Looking Back to November 1934: Town has a crime wave, storm pounds the area

Posted: 6:19 am, November 20, 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 Thursday, November 22, 1934, Paso Robles Advertiser

Nite burglars raid stores; take meat & hardware

Use time-worn system of forcing entrance Sunday

After several months of inactivity, sneak thieves again made raids on the establishments of Bryan Bros. Meat Co., and the R.C. Heaton Co. Sunday night.

The thefts were discovered by night patrolman Walter Bathrick about 11 p.m., but a few minutes after they had been made. Stolen from Bryan Brothers were several steaks and a few pennies from the cash register. Entrance was made through a rear door.

At Heaton’s, a pane of glass was broken, and the entrance forced much in the same manner as on previous burglaries. Several watches, a rifle, knives and ammunition were taken. The loot has an estimated value of approximately $50. No clues as to the identity of the criminals have as yet been discovered.

Drunk beggar given a ‘floater’

After a night spent in the local jailhouse, one Wm. Kiser, a transient inebriate, was given a suspended sentence of 30 days in the county jail on promise that he would leave town for good. Judge Wm. Biel presided.

Kiser was picked up late Monday by Police Chief Claude Azbel, after he has spent the major part of the day annoying local businessmen with requests for money.

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Drunken pair smash hydrant

The names of two Lompoc joyriders appeared on the local police blotter Tuesday morning, and fines totaling $75 were added to the city treasury.

Matt Makkanen, and J.C. Thomas, both of Lompoc, were jailed shortly after 10 p.m. Monday, and charged with drunk driving by night officer Walter Bathrick, after the pair had crashed into and broken a fire hydrant on Spring street, between Tenth and Eleventh streets.

Makkanen was fined $25 and his companion $50, in addition to a 30-day suspension of his driver’s license. Police Judge Wm. Biehl imposed the sentences.

Storm boosts season’s total to 4.48 inches

Rains which poured over San Luis Obispo County throughout the weekend brought increased life to all forms of vegetation, and broad smiles to the faces of those who depend upon the soil for their livelihood. Greener lawns, a new crop of weeds in vacant lots, and the unprecedented growth in surrounding grain fields was readily discernable the fore part of this week.

A precipitation of 2.56 inches was recorded on the rain gauge at the S.P. Milling Co. during the last storm, which began on the 15^th. This brings the total rainfall for this season to 4.48 inches. It exceeds Oct-Nov totals for all years except 1900 and 1926 and nearly approaches the recorded rainfall of the entire 1923-24 season of 6.38 inches.

Local peace officers were kept busy on Sunday evening, following reports of landslides and debris on the highways both north and south of Paso Robles, and according to reports received here, highway traffic was tied up on several places in the county because of Sunday’s storm.

If the present average is maintained, this will be one of the wettest years in the history of the central coast section.

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Thank you to the sponsors of Looking Back

Paso Robles Pioneer Museum – Come take a real look back into local Paso Robles history. Open Thursday through Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 2010 Riverside Ave., Paso Robles, CA 93446, www.pasoroblespioneermuseum.org (805) 239-4556.

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