Oldest {Newspaper in Alaska._“Tile News of the Day In Pictures” Member of The Associated Press
T() THE WILDING OF A BETTER NOME AND THE SECOND DIVISION.
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THE NOME DAILY NUGGET
VOL. 37. No. 309 _NOME, ALASKA, THURSDAY DEC 31 1936 Per Copy loots
Extortion Letters Were Received
ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH KIDNAPER
QUEER HAPPENINGS
AT MATTSON HOME
LOOK SUSPICIOUS
Flashing of Lights, Mysterious Automobile Mystify All
Concerned With Kidnaping Case. Confidence
Plainly Visible Faces Mattson Family
(By The Associated Press)
TACOMA. Dec. 31, — A series
of flashing lights and the my
stery of an automobile, and an
unexplained surge of confidence
in the Mattson home, provided
mystifying developments, as the
search for the kidnaped Mattson
boy entered on its fourth day.
Lights reported over Issaquah,
a small King County town near
here, where the Weyerhauser
boy was released by kidnapers,
sent squads of state police cars
and newspapermen scurrying
from Seattle shortly after mid
night last night.
The mystery automobile was a
small coupe which pulted away
from the Mattson home late last
night carrying a man and woman
who refused to give their names
or say where they were going.
The car was an exact model
of that specified to be used in
delivering the twenty-eight thou
sand dollars ransom.
Members of the family devel
oped an air of confidence. A
visitor to the house yesterday,
said that all were in better spir
its. He said he could offer no
explanation, and Dr. Mattson re
fused to make any statement.
Claimed Contact
Is Established
With Kidnaper
CBv The Associated Press)
TACOMA, Dec. 31—The News
Tribune said it had learned from
an authoritative source, that ‘‘con
tact had been establish^ be
tween members of the Mattson
family and the kidnaper. The in-,
formant who is a close friend of
tihe family said, that there is no
question that the family has been
in direct communication. Hei
would not state, however, wheth
er the twentyeight thousand dal- j
lars ransom had been paid, say
ing, he was not informed on that ^
point and did not know the de- [
tails, when or in what manner ,
contact had been established.”
An intimate friend of the fam
ily also expressed to the Associ
ated Press the opinion that the
family “have no expectation of
the boys immediate return, or if
they have, they are following
federal agents instructions in
keeping absolutely silent about
it.
Win* A* Independent
Nebraska’s 7 b y e a r-o I d sen.-.toi
George W. Norris, who was for
•nerly a Republican, won re-electioi
as an independent by petition, de
feat.ng both the Republican and
Democratic nominees. He is shown
•t his McCook home after his vic
tory was assured. (Associated Press.
Photo)
Another Lead
Obtained in The
Lindbergh Case
i U” The Associated Press’
TRENTON. New Jersey, Dec.
31, — A report that twenty-one
thousand, six hundred and fifty
dollars in “goldbacks”, Lind
bergh ransom money published
by the Philadelphia Record had
been found and also that he was
ready to “tell all!1” about the re
puted developments in the case,
brought a terse “no comment”
from Governor Harold Hoffman.
Other official sources made den
ials through the press.
Aide William Conklin, to the
governor said he neither affirmed
or wouilld deny the report.
State police superintendent Col.
Mark Kimberling said “some
body’s just had a shot in the
arm”. Other sources said there
was not a single goldback bill in
the ransom money. ,
Bandit Killed
When Tried To
Abduct Family
(By The Associated Press)
PORT LAVACA. Texas, Dec.
31, -—A Gunman who attempted
to abduct three members of a
family here was shot to death
and Sheriff J. D. O'Neill, aged
63, was seriously wounded in a
pistol battle.
. The gunman was identified as
Wade W. Gunboat Smith, about
34 years old, who attempted to
hold up Mr. and Mrs. Ben Was
serman and their daughter Ben
nie Mae, 22, as they sat in their
car, while backing out of the
garage next to their home.
Mrs. Wasserman leaped out of
the car and called the officers,
while the bandit forced Wasser
man to drive dowm the road
where he w'as overtaken and the
bandit killed by the sheriff and
his officers.
Begin the New Year Right
Subscribe for The Nugget.
\ HARPO MARX SECRETLY WED
Harpo Marx, the silent member of that mad Marx brothers team of
the screen, and Susan Fleming, film actress, smilingly announced at
Hollywood that they had been secretly married two months ago. But
) Harpo said he couldn’t recall just where it was the ceremony took
place. (Associated Press Photo)
SHIPOWNERS MADE ANOTHER
ATTEMPT CONFERENCE WITH
UNION LAST TIME THIS YEAR
(By The Associated Dress)
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 31, —
Shipowners solicit Icoinferences
with another striking union as
the approach of the new year
found waterfronts strikebound
for the past sixty-three days.
It also found unions project
ing national legislation to back
their cause.
Representative Plant of the
shipowners, called upon represen
tatives of marine engineers to
meet him today to discuss the
union’s demand for preference
hiring and a manning scale bas
ed on an eight hour day, and
wage adjudgments.
The unions’ “law and legisla
tion” committee announced plans
for a legislation program, which
had been approved by the joint
strike policy committee. It would
give the unions full1 right to
strike, but embodies a govern
ment board to mediate disputes,
through offering its services, or
by the request of either side.
(By The Associated Press)
LOS ANGELES. Dec. 31, —
Washington State defeated UCLA
52 to 51, in two overtime periods
last night. Ohio State . 0 South
ern California 38, one overtime
period. Six thousand persons
saw the games.
Rain Storms At
Pasadena Mar
Prospects Day
(By The Associated Press)
PASADENA, Dec. 38, — A
heavvy rain, not a mere drizzle,
soaked the big Rose Bowl and
everything around it yesterday
and today, with no letup in sight,
as the Universities of Washing
ton and Pittsburgh tuned up for
the Rose Bowl Football Classic
tomorrow.
Both teams went through final
hard workouts in the downpour.
Each played only one game in
the rain this season, Washington
beating Oregon State and Pitt
losing to Dusquesne.
The odds are five to four on
Washington, but you may take
your choice. Opinion is sharply
divided on the effect of the rain
tomorrow.
Under the Warner system Pitt
handles the ball more, with more
chances for fumbles. Washing-1
ton with the Notre Dame system
however means more forward
and lateral passing, which also
will be hazardous.
A controversy exists over the
blue jersies of Pitt and the pur-;
pie jersies of Washington, each j
sugesting that the other wear
white during the game.
The seating capacity has been
sold out for a long time, and
about 83,000 are expected to see
the game.
The city expects nearly a mil
lion and a half persons to view
the 58th Tournament of Roses
Parade.
JJep’t. Commerce
To Ask For 10
Million Aviation
(By The Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, D. C.. Dec. 31,
—The Department of Commerce
announced it would seek ten mil
lion dollars to improve airways
and safety facilities during the
next two years.
J. Monroe Johnson, Assistant
Secretary of Commerce said that
a ten million dollar appropria
tion would be asked of congress
the money to be used to improve
and modernize radio and other
aids to air transportation, and to
develop new safety appliances.
Coinciding with this announce
ment, New York's senator Cope
land, chairman of the senate com
mittee on aviation safety said
that recent airway fatalities
would necessitate further hear
ings by the committee.
Arc you taking advantage
of six months paid in ad
vance subscription ?
THREATS
D IATH
H tARD
HAS ARMED GUARD
(Bv The Associated Press'
BOSTON, Dec. 31, — Jane
Withers, child screen star, has
been threatened with death un
less her parents pay fifty thou
sand dollars, her mother Mrs.
Ruth Withers revealed today.
She said “it was supposed to
be kept secret. I don’t know how
• t !c. ! ed out”.
Mrs. Withers said Jane was
mak.ng a personal appearance in
a Boston theatre. S. e said she
had received two anonymous
notes at her Hollywood home,
the first demanding money under
threat of kidnaping June and kill
ng her and the second 'hrea'en
ed Mrs. Withers with “being tak
en for a ride.
BOSTON, Dec. 31, — A pri
vate detective guarded freckle
aced Jane Withers, as a result
of kidnap threats received re
cently.
Her mother, Mrs. Jane Withers
said that an armed bodyguard
accompanies the child every
where.
Newspaper advertising
will develop new business
for you.
Wins Zioncheck Seat
Warren G. Magnuson, Seattle coun
ty prosecutor, was swept by ths
tide of Democratic votes into ths
congressional seat held by his
friend, the late Marion A. ^ion
check, whose fatal leap ended his
turbulent political career. Magnu
son is pictured with a broad smile
after learning of his election. (As
sociated Press Photo)
N. A. C. NEW YEAR’S EVE BARN DANCE
DECEMBER 31st 9:45 P. M. WHITES ONLY—LADIES FREE—GENTS $1.00 AT THE NOME AMU SEMENT HALL—9:45 P. M. NEW YEAR’S EVE.