auspicious event.

The Fort Bliss Band, by courtesy of Major Partello, was present, and gave a concert, which was enjoyed to the utmost in the delightful night breeze.

The club house and grounds are situated just west of Washington park and only a short distance off the car line. In its appointments the club house is everything that quarters for a country club should be and will, no doubt, become a very popular resort this summer.

The golf links have been completed for some time and are said by experts to be as good as any in the country.

1933: Last Stronghold Of He-Drinkers Will Invite Patronage of Women

December 5, 1933

IT was a sad day today for those Juarez visitors who considered O'Brien's Riverside cafe the last
stronghold of he-drinkers.

The Riverside bar has been a man's resort. Women were not encouraged ' to patronize the bar, and
always formed a small minority of the clientele. There has been no jazz music or dancing.

But Joe Mogel, proprietor, today announced he will put down a hardwood floor in the bar itself, and will invite women-in to dance.

The handsome bar, against which men have leaned to drink and talk and cuss without feminine restraint will be shoved ignomiusly against one wall to make room for the new deal.

The Riverside has been an almost sacred precinct for El Paso's drinking politicians, lawyers, business and professional men who liked to drink in an atmosphere reminiscent of
pre-prohibition days.

"I'm not going to stand here and starve to death because of 3.2 beer," Mr. Mogel said defensively. "I've got to do something to get some business."

He will move to the Castle while the Riverside is being remodeled.

His announcement was received with bitterness by members of the old guard.

"The world is cockeyed," commented one veteran barfly, dropping a tear into his -beer.

"These days a drug store smells like a restaurant,, a restaurant smells like a saloon, and a saloon
 smells like a boudoir.

1942: Fancy Cowboy Boots Out For Duration

September 17, 1942

The War Production Board's ban on fancy cowboy boots for the duration will affect the wardrobe of the drugstore cowboy. The ranchman and the cowboy of the range will get along with less stitching on their Sunday boots.

Stitching is mentioned in an order from the WPB which says that no more fancy cowboy boots are to be made for the duration. Tony Lama, the bootmaker, has appealed for clarification. A certain amount of stitching is necessary to make the boot top stand up, he said.

 Ralph Fleck, El Paso cowman, today said that one row of stitching is enough for a work boot.

 "Cowmen like three or four rows of stitching on their dress boots," said Mr. Fleck. "But one row will hold 'em up."

 Old timers in the cow country often prefer their dress boots made with a brown leather on the tops as a contrast to the black bottoms and they like several rows of stitching, Mr. Fleck' said.

 "That's not loud but it makes a pretty boot," said Mr. Fleck. "Of course, anything real fancy, well, that's for the drugstore cowboy or the Hollywood roper."

 A work boot in El Paso costs a cowboy around $16 and a dress boot from $23 to $25, cowmen say.

 The stitching which they like is made with silk thread, which is the reason probably, WPB specifically mentioned stitching. The leather in the boot tops is soft like glove leather and the Myres Saddle Co. reports it's having trouble buying leather.

El Paso's Camp Grande Motor Hotel

03/14/1977

 Opening of the new City Market at 3700 Alameda has been delayed from two to three weeks.

The new City Market stands on the former Camp Grande location. Camp Grande was the first motel in the U.S. and set the national pace for motels.

The early beginnings of "luxury" motor hotels had their start here, according to Mrs. Dean Earp, who operated the camp with her husband from 1943 until 1955 when they sold it.

It was razed some years after that.

THE CAMP later renamed Grande Motel, was opened Nov. 10, 1923, by the Southwestern Tourist Camp Co., Inc., formed by four men: W. K. Marr, president; W. R. Piper, secretary-treasurer; Winchester Cooley, vice president and J. R. Moffett, manager.

"The camp could also be considered El Paso's first shopping center," Mrs. Earp said. "There were a bakery, shoe store, grocery, drug store, gas station, Post Office sub-station and police sub-station, photo shop, lunch and delicatessen at Camp Grande lunchroom, barber and beauty shops, a tent and awning company, auto supply shop and curio shop."

Mrs. Earp wrote a thesis on camping in general and included a lot of information about Camp Grande in it.

She majored in history and is retired as a counselor from Burges High School.

MRS. EARP SAID the camp had a recreation hall and during its early years, it held an evening floor show for guests. An orchestra was hired for special events.

"On either side of the hill were bungalows and outdoor campsite. Small bungalows for two people rented for $1.50 a night and the larger ones, $5 a night, " Mrs. Earp said. "There were shower baths in some and tubs in others. Each was equipped with a kitchenette, a breakfast room and bedroom. They were electrically lighted and heated with gas.

"There were spaces for tents for the thrifty tourist or if he preferred, he could rent a tent from the management.

There was a community kitchen containing 30 stoves equipped with five-cent meters There were folding tables and three kitchen sinks. There were bathrooms for men and women equipped with showers, tubs and washbasins, a laundry room with three double tubs, a patio where clothes could be hung to dry and three built-in ironing boards.

"WE OPERATED THE CAMP during World War II when there were lots of wives coming through to visit their husbands.

"One of the strangest thing to occur was when a man registered and was given a room; right after that another man came in an registered — using the exact name. We learned the first man was a hitchhiker who stole the wallet from the second man, who came in without knowing his wallet had been lifted and discovered his name on the register. The clerk on duty called the police and everything came out alright."

Camp Grande was sold the first time to Newell R. Hays who sold it to the Earps. The Earps sold it in 1956 to Leslie Hayes who in turn sold it to the Falstaff Brewing Co. in 1957.

Mrs. Earp keeps busy with her children. Honey Carter of Lynchburg, Va., Mrs. Minnie Lee Travis and Robert of El Paso and eight grandchildren. She is also busy with a number of organizations.

"I still meet a lot of people who will say, 'I remember you from the motel. And I still feel like I'd like to go out and check the rooms."