USA > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles > Los Angeles from the mountains to the sea : with selected biography of actors and witnesses to the period of growth and achievement, Volume III > Part 49
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Mr. Scott was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Cali- fornia, September 4, 1894, and subsequently admitted in the Supreme Court of Arizona and the Supreme Court of the United States. For a quarter of a century, therefore, he has had an active membership in the Los Angeles bar. While in general practice he has specialized in trial
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work where his resourcefulness as an orator and advocate has brought him many triumphs in court battles of California and Arizona. He is a member of the Los Angeles Bar Association, the California Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.
Mr. Scott was the principal and the plaintiff in the theories of libel litigation with the Los Angeles Times, a case that is destined to be a land- mark in California law and procedure and one of the most notable trials of the kind in the country within recent years. While libel cases have been successfully prosecuted against various California newspapers this was the first time in the thirty-two years of its existence that the Los Angeles Times was ever mulcted in damages in such a case.
Mr. Scott secured a jury verdict for a judgment of thirty-seven thou- sand five hundred dollars in March, 1916, and more than three years later, after the case had gone to the Appellate Court, the judgment was finally affirmed by the Supreme Court in October, 1919. The verdict rendered was for seven thousand five hundred dollars compensatory damages and thirty thousand dollars punitive damages. One of the out- standing featues of the trial was the vigor and unflinching courage with which Mr. Scott assailed the responsible editor of the paper, who with his staff was present in the court room during the entire argument. The case was not only bitterly fought in the trial courts, but the briefs and oral arguments partook of the same scathing character before the Su- preme Court. The verdict and judgment of the lower court were sus- tained by the unanimous opinion of the Supreme Court in every par- ticular, the Appellate Court declining to accede to the views of the lawyers for the Times that Mr. Scott had exceeded the bounds of propriety and was guilty of misconduct in the character of his argument to the jury.
The opinion of the Supreme Court, affirming the judgment, is of a voluminous character, and contains a masterful review of the libel law and for that reason will doubtless, be a leading case for lawyers to quote in every state of the Union not only because of the particular ele- ment involved, but the wide scope and research in the presentation of the matter to the Appellate Court and the careful analysis given to every conceivable question by the court itself.
Subsequent to his own case in the lower courts Mr. Scott assisted with other attorneys in securing a thirty thousand dollar verdict against the Los Angeles Times on behalf of the late Edwin T. Earl, at that time editor of the Evening Express and Morning Tribune. The jury's ver- dict, rendered after Mr. Scott's closing argument, provided for twenty- five thousand dollars compensatory damages and five thousand dollars punitive damages.
Outside of the court room and legal forum Josephi Scott is an ora- tor of great and dramatic power, and one of the few men in modern times who probably realize the old qualifications of the orator, the ability to move and impel great audiences within the hearing of his voice to new lines of thought and action. Some of the striking characteristics of his character as an orator were noted by his admirer C. P. Connolly in de- scribing a speech made by Mr. Scott some years ago. "I shall never forget the spell of his speech any more than I shall ever forget the tall, litlie, powerful figure, a human dynamo of wit, eloquence and imagery, which seemed to throw off its sparks of fact and fancy, rhapsody and raillery, with such magnetism and animation, such mirth-provoking sal- lies, that the convention was swept off its feet."
In his article Mr. Connolly sought to temper his own enthusiastic
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judgment by quoting the words of Charles F. Lummis: "I have known Los Angeles for a third of a century and I do not recall another time when six thousand people sat two hours to listen to one man and a 'local' man at that. That audience came receptive-it went away full to overflowing with the very message it was awaiting-a message stirring as a bugle call of patriotism. The leonine presence of the speaker and his voice 'as the Bulls of Bashan' gave wings to his big thought. Talking to an audience of Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Epis- copalians, Christian Scientists, Adventists and Agnostics, Scott seemed to fuse them all to a common feeling. The sincerity which was clearly from the marrow of his bones; the exalted patriotism; the swift Irish wit which played spontaneous as lightning-these fitted with the thought and the occasion. I have heard the greatest orators of America in their prime, from Wendell Phillips on. But I shall always remember Lin- coln's birthday in Los Angeles, 1917, and Joe Scott's talk to that text."
Some years ago Mr. Scott journeyed back to his native land and was one of the speakers at his old school at Ushaw, when the centenary of the alma mater was being celebrated. In the audience was repre- sented the brains and the intellect of Great Britain, both clerical and lay. Feeling some embarrassment at the fact, Mr. Scott nevertheless deliv- ered a characteristic address, which later Cardinal Bourne pronounced as the speech of the celebration.
Outside of his career as a lawyer and orator Mr. Scott has to his credit a number of commendable activities. He served as a mem- ber of the Los Angeles School Board from 1904 to 1915, being presi- dent from 1906 to 1911. In 1910 he was president and from 1906 to 1917 served as a director of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. In 1915 he was an honorary vice president of the Panama-Pacific Expo- sition at San Francisco. He served as a member of the Charter Revi- sion Commission of Los Angeles in 1902. He is vice president of the Southwest Museum.
During the war he was chairman of the District Draft Board, Divi- sion No. 1, Southern California, having jurisdiction over thirty-three local boards in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego. Also during the summer of 1918 he was a special commissioner for overseas work of the Knights of Columbus in France and England, and visited the war zone. He is a republican in politics, a member of the Catholic church, is former president and director of the Newman Club, and a member of the California, Sunset, Celtic, City and Los Angeles Athletic clubs.
June 6, 1898, he married Bertha Roth, of San Francisco, and there have been eleven children born of their happy union.
HOLMES DISAPPEARING BED COMPANY. The marvelous growth of Los Angeles has been due, in part, to the many attractions offered the newcomer as a residential city ; a home place in every sense of the word. Nestled between the mountains and the sea, with ideal climatic con- ditions 'and school facilities par excellence, thousands of people from all sections of our country were keen to realize its superior environment as a place of permanent abode.
With the rapid advancement of population new homes, as well as apartments and flat buildings, were everywhere in demand. Probably no city in the United States has taken greater pride in the erection of such buildings, both from an artistic and novel point of view. A sort of civic interest was manifested in the planning and construction, until
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a pleasant rivalry existed as to who could best devise the most prac- tical and ideal arrangement.
Perhaps nothing has contributed more to economy of space, em- bracing unique ideas, than the disappearing beds. The idea was, of course, to conserve space ordinarily used by a bed. There seemed to be no reason why a bed should continuously occupy such a large area, especially when it was only called into service one-third of the time. The bed room by such an arrangement could be made as attractive as a den or sitting room, and the labor incidental thereto reduced to a minimum. When, too, renovation of the space under the old style of bed was always fraught with difficulties of which any housewife is aware. Today, especially, it is a recognized fact that labor is a large factor in the home, and anything that conserves space likewise conserves labor.
The disappearing bed as originally planned could be rolled with little effort into a clean, sanitary and ventilated recess, utilizing the space over same in the rear in many different ways; such as built in kitchen cupboards, linen closet and dressing tables.
The Holmes Disappearing Bed Company which originated and in- troduced this space-saving bed, together with various other types, is recognized throughout the United States as a leader in its line. Some fifty thousand have been installed in Los Angeles and vicinity.
The company first started the manufacture of its products in a small building located on North Figueroa street in the year 1906. Owing to increasing demands for these goods, it was necessary in 1908 to seek larger quarters, and consequently a permanent factory, ample to take care ot this growing business, was erected at Johnson street and Al- hambra avenue.
Many additions, since then, have been made to the plant and at the present time it covers a ground area of 300x300 feet with floor space of 120,000 square feet. The capacity today is about 800 beds per month and in normal times the factory employs about eighty skilled workmen.
Mr. Bernard S. Holmes is senior member of the Holmes Disap- pearing Bed Co., Millan H. Holmes is manager of the Chicago office ; Verne L. Holmes is factory manager ; and Gene C. Holmes is sales man- ager.
The business continues to occupy handsome display rooms on the ground floor of the Pacific Electric Building, where many thousands of people from all parts of the world have viewed with great interest and amazement these wonderful beds.
In order to more expeditiously serve the eastern territory a fac- tory has been established in Chicago, and from there agencies have been organized in various cities until the Holmes Disappearing Bed Co. now has a truly national service.
COL. CHARLES R. DRAKE. No one could desire a better monu- ment than the Virginia Hotel at Long Beach and the service which it represents. While it was founded and built by a stock company, Col. Charles R. Drake has from the first been one of the largest stockholders and vice-president of the company, and since 1907 the president and general manager, and the man whose genius has given the hotel its big place in Southern California.
Colonel Drake, who was born more than three quarters of a cen- tury ago, has been a man of means for many years, but has found the real satisfaction of living in experience, and his experiences have been
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romantic as well as useful. He was born at Walnut Prairie, Illinois, July 26, 1843, a son of Charles and Mahala Jane (Jeter) Drake. He was educated in the public schools of Illinois, and in 1863, at the age of nineteen, left a position as a drug clerk to volunteer in the United States Navy. He was acting master's mate from 1863 to 1865, serving under Admiral D. D. Porter in the Mississippi Squadron. At the end of the war he resumed his former occupation in New York, but subse- quently became hospital steward in the United States Army service under Surgeon General Barnes. He was assigned to duty under General Crook, then commanding the Department of Arizona, and in 1871 was sta- tioned at Fort Lowell, Tucson, Arizona. Some of the most picturesque and eventful years of his life Colonel Drake spent in Arizona. After four years in the army he retired to civil life and was appointed postmaster at Tucson, an office he filled four years. He also engaged in the general insurance and real estate business there. He was elected county recorder in 1881 and 1883 and under President Harrison was appointed to the office of receiver of public monies in the United States Land Office at Tucson. Arizona was his home for thirty years, and he was again and again honored with offices of trust and responsibility, being twice elected to the Territorial Senate and for one term was president of that body. At the same time he was actively concerned with a number of business enter- prises. He organized in 1893 the firm of Norton-Drake Company, his associate being the late Major John H. Norton. This company handled for many years large labor contracts for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company.
With a comfortable fortune Colonel Drake retired and moved to Los Angeles in 1900, but the years of his retirement have been marked by more active business connections than the average man in his prime. He was one of the first to recognize the great possibilities of Long Beach as a popular seaside residence city. He backed his judgment with large investments, and has been the means of concentrating an enormous amount of capital in that city. Some of his larger connections with the development of Long Beach and Southern California are indicated by the following connections. He is president and general manager and one of the largest stockholders of the Seaside Water Company ; president and general manager of the Long Beach Bath House and Amusement Company : president and general manager of the Seaside Investment Com- pany, owning and operating the Hotel Virginia, and financially interested in many other large business affairs at Long Beach and in Southern California. Several of these corporations were organized in 1901, and Colonel Drake had as his active associate then and for a number of years later the late Frederick H. Rindge, of Los Angeles; George I. Cochran, president of the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company ; Dr. W. W. Beckett, medical director of the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company ; H. V. Carter, president of the Carter Motor Company, of San Francisco, and Charles H. Howland, of Centinella.
Probably no one institution has done more to popularize the won- derful resources of Southern California than the Virginia Hotel. It covers an entire block, 430x428 feet, with hotel and grounds extending from Ocean Avenue to the ocean shore, its setting affording unexcelled facilities for the enjoyment of the seaside and all other attractions of Southern California's climate. The Hotel Virginia is beautiful and luxurious, has developed a unique perfection of service, and probably
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more of the high class social life of California centers around this hotel than any other one institution.
Colonel Drake is a member of the California Club of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Country Club and is the organizer of the Virginia Country Club of Long Beach, which is one of the attractions for the Hotel Virginia. He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, and a member of several secret orders.
In 1872, at Tucson, Arizona, Colonel Drake married Agripine Moreno. They were the parents of Jean G., William L., Albert Garfield, Elizabeth Jane and Pinita Rivers Drake. On April 30, 1890, Colonel Drake married at Tucson, Arizona, Mrs. Kate A. Seeley. To this mar- riage was born one daughter, Marguerite Rivers Drake (Mrs. C. W. Kemmler). Colonel Drake makes his home at the Hotel Virginia, of which company he is president and general manager, and still keeps in close touch with the many extensive business interests represented by the corporate titles above mentioned.
JUDGE JOHN W. SHENK, who has been one of the judges of the Superior Court in Los Angeles county since 1913, has been a member of the Los Angeles bar since 1903. He was born at Shelburne, Vermont, February 7, 1875, and is a son of Rev. J. W. Shenk, D. D., who was ordained a Methodist minister in 1866 and is now a member of the Cali- fornia Conference, though his last active work as a minister was done in Nebraska. Before the father married he spent two years as a Method- ist Missionary in South America. He was born at Cobleskill, New York. His grandmother was a Shafer, a granddaughter of Peter Shafer, a member of the Militia during the Revolutionary war. Peter Shafer was seriously wounded in the battle of Cobleskill. He was later Judge of the Common Pleas of New York. Rev. D. Shenk was editor of the Omaha Christian Advocate from 1890 to 1900, and in the latter year moved to California and has since been practically retired. He married Susana Cake Brooks, a native of New Jersey, and related to the Miller family, old residents of Cape May, New Jersey. Rev. Dr. Shenk and wife have four sons and two daughters, all living, namely: Rev. William Washington, Edmond Simpson, Judge John Wesley, Adolphus Mallalien, Mary Miller, wife of H. C. Wilson of Hemet, California, and Sue Cor- delia, a teacher in the Alhambra public schools. Rev. Dr. Shenk and wife came to California in 1900 and the latter's application for desert land was the first put on file for the Imperial Valley project, while Rev. Mr. Shenk's application was the second.
Judge Shenk spent most of his boyhood at Omaha, Nebraska, grad- uating from the high school of that city in 1895. From there he en- tered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, taking his A. B. degree in 1900. His university course was interrupted when he volunteered for service in the Spanish-American war. He left his junior class in college to join Company A of the 4th Ohio Volunteer Infantry at the first call for troops. He was with his regiment until the close of hostilities, and saw active service on the Island of Porto Rico. After leaving Ohio Wesleyan he attended the Law School of the University of Michigan, and in September, 1900, came to Los Angeles and filed upon a half section of land in the Imperial Valley. He then resumed his work in law school in Michigan and from January, 1902, to June, 1903, lived on and worked his ranch in the Imperial Valley. He then
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attended summer school at the University of Michigan and in October, 1903, returned to Los Angeles, being admitted to the bar in the same month. He engaged in a general practice of the law until August, 1906, when he was appointed deputy city attorney of Los Angeles. He served as deputy and first assistant in the office until August, 1910, when he was appointed city attorney. He was elected to the office of city attor- ney in 1911 for a two year term. He was appointed judge of the Su- perior Court in August, 1913, and in November, 1914, was given the office by virtue of regular election for a term of six years, which ex- pires January, 1, 1921. Judge Shenk is a republican in political affilia- tions.
He is a past master of South Pasadena Lodge No. 367, F. and A. M., is a member of Los Angeles Consistory No. 3 of the Scottish Rite. He is also a member of East Gate Chapter, R. A. M., and Al Malaikah Temple of the Mystic Shrine and is affiliated with Los Angeles Lodge No. 99 of the Elks. He is a member of the college fraternities Beta Theta Pi and Phi Delta Phi. He belongs to the Los Angeles and State Bar Association, and is member of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Los Angeles.
At the home of the bride at South Pasadena June 29, 1907, Judge Shenk married Miss Lenah R. Custer. Her father, Lieutenant Samuel M. Custer, was an officer in the 26th Illinois Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war and was related to General George Custer. Mrs. Shenk's mother, living with Judge and Mrs. Shenk, is Almira T. (White) Cus- ter. Mrs. Shenk was born at Homer, Illinois, was educated in the public schools there and in Chicago, and is a member of South Pasa- dena Woman's Club and of Oneonta Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution at South Pasadena. Judge Shenk is a member of the Cali- fornia Chapter of the Society of Sons of the American Revolution. He and his family reside at 1425 Laurel Street in South Pasadena. They have two sons, Samuel Custer and John W. III.
MISS NORMA GOULD. Holding a place all her own in Southern California, as a classic interpretive dancer, Miss Norma Gould, direc- tor of the Norma Gould School for the Science of Good Motion and Art of Dancing, at Los Angeles, is almost equally well known in New York, where she was a brilliant student, and all along the Pacific Coast, where as teacher, author, adapter and interpreter, her graceful art has brought pleasure to thousands.
Miss Gould was born at Los Angeles and is a daughter of M. A. Gould, who came to this city many years ago and ever since has been superintendent of the Capital Milling Company. While yet a school girl, before her graduation from the Polytechnic High School, Miss Gould displayed talents that caused her friends to predict a fair future for her either in music, dancing or dramatic art, and in fact, she has more than fulfilled every expectation. Perhaps no other dancer in the West has done a greater amount of close and fine musical interpretations, and this is due not only to a wide and exhaustive training but to natural gifts and a sound knowledge of the art of dancing and a thorough edu- cation in music. Miss Gould as an instructor possesses the power of imparting her knowledge by word and example, equally well to children and adults. Her dancing has been described as a combination of rhythmic motion, significant gesture, music made visible, drama and the charm of color. She has appeared as dancer and director of dancing in some of the best known motion picture companies.
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Miss Gould has been established at Los Angeles for ten years. She received her early training under Kiralfy, and is a graduate of the Uni- trinian School of Personal Harmonizing and Interpretative Motion, New York. The Norma Gould School for the Science of Good Motion and Art of Dancing embraces all types : Classic, Interpretative, Poetic, Greek, Oriental, Esthetic or Ballet, Toe, National, Folk, Stage and Ballroom Dancing. The building is set in a garden at No. 1333 Georgia Street, built on the site of one of the early day Spanish ranchos, the studio standing where once' was a cornfield. It is attractively and harmoni- ously furnished throughout and has ideal ventilation.
Each year Miss Gould presents at a theater in this city an exhibi- tion assisted by her most efficient students, the offering at the Little Theater, in June, 1919, being a pretentious offering outdoing all pre- vious entertainment. It was called "The Golden Bough," a legend of Brittany, and it was composed, staged and costumed by Miss Gould, who assumed the character of Sylvannus, the God of the Wood, and was assisted by fifty dancers. Miss Gould is proposing a new enter- prise, this being no less than to take a class of students yearly to the heart of the Sierra Madre mountains for physical culture and the study of ancient forms of nature worship. She has been the inspirer of much cultural endeavor in this section, and personally illustrates the benefits that accrue from following the beautiful arts which she believes not only add charm and attractiveness to women, but health and happiness as well.
Miss Gould has recently been appointed on the faculty of the Uni- versity of California, southern division of Berkeley, and has been in- vited to give a course in educational dancing in the summer session at the University of Southern California.
The recognition of her work by two of the most important educa- tional institutions in the state has been the realization of one of her highest ideals, that of making her art a strong factor in education.
1 CLARE WOOLWINE, a prominent Los Angeles lawyer of the firm of Woolwine & Giesler in the Citizens National Bank Building, has prac- ticed law steadily since 1911 with the exception of the period of a year and a half when he served in the army, holding the rank of captain when he was discharged.
Captain Woolwine was born at Nashville, Tennessee, September 1, 1888, a son of Woods R. and Myra (Beverley) Woolwine. His thor- ough and liberal education began in the public schools of Nashville, con- tinued in the Wallace Preparatory School at Nashville, from which he graduated in June, 1906, and in 1907 he came to California. He was a student of Stanford University and the University of Southern Cali- fornia, and graduated from the latter with the LL.B. degree in 1911. Mr. Woolwine was admitted to the California bar at Los Angeles June 19, 1911. From January, 1915, to August, 1917, he served as assistant district attorney of Los Angeles county. He resigned this office and temporarily abandoned his private practice to enter the officers' train- ing camp at the Presidio in August, 1917. He was commissioned a first lieutenant in November, was appointed first lieutenant of the Eighth In- fantry and served in that capacity from December until July, 1918. Pro- moted to captain in July, 1918, he was assigned to duty with the Gen- eral Staff at Washington in the following August, and from Septem- ber to December 25, 1918, was with the general headquarters of the
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