Looking Back to 1953: Paso kidnapper surrenders, Pioneer Day calls for floats

Posted: 7:00 am, September 19, 2024 by Reporter Jackie Iddings

Paso kidnapper surrenders to Chula Vista police

– A twenty-two-year-old escapee from the Army Disciplinary Barracks at Lompoc, Calif., wanted by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office for the September 3 kidnapping and robbery of Jack Browing from his Paso Robles home surrendered himself to Chula Vista police Tuesday evening.

Sheriff’s officers from Los Angeles immediately placed Hubert L. Whited under arrest and charged him with attempted murder. The new charge according to Sheriff Murray Hathaway, was brought against the youth after Mrs. Elizabth Bason of Los Angeles accused him of threatening to “cut her throat.”

Whited, who was masquerading as Jack Browning, is wanted here after forcing Browning into his automobile at the victim’s North River Rd. home then driving him to Fresno, robbing him and leaving him tied in a cotton field.

Army officials said Wednesday they would not prosecute the escapee but would allow either Los Angeles or San Luis Obispo County prosecutors to handle the case.

Second escapee sought

A second man wanted in connection with the kidnapping, Walter G. Pilcher 12, who escaped from the Army Barracks with Whited, has not been located. However, Sheriff Hathaway said today “I have hopes that Whited will be able to shed some light on his (Pilcher’s) whereabouts.”

Pioneer Day chairman calls for floats

With Pioneer Day four weeks away, Chairman Don Orcutt Jr., this morning made an urgent plea for service clubs, fraternal organizations, farm groups, schools, and others planning floats for the annual fete to submit their entries.

“The planning and work that goes into each exhibition requires a lot of time,” Orcutt said, “and the committee, naturally, is anxious to line up the parade features as rapidly as possible.

“Four weeks for this sort of an undertaking requires close scheduling.”

State to open Highway 41 bids Oct 14

Construction of seven-mile section from Huer Huero bridge to Estrella River planned

Bids for construction of a new route for Highway 41, one mile east of the Huer Huero bridge to a point seven miles east of the bridge will be opened on October 14, according to E.J.L. Peterson, state engineer for the Fifth District.

“The project, one of three proposed to improve the present route of Highway 41, east of Paso Robles, will be the first of three sections already mapped,” Peterson said today.

The new section will include paving of a straightened route and the construction of a new, wider bridge over the Huer Huero Creek, Peterson pointed out.

Other sections proposed, but as yet, unfinanced are from the Salinas River Bridge at Paso Robles, to the Huer Huero project, a distance of four miles, and from the Estrella River bridge to a point fourteen miles east of Paso Robles.

Grace Humphries pleads guilty in death case

One count of felony manslaughter filed against Grace Humphries, 20, of Shandon, was dismissed Monday by Judge Ray B. Lyon after Miss Humphries pleaded guilty to a second charge of misdemeanor manslaughter in the Superior Court in San Luis Obispo.

The two charges were filed against Miss Humphries after it was determined by a coroner’s jury in Paso Robles that the death of Gary Borges6, was the result of an auto accident on Highway 41 when a car driven by Miss Humphries collided with a vehicle driven by Walter Picanso. The Borges child was riding with his family in the Picanso automobile.

An attempt was made by Georgo Finucane, attorney for Miss Humphries, Monday, Sept 7 to have the felony count dismissed if a guilty plea was entered on the misdemeanor count. However, Judge Ray B. Lyon requested a week to study the case before granting the request.

A request for probation was entered by Finucane following the plea. Pronouncement of judgment will be held on Sept 28, following a film of a probation report.

previous Looking Back articles

• Looking Back to 1950: Freedom Bell visits Paso Robles, rent office opening

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.

Estrella Warbird Museum is an aviation museum dedicated to the restoration and preservation of military aircraft, vehicles, and memorabilia. Woodland Auto Display is also open. Hours: Thursday through Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. 4251 Dry Creek Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446, ewarbirds.org, (805) 227-0440.

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