The News From 100 Years Ago

Stealing from Uncle Sam¹
Ralph Gregory, one of Pacific Grove’s most popular mail carriers, has pleaded guilty to stealing from his employer, the United States Post Office. Gregory said that he yielded to temptation and snitched postage stamps from a drawer in the post office. The purloined stamps amounted to $6.81. The theft was almost immediately discovered and an attempt started to ferret out the guilty party. A sting operation was therefore set, and Gregory fell for it when a mark approached and stated that he needed to purchase a few stamps. Gregory agreed to exchange stolen stamps for a reduced value in cash².
A United States Marshal then appeared to arrest Gregory, who was transported to Salinas where he appeared before G. A. Daugherty, United States Commissioner.
The suspect was placed under bond for his appearance before the United States District Court. Gregory paid for the stolen stamps at the time of his pleading. He will probably be dealt with more leniently than if he had denied his guilt and attempted to contest the accusation.

Returns from San Quentin duty
John P. Harkins, who for ten years has served as an officer at San Quentin prison, has severed his connection with that institution, and has again taken up residence here. Harkins stated that he intends to engage in business, but has not yet decided exactly what he wants to do. A spokesperson for San Quentin said that Harkin’s resignation was accepted only with great reluctance. Harkins has distinguished himself with outstanding service during his time at the prison². Pioneering resident passes on.
More than a quarter-century ago, Henry Davenhill departed with his family from England to wander around California and finally settle in Pacific Grove. About six years ago, Davenhill gave up renting and purchased a home for himself and his wife at Alder street and Pine avenue. He resided there until his recent death and was frequently visited by his six children and sister. Davenhill had been nearly blind for the past several years. A short funeral service at the home was officiated by the Rev. Edward Molony, rector of St. Mary’s by the Sea. The remains were interred in El Carmelo Cemetery.

Patrons enjoy D’s theater
Nearly every one of the large audience present last night expressed themselves as being highly pleased with the excellent show they had seen. More than one said that the show is worth much more than the paltry price paid for admission. Tonight’s flickers, the closing night for this living show, again include King Saul, Ransom Reason, Leather Stocking, and David. Accompanying travelettes are said to have been filmed in as realistic a manner as possible by Biograph.
All seats are 25¢.
First showing begins at 7, the second showing at 8:30.

Notes from around the area…

• Mrs. A. F. Bullene caught an early-morning train to travel to San Francisco.
  While there, she intends to attend a recital by the renowned operatist Madame
  Sembrich.
• Mrs. Almina Westling of Chicago, Illinois, and Mrs. Alice Holler of
  Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, arrived on yesterday’s train and checked in at the
  Centrella. The women are endeavoring to complete a journey around the entire
  nation. They are much taken by local beauty.
• Mr. C. M. Hunter was in town today as a representative of the Hamilton Brown
  Shoe Company. Hunter will be showing samples at the Centrella for the next
  several days.
• Mrs. C. K. Tuttle got a pleasant surprise Monday evening when she was called
  on by a party of ten of her friends. The affair was planned by Miss Gladys
  Tuttle and Miss Winifred Tuttle in honor of their mother’s birthday. The
  evening was passed playing Five Hundred³
• City Engineer H. D. Severance has been instructed to prepare an estimate of the
  cost of grading Ocean View Avenue⁴

For sale or rent…

• When you have a head ache, you need Nature’s Remedy Head Ache Pills. At
  Gretter’s for 25¢ a box.
• Telephone me at Red 269 and order your Sunday dinner cooked to specification.
  A $4.50 meal serves a family of four. Miss Brenda Jordon.
• Choice wheat for sale at $2.10 per 100 pound bag. T. A. Work Company,
• Six rooms, close in, with barn and gas. $20 per month. S. N. Williams.
• Will exchange my Valley ranch for a well-located Pacific Grove property.

Notes
1 The stolen stamps were contained in nine booklets of different denominations.
Mail on the Gregory route failed to be delivered on the day of his arrest. A
substitute deliveryman filled in the following day. The iconic symbol of Uncle
Sam came into being in 1812.

2 San Quentin Prison is located in Marin County, California and was opened in
July, 1852. The prison first occuplied a sailing ship named the CSS Waban,
anchored just off the coastline. Prisoners were rowed ashore to work on the
new facility. One of San Quentin’s dungeons is California’s oldest public
building. All male executions in California must by law occur at San Quentin.
In 1910, hanging served as the means of execution. Total hangings, before
adopting the gas chamber in 1937, numbered 215.

3 Five Hundred refers to a card game copyrighted and introduced in 1904. A takeoff on Euchre, Five Hundred deals ten cards per player. A game may include
from two to five players. The name, Five Hundred, refers to the score required
to win.

4 In 1910, Ocean View was little more than a trail composed of sand mixed with
gravel and rock. Surface smoothing was accomplished by a two-horse team
pulling a grader.