100 years ago – December 10, 1925
Girl in Gangster Assault Case Says Testimony False
One of the girls who was a principal in the gangster assault case in San Francisco just five years ago, Jessie Montgomery, who is now Mrs. W. P. Miller of Spokane, Wash., has written a letter which has been turned over to the state board of prison directors, in which she admits that she falsely testified at the trial of Ed “K. O.” Kovulskie, Edmund “Spud” Murphy, and James Carey, now serving 50-year terms in Folsom penitentiary for their part in the attack on her and Jean Stanley.
The friends of the three men, on the basis of this letter, now plan an appeal to Governor Richardson for a pardon for them. Ascribing as the reasons she testified falsely the girl says that at the time she was afraid the men under indictment might be freed and “get” her.
It was just five years ago yesterday that Sheriff James Petray of this city, together with two detectives, were killed while attempting to arrest three alleged members of the gang in a Santa Rosa hotel, wanted in connection with this case. The trio of gangsters were captured and later lynched and hanged in a Santa Rosa cemetery by unknown persons who took them from officers at the county jail.
Read more about the murder and lynching of 1920 at hannahclaybornshistoryofhealdsburg.com/town-that-kept-a-secret.html.
75 years ago – December 7, 1950
Santa Claus Returns to Penney’s Store
Santa Claus has come to Healdsburg! He arrived Saturday and he can be seen in his familiar red and white costume at Penney’s Store, West and North Streets, every day from 2 to 4 p.m. until Christmas. This is “Old Nick’s” third annual visit to Penney’s. According to Roy Henderson, manager, there will be a gift for every child who pays a visit to Santa Claus.
50 years ago – December 4, 1975
Unusual handcrafts at Camp Rose Bazaar
The basement at Camp Rose Inn is brimful of unusual and handmade crafts. Healdsburg’s artisans have again contributed their finest wares to the Camp Rose Christmas Bazaar which is open now until Dec. 20 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. each night. Rexie Bertie has made bone jewelry, patchwork pillows, leather purses, dry flower arrangements, and weavings for the bazaar. She has also found time to be the general chairman.
There are bar stools carved by Wayne Boring, pottery by Kathleen Lowry, Arnold Schraer, and Bill Johnson, sketches by Diane Brown, and macrame wall hangings by Joann Chadd. There are terrariums, giant God’s eyes, bone buttons, and reasonably priced wooden toys. Artist Molly Ramola, recently featured in “California Living” has a good selection of watercolors and pen and ink sketches. Judy Chambers, who won first prize at the California State Fair with her handmade doll, is accepting orders for more.
The Flashbackers are docents of the Healdsburg Museum & Historical Society. The Museum is open 11am to 4pm every Wednesday through Sunday. healdsburgmuseum.org
