No longer front page news, the story of Grandpa Brown moved to page 2. At this point, Grandpa Brown had been in jail for 10 days. He was awaiting the Grand Jury to convene in two and a half months. I thank NewspaperArchive.Com for having the newspaper available online for me to transcribe.
BROWN BOUND TO GRAND JURY;
HELD IN WALKER JAIL
Brainerd Daily Dispatch – 27 October 1932, Page 2.
A Cass county grand jury will consider the case of Clifford Brown, Brainerd, charged with first degree manslaughter in connection with the death of Irwin Thompson, Brainerd, dealer in used furniture, who died after being struck in an altercation at Little Pine resort near here. Brown is being held in the Cass County jail at Walker in lieu of furnishing bond, the amount of which has not been announced. In his preliminary hearing before Justice of the Peace Bilben at Walker, Brown was bound over to the grand jury which will convene in Walker January 10.
Grandpa made bail after he was bound to the Grand Jury. Good thing as they didn’t convene until January 10th, 2½ months later.
This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.
George H. Wolcott, circa 1934
The envelope this negative was in says, “Geo. H. Wolcott, I P Co, Kansas City, MO #67.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
George H. Wolcott, circa 1934
The 1922 Kansas City City Directory lists George H Wolcott, a traveling salesman at Irving-Pitt Co.
The 1930 US Census lists George H Wolcott, a 47-year-old salesman in Seattle, Washington. He was born about 1883 in New York, his father was born in Massachusetts, and his mother was born in Maine.
In 1914, George Howard Wolcott applied for a passport. George was born in Olean, New York, on 20 January 1883. He made his residence in Kansas City, MO. He requested his passport to be sent to him c/o Irving Pitt Mfg. Co. His passport was returned and then redirected to #54 Franklin St., New York City.
The Massachusetts Masonic Membership Cards lists George Howard Wolcott, a salesman living in Roxbury. He was born in Olean, New York, on 15 Jan 1883. He died on 15 Jan 1967.
This photo is of George Howard Wolcott, born 15 Jan 1883 in Olean, New York, and who died 15 Jan 1967.
I have not found George in any Ancestry trees, nor does he appear in any Family Search profiles. Because I feel confident about George’s birth and death dates, I created a Family Search Profile for him– GNXS-67P and uploaded two photos of him to his Family Search Memories.
Miss Frances M. Woodbury, circa 1935
This negative envelope says, “Miss Frances M. Woodbury, 11 Higgins St #629.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Frances M. Woodbury, circa 1935
The 1938 Portland City Directory lists Frances M Woodbury living at 11 Higgins. She is a music teacher.
The 1940 US Census lists Frances M Woodbury, the 27-year-old daughter of James and Lillian Woodbury, living at 11 Higgins, St. Frances and her parents were all born in Maine.
This photo is of Frances M Woodbury, born 31 May 1912 in South Portland to James Franklin and Lillian May (Harmon) Woodbury.
Ancestry has 25 public trees that refer to Frances. Family Search has profile G79S-RXP for Frances Marion Woodbury (1912-1971. I uploaded a photo of Frances to her Family Search Memories.
Frank Roy Wood, circa 1935.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. L. Wood, 113 Franklin St #991.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Frank Roy Wood, circa 1935
This photo (ID #991) was taken about 1935/1936.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Frank L (wife Mae) Wood as a janitor working and living at 113 Franklin St.
The 1940 Census lists Frank L, his wife May, and his son Frank (age 6), Wood living at 133 Washington Ave.
Frank Roy Wood was born on 26 Feb 1934 to Frank L and May (Powers) Wood.
Ancestry has two public trees that refer to Frank Roy Wood. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Frank Roy Wood, although his father, Frank L Wood, born 1 March 1901, is profile LL4Y-1Q5. I uploaded a photo of Frank Roy to Dead Fred
Unknown Children
(Probably the children of Mrs. May Wood)
Envelope Identification.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. May Wood, 81 Morning St #61.”
What I found regarding this photo package.
The 1934 Portland City Directory list no one living at 81 Morning Street.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Mrs. Jennie Goldstein as living at 81 Morning St.
The 1936 Portland City Directory available on Ancestry is missing page 1086; however, MyHeritage has the page and it shows Mrs. Jennie Goldstein still at that address.
The 1940 US Census lists two May Woods in Maine.
May Wood, Wife of Frank L Wood and mother of son Frank (see above).
Mae B Wood is a 68-year-old widow. She has no children in her household.
There are 11 other Wood women who have M as a middle initial and live in Cumberland County, Maine.
Florence M Wood, the 50-year-old wife of Sherman W Wood. There are no children in the household.
Elene M Wood is a single 17-year-old.
Hilda M Wood is a divorced 23-year-old daughter of Eva C Scott. There are no children in the household.
Florence M Wood is the 30-year-old wife of Frank C Wood. They have three daughters, Lorraine (10), Ruth (9), and Audrey (6).
Erd M Hoyt is the 27-year-old wife of Russell D Hoyt. There are no children in the household.
Grace M Wood is the 44-year-old wife of Raymond J Wood. There are no daughters in the household.
Alice M Wood, the 18-year-old wife of Lester H Wood. There are no children in the household.
Alice M Wood, the 63-year-old wife of Harry Wood. There are no children in the household.
Julia M Wood, the 57-year-old wife of Alfred C Wood. There are no children in the household.
Frances M Wood is a three-year-old living in South Portland.
Gertrude M Wood, a single 17-year-old.
Only Florence M Wood, the 30-year-old wife of Frank C Wood, is a potential candidate.
Ancestry Family trees suggest that Florence M Wood is Florence Madeline (Reddy) Wood.
Probably May Wood’s Children
Because I cannot connect either May Wood to 81 Morning Street and because Florence M Wood’s middle name was Madeline and not Mae/May, I cannot identify the children in this photo. (Although I suspect they are Lorraine and Ruth Wood, circa 1934.) I have not identified the children in this photo sufficiently to upload to either Family Search or Dead Fred, so I only include the individual’s image here.
Unknown Children
(Probably the children of Mrs. William Wood.)
Envelope writing
This photo is from the Ethel Wight Studio, Portland, Maine. The negative envelope says, “Mrs. Wm Wood, 84 High St #985.”
What I found regarding this photo package.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Donald L Anderson, Mrs. Dora C Palmer, and George Van Vakias living at 84 High Street.
The 1936 Portland City Directory lists George A Street, William O Ward, and George Van Vakias living at 84 High Street.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists two William Woods.
William H jr (Louise B) is a salesman living at 150 Park Av, Apt 9
William S is an attendant at 140 Free, residing at 785 Congress.
Probably Mrs. William Wood’s children.
The 1940 US Census lists William H Wood, Jr, married to Louise Wood. They have three daughters, Annabelle (12), Dian (11), and Helen (1), and they live at 56 Ocean in Portland. The photo is of two boys, so it can’t be this William Wood.
Because I cannot connect either family with the Wood surname to 84 High Street and cannot identify a William Wood family with two sons the right age, I have not identified the children in this photo. I only include the picture of them here.
Conclusion
I fully identified two of the individuals have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories
I identified one individual that did not have a Family Search profile but did appear in Ancestry trees, so I posted his/her image to Dead Fred.
I was unable to identify four of the individuals and only have their photo here.
If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.
Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Family Search, Dead Fred, and Flickr have a higher image quality than the images linked here.
For all postings of the Ethel Wight Collection, please see here.
Endnotes
[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.
[ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera and computer software.
My grandpa, Richard “Dick” Brown, was born Clifford Brown (he changed his name in his 30s). Ninety years ago today, Grandpa (Clifford) and the death of Irwin Thompson was still on the front page of the Brainerd Daily Dispatch. I thank NewspaperArchive.Com for having the newspaper available online for me to transcribe.
MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE IS FILED
AGAINST BROWN IN THOMPSON DEATH
Brainerd Daily Dispatch, 18 Oct 1932, Page 1.
A charge of first degree manslaughter today was filed against Clifford Brown, 28, of Brainerd, in connection with the death of Irwin Thompson, 37, Brainerd dealer in used furniture.
Ed Rogers, county attorney of Cass county, filed the charge this morning. Preliminary hearing has been set for Thursday in the court of Justice of Peace John T Bilbin in Walker.
Brown is being held in the county jail at Walker where he was taken Monday following inquest held here in Thompson’s death. The coroner’s jury returned a verdict that Thompson came to his death as the result of a blow at the hands of Clifford Brown.
Charges against Brown grew out of an altercation between the two men early Sunday following a dance at Little Pine resort. Thompson slumped to the ground after being struck by Brown and died a few minutes later. Physicians examining the body expressed the opinion that Thompson’s death was induced by the blow. Meanwhile funeral arrangements were being completed today. The body was sent to Wadena Monday where Funeral services and interment will be held Wednesday.
We won’t hear anything more about what happened to Grandpa Brown until the newspaper 9 days later, on the 27th of October.
My grandpa, Richard “Dick” Brown, was born Clifford Brown (he changed his name in his 30s). I believe this story is one that my Great-aunt Deloris wouldn’t tell me because she wouldn’t “speak ill of the dead.” Anyway, 90 years ago today, Grandpa (Clifford) made it on the front page of the Brainerd Daily Dispatch. My thanks to NewspaperArchive.Com for having the newspaper available online for me to transcribe.
The Brainerd Daily Dispatch (Brainerd, MN), October 17, 1932, Page 1.
Irwin Thompson, 37 killed by blow at hands of C. Brown
Dealer in Used Furniture Slumps to Ground and DiesShortly After Being Struck Following
Dance at Resort Near Here.
The Brainerd Daily Dispatch (Brainerd, MN), October 17, 1932, Page 1. Via NewspaperArchive.com.
Irwin Thompson, 37, Brainerd dealer in used furniture today was dead and Clifford Brown, 28, also Brainerd, was being held by Cass County authorities pending further investigation of Thompson’s death which follow the fight early Sunday after a dance at Little Pine resort 6 miles west of here.
Brown Taken to Walker
A corners jury impaneled from Cass county this afternoon returned a verdict that “Thompson met his death from a blow at the hands of Clifford Brown.” The Jury heard testimony of Mrs. Thompson. who accompanied her husband to the dance and Martin Podratz, who was also a member of the Thompson party, at the inquest held in Whitney funeral home here.
Pending further investigation by Ed Rogers, county attorney of Haskell county, Brown was taken to Walker where he will be held in the county jail. County Corner Thomas and Sheriff Merrie, both of Cass county, assisted Rogers at the inquest and took Brown to Walker late today.
Called to view the body, Dr. J. A. Thabes, Sr., and Dr. J. A. Thabes, Jr., found that Thompson suffered no broken bones or unusual marks of violence but advanced the theory that his death was induced by the blow.
While stories of principles differ in certain details, authorities are of the belief that the fight was precipitated over attentions paid Mrs. Brown by Thompson. Brown, reviewing the events leading up to the fight to a representative of the Daily Dispatch, declared that Thompson struck the first blow and exhibited a lacerated lip as evidence.
Admits Hitting Thompson
Brown admits striking Thompson and seeing him slumped to the ground. He said he thought nothing of it at the time, thinking that Thompson would revive shortly. When he failed to rally, Brown said he helped lift Thompson into the car to go to medical attention. He said that Thompson’s Paul’s was still bleeding when he was placed in the car.
Testimony of Mrs. Thompson before the corners jury reviewed events leading up to the fight.
—–Column 2—–
Questioned by Rogers, Mrs. Thompson said,
“Together with Mrs. James Bosley, Miss E. Bosley and Martin Podraz, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson left Brainerd for Little Pine about 10 o’clock. Shortly after we were there, Mr. Thompson introduced me to Brown. Mr. Thompson and Brown had known each other for some time.
Little PIne Resort, Brainerd, ca 1950. By Ren Holland via his blog. https://blog.renholland.com/
“We never left the dance Hall except to go out to the car for only a few minutes at a time. We had a little to drink but no one was visibly intoxicating.
“After the dance as we were leaving the hall Fred Austin took Thompson by the arm and said he wanted to talk to him. We went to the car and Thompson later join us with Austin going to his car.
Pulse Still Beating
Brown came over and said he wished to talk to Thompson. They went to Brown’s car and a few minutes later I saw Mr. Thompson takeoff his coat and they started to fight the next thing I knew was that Mr. Thompson was laying on the ground. I went to him and raised his head. It’s pulse was still beating. Replaced him in the car and after considerable difficulty and getting the car started we came to Brainerd and went to the home of Dr. Beise. He pronounced Mr. Thompson dead.”
Podraz Testifies
Podraz’s testimony corroborated that of Mrs. Thompson he added that Brown assisted him (Podraz) in getting Thompson to the car. “He left when other members of a party reached them.” Podratz said.
The witness testified that he “knew Thompson was dead fifteen minutes after the fight but said hd didn’t want to say anything about it because of Mrs. Thompson being there.”
Podraz said that he knew of no trouble between the men and did not hear the conversation leading up to the fight.
Confined to the Crow Wing county jail this morning where he was lodged following his arrest by sheriff Frank Little Sunday upon the request of Cass county authorities, Brown told the Daily Dispatch his version of the affair.
Introduced to Mrs. Thompson
“With Mrs. Brown and a friend, Victoria Colette, we went to Little Pine about 9:30 o’clock we met Thompson there and he introduced me to his wife we exchanged dances and everything appeared friendly while dancing with Mrs. Thompson, she told me she had heard reports that Thompson was too friendly with Mrs. Brown. I went to talk to Thompson but we had no argument.
“After the dance I walked out to my car and later was accosted by Thompson. He came to the car and took hold of the open door he swung back, shattering the glass. He did not appear mad but as others of his party started towards us he took off his coat and struck me. I took off my overcoat and coat and hit him. He fell to the ground but I thought he would get up in a minute. I then started after Fred Austin who appeared to be coming after me but he assured me that nothing was wrong after helping plays Thompson in his car and feeling that his pulse was still beating I drove home.
Body to Wadena
Brown is a laborer and had been employed on the new highway bridge crossing the river here. In recent weeks, he had been unemployed. He has been a resident for several years.
Thompson operated a used furniture store on Laurel street for the last two years.
The body of Thompson was taken to Wadena this afternoon where funeral services an interment will be held.
Surviving him are his widow and four children, Bernice, 11; Glenn, 9; Doris, 7, and Jean, 5.
As part of my regular updates and “Do Over” process, I thought I’d take a quick look at the Matson clan in the 1950 Census. I found my stepfather (Edgar/Budgar), his parents, and his siblings in the 1950 Census.
Edgar Jerome Matson (1925-2003)
From the 1950 Census – Minnesota, Hennepin County, Minneapolis, ED 89-356, Sheet 10, Lines 28-30, I learned that Edgar J. Matson, his wife Frieda, and their daughter, Heidi, were living at 2024 Girard Ave No. He was working 45 hours per week as an Automobile Assembler. His German wife Frieda had received her First Papers automatically through her marriage. Heidi had been born the previous March [March 20th]. That address is the same as his parents, siblings, Elizabeth and Kenneth, and niece, Christine.
Matson, Edgar J Head 24 Minn Works as an Automobile Assembler, 45 hr/yr. —, Frieda Wife 25 Germany —, Heidi N Dau. Mar Minn
Notes: Frieda Matson received her first papers automatically through her marriage. I am informed.
Additional Info for #30 (Heidi) (1 year ago – “Not Born Yet.)
Edward W Matson (1925-2003)
2923 Girard Ave,
Matson, Edward W Head 52 Chipper & Grinder at a Tractor Factory (40 hrs) —, Hildur C Wife 52 —, Elizabeth A Dau. 26 Stenographer – Photography (40 hrs) —, Kenneth M Son 23 Mauler operator – Tractors (40 hrs) —, Christine L G. dau. 4
All were born in Minnesota.
Elizabeth was born in the US. Education: finished the 11th grade and worked 50 weeks during the last year.
Ardis (Matson) Rohloff
Ardis (Matson) Rohloff
Budgar’s sister, Ardis, married Richard Rohloff in 1941. Ardis and Richard appear in the 1950 Census living in Albion, Minnesota.
“3½ mi on left, south from Corina – Albion line along Swart Watts Lake. First town road n of Albion store.”
Lines 17 thru 19 – Farm
Rohloff, Richard Head 29 Works 70 hours/week farming on (own) farm. —, Ardis Wife 27 —, Richard E Son 7
All were born in Minnesota.
That accounts for Budgar, his parents (Eddie & Hildur), his siblings, Ardis, Elizabeth, and Kenny, and his niece, Chris, during the 1950 Census.
The Brainerd Daily Dispatch (Brainerd, MN), October 17, 1932, Page 1.
