Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (June 22, 1909)
xKE 3IORMXG OREGOXIAX, TUESDAY, JtTNE 22, 1 909. FAMILY TROUBLES SCENE OF YESTERDAY'S TRAGEDY. WITH PORTRAITS OF PERSONS CONCERNED. LEAD TO MURDER The Merry "Widow At the Bungalow All Week rR. T. Dickerson Shoots Harry A. Garrett, Alleging Inti i macy With Wife. '.PROTESTS HER INNOCENCE '"Woman Says Dead Man Was Helping j Her in Divorce Suit Slayer Claims Justification in Act by Unwritten Law. L,chred the commission of a cold blooded murder, cloeely guarded in .a cell C'oun,y Jal1- believing his act be excused by a jury of his country men through invocation of the unwritten law. R. Thomas Dickerson, a street con- 'ira,C,fr- .f 612 Patlon Koal. Portland Heights, his voice shaking with vindictive rage, openly told the story while In the custody of officers of a tragedy yester day morning shortly before 6 o'clock which ended in the death of Harry A Oarrott. on of his teamsters, and dis closed to the world a shocking scandal of n alleged faithless wife and tho punished wrongs of a homo destroyer. The tragedy occurred in front of the barn of Dickerson's bunkhouse. at 4:3 Patton road, a block below his homo. , Dickerson had just arisen and was su perintending feeding the horses. Garrett .also had Just arisen and walked out in , front of the stable. A short conversation I ensued between the two and Dickerson ; drew his revolver and fired five shots Into the body of Uarrett, killing him Instantly. Was there merit in Dickerson's belief that an uncompromising intimacy ex , Isted between his wife and Oarrett or ; 'was It a. blind and Insane Jealousy goaded on by a desire lo retain his wife's love, which magnified the rela tions between Mrs. Dickerson and Gar rett to wrongdoing? This Is a question , -whlcn the officials are trying to solve Woman Denies Wrongdoing. .In ?? , lntrv'ew yesterday afternoon Mrs. Dickerson stoutly denied any rela tions of a shocking character between tier and Garrett. She explained their I frequent conferences by saying Garrett ; was to be her star witness in the di vorce proceedings that she had instituted against her husband and that he was assisting her In securing other witnesses. He killed an Innocent man. That man dead yonder." she said with a choke In her voice while at the morgue where t.arrett's body is being held pending the Coroner's Jury inquisition. "Is as Innocent as you are of wrongdoing. My husband Is a brute. He was alwavs talk ing about killing somebody and told me when he did, it would not be only one out others." rh' killing was only witnessed by fwo persons and their stories of the tragedy are widely different. One of these is G. I. Mowcer, a stable hand, who came lour days ago from Grants Pass, and the other is Mrs. Henry Snyder, who has been acting as the Dickerson housekeene lor some time. Stable Hand Tells Story. The stable hand, a boy about 20 years old, was standing within three feet of Dickerson when the shooting occurred RiWng it to the horses." he said, "and I am positive that no conversation took place. The first I knew was when the first shot was fired. I could not see Garrett until he had reeled and fell I thought Mr. Dickerson was shooting for II, ',? a!!d !h.at arrctt ws Jst carrying J .by 'alll"S- Neither man uttered a word. Mr. Dickerson walked away and during the entire affair not a single word was said that I heard." .irS"aS"yder' Story 13 JUBt tQe oppo site She was standing near a window just above Dickerson's head and had her head out of the window. Her story of the tragedy Is about as follows: Another Witness Differs. "When -Bud' (meaning Garrett) came ' "Ji1 the corner Mr- Dickerson said ; Did you have a good time at St. Hel ena yesterday r 'Bud' did not answer, but threw back his head and laughed ' In a sneering manner. He continued advancing toward Mr. Dickerson. laughing in a sneering, gloating way. that would have caused me to do just as he did. when Mr. Dickerson drew his I revolver and commenced tiring, t don't know how many shots he tired. I saw away " " a"d Mr" Ilck"so'1 walked After the shooting Dickerson walked "P to his house and left the revolver He then walked back in front of the I bunkhouse and was driven down town i . 'orlma. Harry A. Fuller, who took him to the Sheriff s office, where 1 m BaVO h'mself "to the custody of the 1trJ .Ve 1as P'ace n the library of the jail, where he told his story of the murder. On the way down town I the two passed the police patrol wagon ; and an ambualnce from the morgue of i Dunning. McKntee & Gtlbaugh. in which was seated Deputy Coroner James Dun I nlng. Dickerson spoke to Dunning as ! Kpas8ed- sa-,n: "You don't need an ambulance. What you need is the morgue wagon. The man is dead." Dickerson Asserts Justification. . r''ckerson asserts he was entirely : justified in killing Garrett, because he 1 with vi"1 ha? ,been undul- intimate 1 w Ith his wife and had threatened to kill ' .iTi8, 5nJaS tnelr decree case is . concluded and then run away with his i .kL b1V heard of his breaking up . other homes." said Dickerson. "He . boasted of this, and some of my wife's . folks said, so I heard, that .ht told them she was going to leave with one or my men as soon as the divorce hear ing was over. I knew they met at St Helens yesterday. I don't care to dis V," .i n '"rther- Blnce "'an is dead. I, . f. co,,,e out at the trial." con cluded the prisoner. j.V'.r "hould have come sooner than it nut. was the comment of Harrv a 1-tiller, foreman for Dickerson. "You will hear a whole lot more when the trial comes off than you will he able to get now." lo Trial Set for Wednesday. Dickerson was arraigned before Jus tice of the Peace Boll yesterdav after noon and his examining trial 'set for Wednesday at 3 o'clock. The coroner's Inquest over Garrett's body will be held this afternoon at 4 o'clock. Dickerson has not definitely arranged on counsel as yet. though he discussed the matter with several attorneys yesterday. Attorney John H. Stevenson, of the firm of Logan & totevenson. appeared for him at the arraignment yesterday afternoon before Justice Bell. The defense of the prisoner will un doubtedly be the unwritten law. made fa mous by the Harry Thaw and Halns trials in New York. A plea of insanity n ill be urged, as is customary. This sub terfuge will be used to avoid technical interference on the part of the court in " V ' ;r t4?r-t Aw . -..- V, v& W - - 1 '' "DICKERSON instructing, the jury that a verdict of guilty be returned. Mrs. Dickerson visited the morgue yes terday afternoon to inquire what dis position Is to be made of Garrett's body. She showed the greatest solicitude con cerning the -welfare of the dead man and asked that she be advised by telephone of what his people wish done with him. She steadfastly refused to answer ques tions of a delicate character, save to deny that there has been undue intimacy between herself and Garrett. Woman Shows Refinement. "He is an inocent man," she said. "Our only relations were his interest In my suit for divorce." She then ter minated the possibility of further ques tioning by taking her little girl by the hand and walking hastily out of the door. Mrs. Dickerson was accompanied by her little daughter. Pearl, aged 7 years; her sister, Mrs. Hall, with whom she Is staying on Eleventh street, and Mrs. Hall's mother-in-law. Mrs. Dickerson is an attractive blonde woman, apparently about 30 years of age. She was neatly gowned and has an appearance of refine ment. There is a trace of sadness In her face. Her sister is even prettier than she, but of the opposite type. Both evidenced great humiliation over the affair, but other than this there was no apparent emotion on their part. Twice Married to Dickerson. Mrs. Dickerson, whose maiden name was Martha Messner. was first married to Dickerson March 1, 1899, at McMinn ville. In July of 1907 she was granted a decree of divorce on the ground of cruelty and abusive language toward her. In this petition she recites that Dickerson threatened to kill her, all of her male relatives and then commit suicide. She was given the custody of their little girt, then 5 years old. The remarriage took place last February by Justice of the Peace Bell, of this city, who will like wise sit in the examining trial Wednes day afternoon, and before whom Dicker son was arraigned yesterday. A con tract was drawn up before the marriage, the principal stipulation being that In the event of another separation the custody of the child should go to the husband. Early in May of this year the second separation occurred and on May 25 Mrs. Dickerson again sued for a divorce. She first went to the home of her parents, who, since their removal from 754 Thur man street, have been living at Sylvan, Or., a suburb west of Portland. Ietters Reveal Intimacy. That there was merit in Dickerson's contention of intimacy between his wife and Garrett there is no question. But whether or not this intimacy reached a stage of wrongdoing prior to their sepa ration, as suggested by Dickerson, admits of argument. Letters found in Garrett's trunk by the Deputy Coroner, James Dunning, establish this beyond a doubt. These missives, which are replete with suggestive statements, none of which are positive, are indicative of the native in tellectuality of their authoress. In these letters, as If advancing an excuse for their lack of warmth, Mrs. Dickerson states her lawyers have ad vised her to be careful in writing and not give her husband a clew to wht she is planning. Just what this "planning" Is she leaves equally indefinite Letters Make Appointments. In all Garrett had in his possession eight letters, written during the period from he- last separation with Dickerson to last Saturday night, when she sent him two letters. One of these was writ ten at the Pcrl.ine Hotel in Portland and asks him to come up to her room Ko. 611 In the letter written the day before from Deer Island she makes the appointment for the parlor and in none of the letters is there any positive suggestion oi any allusion to past misconduct. In most of Hie letters, however, she closes with en dearing terms, such as "with love and kisses." One of the letters, which illustrates the general spirit of all. written from her parents' home at Sylvan, follows: ,,-l?d. rie1" I don't dare writs very f,rf i 'h? ,'awyer. told me to be careful I??- noi him ret any clew on me what fii .k? ,Phond t the cook yesterday and she thinks you are coming to see me to iJff,!?8 ?f,T?' " ! n hand to be L,,ld her 1 hadn't seen or heard from anybody up there since I left I will be at the postoftlce about half past seven L "'""hi o-clock Saturday night and will see ou if you are there. I was there last Saturday nlKht. but didn't see anything; of you. I don't know just when the trial will tJi m-",ibu ,imi- ul,niL S"1! ?7; 1 ,wo.uld llke to write more but don t think it is best. if i see you Sat- !JIdfy I1'.1", 1 wl" tel1 'ou a" 11 wl" be better to talk than to write and then any one can t make anything out of that It I met you at the postoffice because 1 have to bluff and he can't get my child away from me. I think If I had stayed out there anv d'lV ?0.uld..nave elther one Sy or dL,d'b.y.,.,h." Vme- 1 leel flne now and f i ??Lthat paln ,n my heart I had when Slav twre- 1 ,lmted hlm bad 1 couldn't hate any l0nKf ' But he "ed me to tl S. ."h';USl"5,,,"e of w"ng doing from me Ket my ehl,d away Stayed at Deer Island. Mrs. Dickerson left for Deer Island June 12. where she stayed with a Mrs froUtwWh "VeTS about m"es liV? . 4 Place' 11 ,B 30 mlles south tV ?' Portlana' Before leaving she posted Garrett a note, advising him of her departure, and stated the reason she is leavmg Is that she suspects tTe lS getting her mail, which was then being delivered at the old ad dress of her parents at 754 Thurman street. -nJ1 leitr 0n. Ju"e 15 Mrs- dickerson speaks of her husband being disguised, and says he was fooled. In a letter received here June" 19 the writer tells of the trip that had been planned for St. Helens Sunday. She vfteSnnt,,hOWfVer- make any special In vitation for him to meet her there. She came back to Portland Sunday night and went to the home of her sister, on Eleventh street. Garrett was gone all day Sunday , from the bunkhouse. Just how Dickerson ever became aware there was anything between his wife and Garrett is unknown, and he refused to divulge It. It Is thought however, that he probably had discov ered the letters written by his wife in Garrett's trunk, and was advised of her movements. An employe of Dickerson's, who re fused to give his name, said yesterday he saw Garrett and Mrs. Dickerson BOLD, BAD PIRATES UNFURL BLACK FLAG ON WILLAMETTE Tale of Captain Mullin and His Crew of One, Wherein Adventurous Search for Treasure Trove Is Recounted. The little black flag flew merrily. And the man by the long bow-gun Tightened his Hps and stared at the sea As the schooner heeled with her helm a-lee Till her copper flashed in the sun. THIS is a story of pirates, strange adventures and buried treasure, linked with the expedition of two youthful seamen, and should properly commence with the traditional "once upon a time." but since it occurred only Sunday that would probably be in appropriate. Be that as it may, never was an expedition started with more rixed determination on the part of its personnel, and when it comes to daring Don Quixote was a timid imbecile In comparison. Roy Mullin. 14-year-old son of Harry Mullin, who lives in the Union building on First street, between Oak and Stark was the leader of the expedition and his little brother, scarcely past ten was the crew. Lewis and Clark had a guide, but these two explorers scorned help and set out bright and early yes terday morning from the dock at the foot of Washington street in a soap box. Ic large letters along the side of this strange craft was printed the word "Scrubollo," and the way she sat in the water would have delighted the eye of a veteran seaman. Captain Kldd Bagdad the Sailor, and all other fic tional heroes of the deep biue combined, wouldn't have made a first-class cabin boy for Cap'n Mullin and his crew, who sat in the bow of the vessel and steered her out on the river, his little red sweater forming the only bit of color -on the broad expanse of the Wil lamette. Cap'ri Mullin had a fierce look on his face now, for was not he a full fledged pirate? From a stick at one end of the Scrubolio a black flag, or, prop erly speaking, a dirty black rag, "flew merrily." Such terms as "cutlasses," "walkin the plank" and 'other piratical parlance were the snatches of conversa tion which reached the ears of Police man Douglas Leisey, who chanced along soon after the freebooters weighed anchor. hugging each other in the Patton road barn. He promised them then, he said, that he would not give them away, but administered a lecture to the pair. He proposes to give this evidence on the witness stand. Very little is known of Garrett here. He entered Dickerson's employ last January. He came - here from La Grande, where he ha-.l been working till last November. His wife and he separated soon after his return. Sev eral letters from her. which were of a most lovable character, were found among his belongings. His parents live at 502 South Thirteentu street. Rocky Ford, Colo. A brother lives in Denver, and he was advised of the tragedy by wire. Thus far nothing; has been heard from him. The young daughter or Mrs. Dicker son accompanied her mother to the morgue yesterday. She, it is said, has formed a very great fondness for Gar rett, and sobbed piteously all during her mother's stay there. Among the dead man's effects were found four postcards from the little girl, on which she calls him "Dear Bud'" and other en dearing names. Northwestern People in New York. ' NEW YORK, June 21 (Special.) Northwest people at hotels: From Portland J. R. Smith, F. S. PenHeld, at the Astor. From Port Angeles, Wash. L. J. Heldring. at the Broadway Central. From Spokane R. Doerr, at the Bres lin; G." Luellwitz, at the Wellington; G. I. Crane, J. G. MacDonnell, at the Savoy; E. P. Stephenson, at the Nor mandie; F. W. Dewart. at the Gilsey. From Ellensburg. Wash. Mrs. H. S. Brown, at the Hoffman. From Seattle C. G. Riedel. at the New Amsterdam; A. H. Ludwig. at the Navarre; C. B. Cooper, at the Churchill; J. I. Haglune. at the Herald Square. "Ship ahoy!" bellowed the copper. 'What craft is that?" "The Scrubollo of Portland, bound for Treasure Island, Cap'n Mullin," came back from the youthful adven turers. - "You kids come back here before you are drowned!" yelled the officer, scarce ly able to repress the fear in his voice that the two lads would be struggling in the vater any moment. Whether afraid to dlsobev the offi cer, or from fear that their boat, which was leaking badly, would sink, the boys turned the improvised vessel about and reached the dock in safety. The officer took the boys to police headquarters and. after hearing their story, ' Captain Bailey ordered them sent to their mother. "We stole . the box from some boys who owned it up the river," said the younger lad, "and we were going to nun i. treasures, i wish that old police man had left us alone. Gee, we'd sure had a great time." When a reporter sent up his card to the Mullin apartments with a request that he be granted an audience with Captain Mullin, he found the pirate out in search of other adventures. But the first mate, who answers to the name of Valentine, was in and came down. "Air ye goin' to write us up?" he queried. "I'm not goin" to tell you anything. Where were We startin'? Oh, that's a mystry. Gimme a nickel and I'll tell ye." When the money-- was forthcoming the youngest pirate on record said that his brother was the originator of the idea. He had been reading about "pirates and things," and they had started out by stealing the oap box. They were going to look for treasures "and have some fun." " The police have had considerable trouble with young boys along the waterfront of late. Several of them have formed an organization, inspired by reading lurid literature, which they call the "Dirty Dozen." Both of the Mullin boys, however, deny member ship in this society. Baptists Prepare to Greet Big Convention. OTHER CHURCHES TO HELP Telephone, Telegraph and Fostofflcd Are to Be Installed In White Tem- Ple Committees Named to look After Work. Final definite arrangements were for rUaSt niBht at th Whlte Temple for the work of the various comittees in charge of the Northern Baptist Con! ventlon to be held at the Whl?e Tempi, mJUne 25 to July 2' The ushers, nHPne Perators, post office clerks and the committees on entertainment en ,tInF ?nd rece'vlng. were instruct ed minutely and put through a re hearsal of their various dutifs. There will be maintained at the nubHc t4e1r,nHSr the cventinatseven public telephones, one telegraph a post office, two public stenographer. Tht..awm "if al lnfor"tion- bureau. InA LZ, b r.Un mor"lns. afternoon and evening during the whole period of the convention. Other denominations will co-operate in furnishing entertainment and flow ers and will otherwise assist in the general work connected with the con vention. The rose decorations are to be a fea ture. A fresh supply will be brought in every day. The committee in charge requests that on Thursday, those fur nish the roses will see that they arrive before 11 o'clock, and on remaining days of the convention before 8:30 in the morning. The chairmen of the convention .com mittees, meeting for luncheon yesterday noon at the T. W. c. a:, adopted various resolutions regarding; their procedure. It was decided that Mrs. H. D. Gates chairman of the health and comfort committee, shall arrange for a nursery to be located probably in the Grace Methodist Church, where mothers who Necarney City, Seabright and Nehalem Bay Park NOTICE nT?Aw?pmfhceTleTe ?13 SI?,NS on above Properties, -we have WITH DRAWN FROM SALE all unbroken blocks and all lots where ten or more lay together, and on and after July the First will advance the price of lots left on sale $2o.00 per lot. Terms, 20 per cent down and ten dollars per month. Advised by an expert, who has fully proven to us that he knows whereof he speaks, and who refused wages to expert these grounds, but instead takes an in terest in what may be found, we took the above serious step. Serious to us be cause we were sellmg this property very rapidly, and to withdraw from the mar ket just now, and during the best selling season for all beach property, we cer tainly, pondered long, and were exceedingly hard to convince that the expert dis covery warranted us m so doing. We are fully convinced that we' cannot afford to do otherwise than to fully test the facts we are in possession of, and have termed a strong company and will put down a well at once, and should our ex pert opinion be borne out by successful demonstration, those that have already invested with us will have reason frequently to congratulate themselves NEHALEM BAY LAND CO. 274 Oak St., Board of Trade Bldg., Portland, Or. This fascinating music, which has taken America and Europe by storm, is available to all who own a Talking Machine. We have records for all the different makes Victor, Edison and Columbia and also Music Rolls for the Pianola Piano. The only place in Portland where all the makes of Talking Machines and Records are shown side by side giving opportunity for careful comparison. Edison Cplumbia Victor and other Machines. fino.rliatility 353 Washington St., at Park. ,le.8lreti attend the convention, can leave their children. In place of one banquet for the alumni of all the seminaries repre sented there will be a separate ban quet for each seminary. . Rev - R Schwedler will be In charge of the banquets. . Many alterations are being made in the arrangement of the White Temple to adapt it to the needs of the con vention. Among other things will be special telephones and a postoffice for the accomodation of the clerical force. A. force of stenographers will be used during the convention. The reception committee will be di vided into two groups one to meet the morning trains and one to meet the evening trains. The delegates will be gin to arrive Thursday. All persons who expect to partici pate and vote in the meetings of the Northern Baptist convention, will be required to present written credentials at the time of enrollment, and no per son will be permitted on the floor of the convention room without them. The members of the convention com mittees are as follows Executive committee Rev. J. w. Broug-her chairman; Major J. A. Sladen, vice-chairman; Rev. John Bentzlen. secretary: c. A. Wooddy p. D., W. O. Halns, Rev. W. T. Jordan EL M. Runyan. James Edmunds. Transportation committee W. O. Halns W. R. Lltzenberg. W. K. Hall. Entertainment committee Mrs. H M Clin ton. Mies Marlon Cole, Mrs. W. S. McGulre. Publicity committee Dr. C. A. Wooddy! Messra James Edmunds. Riley. One thousand laymen committee E. M. Runyan. J. A. Sladen. Finance committee W. T. Jordan and all pastors. Subscription committee Drr. j vy Broaghter. Morgan, Knapp, Stone. Reception committee James Edmunds J. T. Butler. A. B. Minnaker. J. c. Gibson. V itsll ' A' AI'on1' A- Scon, W. B. Vshera and pages Rev. B. A. Smith. Fred Johnston, J. E. Magers. J. H. Howell E. C Stockton. H. Gantenbein. Buildings committee Major Sladen. C. B Wlghtman. James Failing. FOR SALE, TILLAMOOK, NEAR EAST 36TH, SEVEN FINE DWELLINGS. . ,. ...... Bunsralows. and twn-srr.i-17 fit? a -ji & iuiua, new ana modern: fireplaces, dens, seats, bookcases, buffets, beamed ceilings, paneled dinmg-rooms, sleeping porches, large verandas. Terms like rent. JOHN LOO EH ART, OWNER, Main 493, A 3363. 610 Chamber of Commerce. Edison Victor Columbia and other Records. Health . and comfort committee Mr. H r Gates-. Evangelistic committee John M. Linden E A. Smith. C. H. Hart, M. M. Bledsoe. Outside meetings and banquet Rev R. Schwedler. Music committee J. W. Belcher Pulpit supplies w. H. Stone. Social functions Mrs. C. A. Dolph. k Enrollment committee Rev. K. c. W. Par Credentials committee c. A. Wooddy, Rose committee W. E. Keeler. Information committee p. B. Cason. Taeoma Shipping; News. TACOMA. June 21. The German srtearmer Sals, which arrived in port last evening. :s loading flour at the Oriental dock for the "West Coast. The German steamer Ella, which ar rived in port yesterday afternoon from Quartermaster Harbor, is loading for West Coast ports of Mexico and Central America. The steamer Watson arrived tonight from down Sound to complete cargo. The steamer schooner Winnebago ar rived in port today and is loading for San Francisco. Suits for Corvalis Nine. CORVAL.L.13. Or., June 21. (Special.) On Saturday the Corvall:s Cubs received new suits, a present from local business: men and celebrated the event by win ning from the Siletz Indians, at Toledo on Sunday; score 10 to 7. This team has won a majority of the games played this year and now wants games with some of the crack northern teams. Iinndgren May Come Home. TORONTO. Ont., June 2L-The Toronto baseball club has announced the release of Pitcher Carl Lurdcrpn fnrm.rtu r , the Chicago Cubs, to the Kansas City ...I.... iv t.ii viBaii.-iiiuvtii Leant. AML- . . . '. . t , y let - - A n