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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (April 12, 1910)
THE MOISXIXG OREGOXIAX, TUESDAY, ArRIIi 12, 1910. "v. S7000 SAFETY-BOX THEFT BAFFLING Detectives at Sea as to Iden tity of Stranger Who Duped German-American Bank. B. R. CHARLES' COIN TAKEN Klectrlcal Garment Inventor Discov ers Loss After Returning Prom Eat Signatures Evident ly Not Compared. Mystery still surrounds the theft of $5000 from & safety deposit box in the German-American Bank. Detec tives employed by the American Bank ers' Association are trying to ascertain the identity of the person who told so plausible a story to the officials of the bank and walked out coolly with the money jingling in his pock ets. The money belonged to B. R. Charles, of 1 1 64 Pat ton avenue, an electrical inventor and the promoter of the United Electrical Garment Company, with offices in the Columbia building. The gold had been put into the vaults January 10, and aside from Attorneys Seabrooke and Stott, Mr. and Mrs. Charles and officials of the bank, no one Is supposed to have known where the money was. The secrecy mlntained concern ing the keeping-place of the money and. the circumstances surrounding its theft make it one of the most remarkable mysteries in the an nals of Portland robberies. Its solu tion rests with the private detectives employed by the American Bankers Association, the local police not having been invited to assist in unraveling the case. Coin Is Stock's .Pr.ee. The money was the purchase price of stock in the United Klectrlcal Gar ment Company. Mr. Charles had en tered into a contract to sell half the stock In his invention. Part of this sum had been paid prior to January 10. It was agreed that the balance should be paid January 10. The full amount then due, 97000, was paid to Mr. Charles at a meeting of the board of directors of his company. Attorneys feabrooke and Statt were present, representing Mr. Charles, and the money, instead of being paid by check, was handed over in gold coin. Mr. Charles, disliking to carry so large a. sum, requested the attorneys to take the irAney to a bank. Being a de positor and holder of a safety deposit box in the German-American Bank, Mr. Seabrooke suggested that they meet there. He and Mr. Stott there fore took the money and went to the German-American, where they were later joined by Mr. Charles and his wife. The money was counted there and placed temporarily in the box of Mr. Seabrooke. , Assumed Xante Taken. Mr. Charles said he did not want to deposit the money. He intended taking a trip Kast and was afraid the coin might be attached in his absence be- ; cause of a misunderstanding which had arisen in the sale of the stock in his invention. Dr. Patton, who claimed commission for negotiating the sale of the stock, had sued Mr. Charles for $11,000. At the suggestion of Mr. Seabrooke the money was to have been put in a safety deposit box under an assumed name, that it might not be located and attached. Mr. and Mrs. Charles, the next day, met Mr. Seabrooke and went to the bank. The money was again counted and arrangements were made for them to have a box under the name of A. B. Carsen. Mr. Charles gave his correct address, 1164 Patton avenue, but changed the name. Mr." Seabrooke left after the transfer of the money. He did not know anything further than that they had rented a box under an assumed name, but did not know the number of the box. The number of the box was known only to Mr. and Mrs. Charles and the bank officials. The money was put away safely and the box was not unlocked until a few days later. Then Mr. Charles withdrew $2000, which he took for expenses on his trip, leaving $5000 In the box. Money Id Missing. Last week, after his return, he and his wife discovered their treasure ox empty. They notified the bank's officials and demanded the return of their money. This stand they have taken firmly. They contend the bank is responsible for the loss, and through their attorneys have notified the bank that they will hold it lo blame for the loss. On the other hand, the bank has not mad gooi the loss, pleading for time to Investigate. Without intimating what their suspicions are, the bank's detec tives Have been working steadily since the discovery of the Joss. The day the money is supposed to have been taken from the box, a man rang up the bank by telephone. He said he had been on a trip East And had lost his key and wanted to know how he could get into his box and what a new key would cost him. He gave the name of A. B. Carsen, the correct ad dress and the number of the box. Stranger's Kxplajiation Wins. 'He was asked to call at the bank and explain matters further. He went to the safety deposit vault in the rear of the bank, hut the young man in charge of the vault would not let him have access to It. The man then told his story to S. G. Reed, president of the bank. The plaus ibility of hif account evidently impressed the head of the bank, who required his signature to the curd usually called for in sutch circumstances. Then Mr. Reed, having no key to the box, got a chisel and a hammer and broke it open. The tin box inside was turned over to the pseudo A. B. Oarsen. Who this stranger was is the mystery which is puizHng the brains of all con nected with the case. The number of the box was unknown even to the in ventor's attorneys. Mr. Charles says he revealed that information to no one. "Two features of the case are peculiar. Although the stranger was required to sign a card in the bank, the signature of the thief does not in the least resemble Mr. Charles' handwriting and would have been detected as a forgery. Then Mr. Charles is tall, with a reddish beard, and the stranger who represented him self to be "Mr. Carsen" is described as being short and clean shaven, with black hair. Stranger Sent Is Theory. It is believed by one of the decteetlves that the man who called for the contents of the box was sent on the errand and was not acting on his own behalf. The same detective theorizes that the box m empty; when tlx scranger called and that he did not take any money away from the vault with him. Inasmuch as the visit of Mr. and Mrs. Charles followed that of the myster ious stranger and that the discovery of the loss occurred the very next morning, the theory of the detective is that, in some manner, the information leaked from the Charles household accidentally. Mr. Reed, president of the bank, who accommodated the man believed to be t he ro b be r, h as been away from the city for several days, but will return this morning. Mr. Charles would not dis cuss his loss. Attorney Seabrooke is mystified over the affair. "At the request of the bank, we had agreed not to tell anything about the loss," he said, "believing that any pub licity given it would interfere with the work of locating the guilty persons, but somehow the information leaked out. I do not know who gave it out. We did not. It is a puzzler to me. I counted the money last January and gave it to Mr. Charles. It seems incomprehensible .hat it has been stolen. We all thought that Mr. Charles and his wife and the clerk at the bank were the only persons who knew anything about it, but someone got the information somewhere." FIREWORKS UNDER BAN MAYOR WANTS XO EXPLOSIVES SOLD OX FOURTH. Executive Has eDsire for Sane Cele bration of Independence- Day. Mayor Simon will ask the City Coun cil to prohibit the sale of all manner of fireworks this year during the days preceding and immediately following July 4, in an effort to save life and limb and to prevent property loss by fire. "I am absolutely opposed to the cel ebration of Independence Day by ex plosion of dangerous fireworks," said the Mayor. "Anything I can do to secure action prohibiting the sale of any kind of fireworks I will certainly do. As the City Council controls the situation, the members' of that body will have to assist, if Portland is to be spared the usual hilarious Fourth. I am greatly in hopes we can bring this about. It is time the American people were eliminating this danger and the terrible results that follow each year from firecrackers." Mayor Gaynor, of New York, has an nounced that no fireworks will be per mitted to be sold in that city, and the word has been given out long in ad vance, so that wholesale and retail merchants wishing to sell fireworks may have notice beforehand. Mayor Simon has not the power to Issue an order as the Mayor of New York has done, as here the Council controls the situation. There is an or dinance prescribing what may or may not be sold, and Fire Chief Campbell Is obliged to issue permits for the sale of explosives under the provisions of this measure. "When a person comes to me for a permit to sell fireworks," said Chief Campbell, "I advise him as to the or dinance governing it, and if he com plies with the provisions, I must give him the permit; whether I want to does not enter into the subject, as the Council has seen fit to legislate re garding It and I simply see that the law Is obeyed when I issue permits of this kind." There is a strong sentiment in Port land for a "sane" Fourth of July cel ebration, and it is believed that Mayor Simon's recommendation will meet with prompt public approbation. The sub ject will be drawn to the attention of the City Council, probably informally by the Mayor, who will express his ideas to the various members. , Each year- has seen a long' list of injured persons as a result of fire crackers of various kinds, and there have also been numerous deaths fol lowing these celebrations. Every year the police force works overtime to suppress the explosions of prohibited styles of crackers1, which find a sale notwithstanding the fact that the law puts the ban on them. Mayor Simon believes that the absolute prohibition of the sale of any fireworks in the Fourth of July season will virtually MA YO R OF W A LLOWA. OR., IS ELECTED TO SERVE THIRD TERM. jjV wV. f hmrir-TitrriifDni HiittbmiB n in itiiiiw ii . P. Mocdock. WALLOWA, Or. April 11. Spe cial.) J. P. Morelock has just been elected to serve his third term as Mayor of Wallowa. He was born tn Union County. Or., in 1ST 2, and has resided In Union and Wallowa coun ties ver inc. He flmt en gaged tn the barber tuMney li) Sumnier vllle. Or., where he continued three years, and then went to Elgin, where h was assistant postmaster for one year. Comlnjr to Wallowa tn 1SS7, he started a barber chop and confec tionery store, which he conducted seven years. When Wallowa tv incorporated, in 1SS9. he was elected Recorder and held that off tee four years, when he was elected Mayor. He held the office one year and then moved to Enterprise, w here he spent three years In the mercantile business. Returning four years ago, he built the opera-house, which he since has managed. Three years ago he was elected Mayor, has bean twice de feated for ' the office since and was elected again this year. stop all of the long list of accidents, personal injuries and vast property losses. A Healthful Hint. A bottle of the Kood Brewing Com party's famous Bock Beer to ward off that tired feeling. .Phone- 2. 139, B. 1313. COUNCIL REJECTS LOW BID OH BONDS Single Offer of 93.10 for Broadway Bridge Issue Is Turned Down. LATER CALL TO BE MADE Pending Litigation Has Nothing to Do With Bidding, Says Mayor Simon, Who Explained That Mouey Market Is Tight. The sole bid for the $250,000 issue of Broadway bridge, 30-yar 4 per cent bonds received yesterday afternoon was rejected without parley by the ways and means committee of the City Council because the proposal was for accrued interest and 93.10. It is believed by Mayor Simon and the members of the committee that a better offer will be made later. Litiga tion bad nothing whatever to do with the fact that there was but a single bid, it is declared. E. H. Rollins & Co., X. W. Halsey & Co. and A. B. Leach & Co., of New York and Chicago, made the Bingle proposa. Two things combined to cause this low bidding the fact that the bonds are to bear but 4 per cent and that the market is glutted with better investments at this time. Bond Market Is Glutted. That litigation is pending had nothing to do with the case, it is declared by Mayor Simon and the bond-buyers them selves. There were other "bidders in the city, but they made no offens. These were representatives of the Harris Trust & Savings Co. and Morris Bros., repre sented here by C. K. Will lame. As all bonds are purchased with the stipulation that legality must be established, it will be readily seen that the city's paper was not subjected to any discount at all on this bases. The entire market is glutted and even New York City bonds are being sold below par. It seems unfortunate, according to some. that the e.ct authorizing this issue of 32, 000,000 Broadway bridge - bonds placed the interest at 4 per cent; there are nu merous issues all over the country at from 44 to 5 and there is also an active demand for money, so that bonds are at a low quotation. When the market will recover is a question. Mayor Attends Session. At 2 o'clock the ways and means com mittee was called to order by Chairman Devlin, with Councllmen V allace and Baker present. City Auditor Barbur an nounced a single bid, and it was read. Councilman Baker at once moved to re ject; Mr. Wallace seconded and. the mo tion was carried. A special order was entered, authorising the Auditor to return the certified check accompanying the proposal. Mayor Simon attended the meeting in person, as he Is deeply Inter ested in pushing forward the Broadway bridge work. 'I was not greatly surprised at the low bid," said Mayor Simon, "as I know the bond market is sluggish at this time an over the country. We will wait awhile until we can secure better rates." New Call to Be Made Later. Meantime the consulting engineers are completing the plans and specifications for the great high bridge that is to span the Willamette River at Broadway street as soon as the city can get to the work. When the bond market clears up a new can tor bids will ne made. TWO TO SCAN FOREST ROAD Government Engineers Prepare to Improve Crater Xational Highway, MEDFORD, Or.. April 11. (Special.) vv. E. Herring, district engineer of the Forestry Service, and B. F. Heidel, high way engineer. Department of Agricul ture, left here today for the Crater Na tional forest. The appropriation of $5000 made by the Government for improving the 17 miles of road within the National reserve must be used before July 1. Mr, Herring and Mr. Heidel will go over the route to prepare plans and estimates, Bids for construction will be called for within a month. Estimates for contracts for the 50 miles of highway to be built by public subscrip tion from Med ford to the boundary of the National park will also be made by the omciais. The highway, will be from 34 to 36 feet wide, that teams or automobiles may pass each other. There seems to be no doubt now that the macadam road will be constructed. as over one-quarter of the $100,000 re quired has been subscribed in Medford alone. Other towns in the county will be canvassed soon. Letters have been sent out by the Com mercial Club to bankers, automobile own ers and Commercial Clubs in the state urging them to aid in the work. Monday night the Crater Lake Highway Commis sion will meet with the Ashland Com mercial Club to discuss plans for making the road project a success. LAST CONCERT DATE HERE Klingenberg-Bettmaji Recital to Be Given Tonight. The last of the Klingenberg-Bettman chamber music concerts for the present season will take place tonight at 8:15 o'clock at the Unitarian chapel at Seventh and Yamhill streets -and will no doubt be largely attended, as it is quite an event of musical importance in this city. To experience the pleasure of hearing such cultured, high-class music else where one would have to travel far. The musicians to appear are: Alf Kllngenberg, Henry Bettman, Ferdi nand Konrad and Carl Denton. The programme begins with the Dvorak trio op. 21, followed by these three violin numbers by Mr. Bettman : "Sonata. Vivaldi: "Kol Nidre." Bruch, and "Zephyr," Hubay. The event will con olude with the Schumann quartet op. 47. RAIN STORY POOR DEFENSE Records Contradict Witnesses and $25 Salt Is Lost. Contradictory testimony In the suit brought yesterday In the Justice Court ty Edna Wickett. a school teacher of Cedar Mills, against the Palais Royal. on Washington street, for $25, brought out an amusing- Incident which showed how intentionally the employes of tn store all told the same story without being quite sure of the facts. It was brought out during the trial MOTHERS should teach their little ones the daily use of some good dentifrice and by so doing spare them much pain and annoyance Dr. Lyon's PERFECT Tooth Powder cleanses, preserves and beau tifies the teeth, prevents tooth decav and imDarts Duritv and fragrance to the breath. 7i ttv 1 I I W. L. DOUGLAS 3-00,3-50, s4.00 & s5.00. SHOES Best In the World UNION MADE Boys' Shoes $2.00 and $2.50 Fast Color Eyelets Used W. L. Douglas shoes are the lowest price, quality considered, in the world. I heir excellent style, easy htting nd long wearing qualities excel those of other makes. If you have been paying high prices for your shoes, the next time yoji need a pair give W. L. Douglas shoes a trial. You can save money on your footwear and get shoes that are just as if cod in every way as those that have been costing you higher prices. If you could visit our large factories at Brockton, Mass., and see for yourself how carefully W. L. Douglas shoes are made, you. would then understand why they hold their shape, fit better and wear longer than other makes. f A. l"TIO. W. 1 Douclas name and vrlce is stamped on tha bottom to protect the wearer against high prices and inferior saoes. Take fl'o Substi tute. If W. L- Donglas shoes are not tor sale in yoar Ticlntty, write for Mall Order Catalog. W.L.Dooglaa, BroclooDHass. Goddard-Kelly Shoe Co. 324-326 "Washington Street. that Miss WicVkett had purchased a. hat there for $25. The agreement was that if her folks did not like the hat she was to -be allowed to return it and get another. She wore the hat away and brought it back, saying that she wanted her money back. This they re fused to give her and also refused to exchange it for another. When placed upon the stand, the representative of the store contended that the agreement did not hold be cause just after Miss Wickett had left the store there was a hard rain and the hat had been ruined. To corrob orate this, several employes of the store were -called, and each told of how hard it had rained that day, one of them saying they had seen it rain on the hat as Miss Wickett stepped from the door. Miss Wickett denied this. To establish the truth about the rain, Justice Olson stepped to the tele phone for a moment and called up the Weather Bureau, and found out that no rain had fallen on the day in ques tion until 9:30 at night. He awarded the judgment in favor of the plakitiff. HORSE FAIR DATE DISLIKED Salem Also W'saU Armory AVher Event Can Be Held. SALEM, Or., April 11. (Special.) The cloudy and threatening weather that pre vailed throughout the two days of the recent horse show has revived the pro ject of erecting an armory .partly at the expense of the state with a room on the ground floor large enough to ac commodate horse shows, cherry fairs and other events that are liable to be spoiled by inclement weather. This year's horse fair .was the best of the three held in this city, but it Is admitted that the at tendance would have been twice or three times as large had there been an en closed pavilion for the exhibition. Another matter talked is the early date of the horse show and the proposal to hold the exhibition about June 1. It Is argued that there are scores of good roadsters that are not in condition in April but which would be in shape for show purposes a few weeks later. Also that the roads and weather are more settled later in the season. Those who oppose any change in the date argue that a horse show would not be complete without the stallions and that if the show were held at any other time the stallions would nearly all be out on their stations and not available for the show. About one-fourth of the 150 horses ex hibited at this year's show were stal lions. The Board of Trade has taken up the project of building an armory and it is expected that something definite will be done soon. I'nder a law passed by the last Legislature the state will furnish one-half the funds for an armory up to a certain amount and it is planned to construct in Salem a building to cost not less then $30,000. Two Drown Wlien lKry Sinks. VANCOUVER, B. C. April 11. With her flag at half-mast, the New Eng land Fish Company's steamer Manhat tan reached port today and reported the drowning of Angus McLeod and Hugh Bochel, two of her fishermen, on the morning of April 8, off Graham 0 MORE EY 4 BAY Then Prices Will Be Advanced From $200 to $300 on Every Lot in the N. E. Quarter of The Addition with Character Those who contemplate the investment of a small sum cIoayii and the balance in easy monthly payments on a home-site are letting slip by one of the grandest opportunities for investment in Port land today if they do not investigate Laurelhurst. To investigate Laurelhurst means to invest in Laurelhurst, for no person who is really in the market for home property can help but realize that .values in Laurelhurst are entirely too low as compared with other residence sections not nearly so well improved and much further out from towTn. Just realize if 3rou can what it means to you to be aMe to purchase a lot in the most highty improved restricted residence district of the entire city at prices as low and in some cases lower than are being asked for unimproved property on the outskirts of the town. There is no section of Portland which is being as highly improved as Laurelhurst. Every improvement is being made by the city on an elaborate scale large gas, water and sewer mains, asphalt streets, cement walks, shade trees, cluster lights, etc. It means something to live in a neighborhood where there will be 26 miles of asphalt streets and 52 miles of handsome homes. -Laurelhurst is practically in the center of town, for it is only one and one-half miles from the shopping center of Portland. Other residence sections are located way out, with one carline. Laurelhurst is located close in and is reached by four carlines. Take Montavilla, Rose City Park, Sunnyside or (Mount Tabor lines. The first twro run to and through the property, while the two latter are within two blocks of the southerly portion. See Laurelhurst at once. Do not temporize, but look. See for your self and be convinced. See the improvements being made NOW. Take" the Rose City Park or Montavilla cars, or, better still, call at our office and let us tell you more of Laurelhurst. Then, if you are interested, we will be glad to showT you the property in our automobiles. But remember prices advance on Friday, April 15, so act now. For a few days only Laurelhurst lots will sell from $750 per lot up Remember Until April 15th Only LOTS FROM $750 UP Terms Only. 1 0 Cash, 2 Monthly AIjTlfOBIZED BKOKKHSl Charles K. Henry Co. AVnkeflrld, Fries & Co. Georgce - Schalk. H. p. Palmer-Jone Co. Holme. A Menefee. Mall & Von Boratel. Mackle A Ronntree. It, K. Bryan Jt Co. Krlek-Dodd. Co. Rnf f-KJelu.orsre Land Co. Duboia A Crocket Realty Co. Chapln & Hrriow, Haas & RlnsJer. SALEM AGGNCTt A. MOORES, 1-2 BISH-BREYJIA.V BLOCK. EUGENE AGKVCT, HAGLADRT SHliM ATEJ. " ALBANY AGENCY, A. T. STARK. WALLA WALLA AGETfCTi IDRVMHELLER A EXK1S. 1 W. C KOEHA'Ei J jesrelhvi n?f Cry 522-526 Corbett Building Phones Main 1503, A 1515 t.has. M. fcturrowos Ad So Island. "McLeod's body was recovered and brought down by the steamer, but Bochel was not seen after the acci dent. The lost men were In a dory, which was capsized by a squall. COLLEGE HILL LOOP HIGH Eugene to Get Extension if It Col lects $200-0 More. EUGENE, Or.. April Vn.OpecIal.) President J. O. Storey, of the Portland, Eugene & Eastern Railroad, who has been in the city the past few days looking after the interests 'of the com pany here, particularly the proposed extension of the street railway system, announced today that the proposed Col lege Hill loop would be built this Spring provided the committee would raise a bonus of $35,000. The street railway company original ly asked $40,000 and $33,000 was raised. When President Storey and Manager Welch arrived here a few days ago they were apprised of this fact and it was practically decided that the ex tension would not be made. After fur ther consideration, however, Mr. Storey gave encouragement, and it is thought there will be no difficulty in raining the additional $2000. Mr. Storey says the extension of about four and a half miles can be completed in two months. A meeting of the Improvement clubs fund needed . having in hand the collecting of th bonus will meet at the Commercial Club rooms Monday night to raise tha h if; Honored by Women When woman speaks of her silent secret suffering she trusts yon. Millions have be stowed this mark of confi dence on Dr. R. V. Pierce, of Buffalo, N. Y. Every where there are women who bear witness to the wonder- working, curing-power of Dr, Fierce s r avorite which saves from pain, ' and grapples with nesses and stubborn ills. -'- IT MAKES WEAK WOflEN STRONG IT ilAKES SICK WOMEN WELL. No woman's appeal was ever misdirected or her con fidence misplaced when she wrote for advice, to the World's Disfensasy Medical Association, Dr. R. V. Pierce. President. Buffalo. N. Y. Dr. Pierce's Plemsaat Pellets Induce mild natural hovel movement once a day. e Prescription r T . the suffering sex I successfully f f f f woman's weak- mr,i. iM.M - 1. ' ' 0 JrD - - hA . C-J