Mary Ruth Slaton diary, 1931 - 1935

[Left Page] [December 29]

[1931.] Mother & myself washed and ironed today.

[1932.] Rudell & I went to see Blanche this afternoon. Blanche came home with us & spent the night with us.

[1933.] Dock and I finished cutting up the meat for the lard this morning and I got dinner. I helped sack sausage's this afternoon.

[1934.] I got breakfast & helped clean up the house today. Sis intertained her Sunday School class tonight. Modest, Loyd Ruby & Jasper will spend the night with us.

[1935.] It snowed last night. Rex & I spent the day at Aunt Jessie's. Fletcher & Stella brought us home this afternoon . Sis went home with them & will spend the night.

[Right Page] [December 30]

[1931.] Stayed at home all day, and wrote a letter to Cosby. Miss Nannie, Mother & myself played Rook tonight. It has rained today.

[1932.] It rained all day today & Blanche didn't get to have her party tonight as she intended to. We played cards & had a right nice time.

[1933.] I got breakfast and cleaned up the house this morning. Lin and Jess came this morning and spent the day with us. Evelyn came a little while this aftern-oon.

[1934.] Modest, Loyd, Ruby & Jasper and Mary spent the day with us. Joe, John Marion, Willie & Emmett came this afternoon.

[1935.] Sis came home this morning & Mary came home with her & will spend the day. Rex took Mary, Sis & I a sleigh ride and we had a lot of fun. Rex drove the opens[?] to the sleigh. Sis, Mary & I went to Leona's & quilted some. Mrs. Sisk & Mrs. Merrill [?] there also. Mary went home this afternoon.

December 31

1931. I study a little this morning and pressed some dresses' this afternoon. Miss Nannie goes home this afternoon for the week end.

1932. Rudell & Blanche went home this morning & Ocie came a little while. Dad went to town today. I got a letter from Rex & a New year card from B. F. Osburn.

1933. Fletcher, Stella, Mary and Aunt Jessie spent the day with us. Nora Lee and Evelyn came late this afternoon and will spend the night with us.

1934. I got dinner, cleaned up the house, churned & cut out some quilt pieces today. It has rained nearly all day. Rex & I played Rook tonight.

1935. Mr. Will Vannoy spent the day with us. Rex & Ernest went to town this morning. Ernest ate dinner with us. I got breakfast & Sis got dinner. I wrote a letter to Mother & a New Year's card to Uncle Brock. I got a card from Lornea & Uncle & also Christia Lee.

[continued on right page] Dec. 31 - 1935 Rex & I went to Jim's tonight & listened to their Radio.

1931. Feb. 19. Uncle Jeff Adam's died today about 4 o'clock. He was 102 years old, he would have been 103 in April.

1932. March 2. Charles A. Lindbergh's baby was kidnapped last night between 7:30 and 10:00 o'clock.

1934. August 22. I got a merchandise Check of $25.00 today from the Spiegel Furniture Corporation. I won it in a contest. The check may be used on any 20th century Living Room or Bed Room or Dining Room suite in their store at Evansville, Ind. The check is good for 10 days only.

[1931. Feb. 19. Dad worked in the mines today for the first time. He is 54 years old, will be 55 in May.

1932. May 12. Charles A Lindbergh's baby was found dead near their estate today.

New York 1934. Saturday, September 22. Bruno Richard Hauptmann, unnaturalized German Carpent-er, in whose home more than $13,000 of the $50,000 Lindbergh's ransom money was found was arrested. Four New York Police officers examined the large sum of banknotes, identified as part of the ransom paid in a vain effort to effect the release of Baby Charles Lindberg by Kidnapers. An attempt by Hauptmann to pass a $10 bill brought about his arrest.

Right hand page

Kameng, Germany, September 2, 1934.

Firmly convinced her son had gone straight in America, Frau Pauline Hauptmann wept uncontrolably tonight and would not believe he was guilty of Kidnapping Col. Charles A. Lindberg's baby.

The town, meanwhile, recalled Bruno Richard Hauptmann's many difficulties with the law before he fled to the United States to escape sentence for theft.

Flemington, N. J., Oct 26, 1934.

Bruno Richard Hauptmann held his baby, Mannfried in his arms for a few moments today in sight of the cell where he awaits trial for murder in the Lindbergh Kidnaping.

Tears stood in his eyes as he took the child from the arms of Mrs. Harry T. McCrea, wife of the Jail Warden. It was the first time father and child had been together since Hauptmann was brought here from the Bronx Jail.

Columbus, O., Oct, 17. (Wednesday)

Harry Pierpoint, 32, Dillinger gangster, was electrocuted at the Ohio Penitentiary early today for the murder of Sheriff Jess Sarafer, of Lima, Oct. 12, 1933.

Pierpont was placed in the chair, at 12:09 a.m. and pronounced dead at 12:14 a.m.

There was a slight, sardonic smile on Pierpoint's face as he seated himself in the chair.

His eyes, however, were bloodshot, showing the effects of numerous crying spells officials said he had undergone in the last few days.

He was dressed in a blue beige prison suit and wore a

light blue dress shirt but no necktie. His coat was unbuttoned as he got in the chair.

He walked without assistance and kissed a crucifix and handed it to a Catholic priest Just Before he sat down.

East Liverpool, Ohio, October 22, 1934

Violent death at the hands of eight pursuing officers ended the crime career of Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd, desperado of the Ozarks, on an isolated farm near here today.

He was shot to death in a burst of fire from two machine guns, pistols and rifles, as he made his final effort to escape the relentless clutches of the law.

Fourteen Bullets struck him in the Back, and another in the side, as he fled. He died in 15 minutes. Floyd was able to say only a few words before he expired.