Looking Back to 1940: Young girl found beaten to death at Descanso school

Posted: 6:53 am, July 10, 2024 by Reporter Jackie Iddings

This look back at Paso Robles history comes from local newspapers in the Paso Robles Area Historical Society collection. News for this column is selected with the assistance of Research Director Jan Cannon. Newspaper photography by GiGi Green.

Excerpts from the Wednesday, July 10, 1940, Paso Robles Journal

Young girl found beaten to death at Descanso school

Gayle Jones, eight-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Jones, Morro Bay, was found in a gulch one-half mile from Ranch Descanso school on Atascadero Morro Road, Tuesday night with her skull crushed by a rock. Doctors who investigated later declared that the little girl had also been attacked, Sheriff Murray Hathway informed the Journal today.

She was first missed when she failed to appear for supper and was later found in the gulch by Mrs. Ray Bowden of the Ranch Descanso school. She was rushed to the Atascadero hospital where she died at 6 a.m. Gale had been at the school off and on for the past two years.

Sheriff Hathway was notified at 7 p.m. Tuesday and immediately investigated with District Attorney A.H. Brazil and Deputy Sheriffs Rudolph Marshall and Paul Merrick.

Investigation pointed to Jack Harris, a 14-year-old boy at the school, and finding blood on one leg and later on overalls, the youth confessed Wednesday.

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Bartender held on murder charge

Edward Ballert, 58, Paso Robles bartender, is being held in the county jail on $5000 cash bail, charged with attempted murder as the result of a complaint signed by Mrs. Katherine McDonald, 38, Paso Robles.

The shooting was said to have followed angry words between Ballert and Mrs. McDonald in the Colombo bar on Pine Street Thursday evening. Following the argument Ballert is alleged to have gone to his room and returned with a pistol which he aimed at Mrs. McDonald and fired at close range. The bullet nicked her car.

Two men standing close to Ballert, grabbed the gun before a second shot could be fired. Ballert was later taken into custody by local police after a complaint was signed by Mrs. McDonald.

He is now awaiting a preliminary hearing before Judge Ray Lyon in Superior Court.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Heousek seriously injured when car takes 100-foot drop

Miraculously escaping death Sunday about 4 p.m., when their car plunged down a 100-foot embankment on the Morro-Atascadero Road, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Heousek, Atascadero, are convalescing in the Atascadero hospital. Mrs. Heousek is suffering from a crushed chest and Mr. Heousek, who operates a shoe shop in Paso Robles, received a broken rib and arm.

They were accompanied in the car by their three sons, Joe, 14; John, 11, and George 9. Joe was slightly injured, but the other two boys escaped unscathed. Mechanical difficulties which caused the steering wheel to lock are said to have caused the accident.

Hold inquest on fatal shooting of Zarate today

Inquest into the fatal shooting of Serafin Zarate, which took place early last Thursday morning near the corner of 12^th and Pine streets, Paso Robles, started at 3 p.m. today (Wednesday) in charge of County Coroner L.L. Buechler at Kuehl Funeral Home.

Amudo Zabola, 30, a transient laborer, who is charged with the crime was arraigned Monday afternoon in the court of Justice of the Peace Chas. W. Watts. He was bound over to the superior court without bail and returned to San Luis Obispo County jail.

Five other suspects arrested last week have been released following questioning by District Attorney A.H. Brazil. Police officials believe the shooting fray to have occurred as a result of a feud of long standing between Zarate and Zabola.

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