The Betsy Ross Cafe and Capitol Theatre decided to drop a turkey from an airplane Wednesday afternoon in order that someone might have a choice bird for “Turkey Day.” Handley Field was the spot selected for the turkey to “land” and in order that the quarry might be more valuable, “trimmings” consisted of two tickets to the Capitol Theatre, a like number to the Colonial Theatre and two certificates for Turkey dinners at the Betsy Ross Cafe were tied to the bird.
Soaring over Handley Field, the pilot released the turkey. Instead of picking the field for a landing place, the bird headed over the Handley High School building and landed in a tree some distance away. Several scores of men, women and children pursued the bird but Robert Anderson proved himself the most agile. He scaled the tree, retrieved the turkey and started back to the ground.
About that time the landlady appeared, declared the turkey was hers because of it being on her property. Anderson protested and displayed the “trimmings” as evidence that the turkey was the one dropped from the airplane. Not satisfied with the evidence, the woman snatched the “trimmings,” and tore them up. Anderson returned home with the turkey minus the “trimmings”—the latter remained on the ground in the form of small bits of torn paper.- Nov. 28, 1931
