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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (March 20, 1913)
THIS MORNING OREGOXIAN. THURSDAY- MARCH 20. 1913. CLEVERLY SET RET GETS POSTAL THIEF Portland Inspectors Unravel Salem Mystery and Arrest William Martin. GUNNYSACK FULL OF MAIL As Messenger Takes Pouches to Train Sleuth Takes Count, Finds Many Packages Missing and Catches Father of Ten. SALEJt. Or, March 19. (Special) Hundreds of dollars' worth of merchan dise and mall matter piled high In up per rooms of tho Federal building here bear testimony to one of the greatest wholesale postal robberies ever per petrated on the Pacific Coast by a sin gle Individual. While In -value the mail matter 13 not mo great, it Is doubtful if any in- dlvldaul has carried on lor so ions period robberies of a single postofflce which have netted the amount or gooos and merchandise which William Mr tln. substitute mail messenger at the PiIpki nontotrice. oDtaineo, in nlnnnrd and comDrehenslve system. Martin was arrested shortly before o'clock this morning by Inspectors Harry Durand and Charles M. Perkins, of Portland, after he had made his last play at mail sacks which were intrust ed to his care, and a gunnysack full of mail matter In his wagon, taken from incoming and outgoing sacks. give evidence which may convict him. Sfartla Father of Tea. Martin Is the father of 10 children. Thomas Anderson, mail messenger for the Salem postofflce. had employed Martin as a sub-contractor for the past two years. Early in January of this year complalntB began to be registered at the postofflce that mall packages were missing. These became so nu merous and so Insistent, more than 60 complaints being registered from the first of the year, that the postmaster became satisfied that somewhere In the postofflce a carefully-planned sys tem of robbery was being carried out. Inasmuch as these packages would pass through many hands, nothing was Bald, but the two men. after conferring with Inspectors, began a system of es pionage which resulted in Martin's ar rest today. When they had become nrartlnlli assured that Martin was th. euiltv Individual a coup was pre pared last night to get Martin in the dragnet this morning. Martin visited the depot to meet the 4:4S Southern Pacific train, securing the sacks of mall from the postofflce at 3:45. The Inspectors had listed every article In the sack which Martin was to take to the train from tne posioi 1 ice. Catch Moves Clever. In the meantime, one of the Inspec tors hurried to the depot and mounted the mail car as the train arrived, wnen Martin handed In the sack the inspec tor and mail clerk went hurriedly Ihrmifrh the sack and discovered number of packages missing. When Martin was placed under arrest a gun nysack full of mail was found in his wagon. A he nan taxen om turn naratlvelv few articles from the out- jroing sack, it indicated that he was also tampering with the Incoming mail. Sheriff Fch went to Watson'a home and there 11 large packing caBes were discovered packed run or a miscei laneous assortment of articles, many gathered from the malls and many probably gathered from shoplifting ex peditions, with which his wife now ac cuses Martin. Martin confessed to Sheriff Esch of his plan to rob the malls and of the robberies, but denied lie had engaged in shoplifting In local stores. Martin was arrested here In 1904 under the name of William Watson. charged with forgery. He was later sent to the Asylum. month ahead of time. In order to give them a good rest after being shipped and a chance to get acquainted with their new home before the contest be gins. The big poultry yard with its 200 competing pens will be under ex pert management and each pen will have its own chart of each day. The idea of the contest is to demon strate how many eggs a hen can be made to lay In the Northwest under favorable, sanitary conditions. It is estimated by poultrymen that the aver age hen will lay 80 eggs in a year, though one hen in a Missouri contest made the great record of 282 eggs In 12 months. Poultrymen say the average Washington hen will lay about 120 eggs r vear. and some breeders say they have had their flocks run as high as J 182 eesrs per hen. In the Tacoma contest there will be Dens from all over the country. . A cash prize of 1100 will be given for the pen of hens that lays the greatest number of eggs for the 12 months. A prize of (75 will be given for the non-setting breed that lays the greatest number of eggs in Its class, while a similar prize will be offered for the largest laying Den among the heavy or setting varle ties. A prize of $50 will be offered for the individual hen laying the greatest number of eggs. All the hens will be trapnested, and arrangements made to care for 200 pens of six birds each, the pens to contain one male. DEATH CAUSE Ulil CORONER'S JURY PASSES FOREST GROVE MYSTERY. ON TAX LEVY IS 8.41 MILLS Road Programme In Washington Re sponsible for Increase. OLTMPIA. Wash March 19. (Spe cial.) According to the estimates made bv the State Tax Commission, tne isu tax levy for state purposes will be not less than 8.41 mills, compared witn . mills in 1912. The Increase is due largely to the road programme which will require an additional 1.25 mill levy over last year, and the more than doubling of the general fund levy. In creasing It from 1.23 mills in 1912 to 2.50 mills for 1913. Inasmuch as a mill levy In Washing ton nets $1,000,000 in taxes the added burden will be heavy. The tax commis sion figures at leaving the military, common school and higher educational levies as at present. The constitutional limit of 3 mills for general fund pur poses would be exceeded this time If It were not lor tne laci tnat tne uii legislature made a special mill levy for that purpose. Otherwise the 1913 general fund levy, from which source these schools formerly got their money .would be 3.55 mills. TRADING STAMP PUZZLES Governor Hater to Receive Delega tions for and Against Bill. OLYMPIA. Wash, March 19. (Spe cial.) Governor Lister Monday heard the arguments of half a dozen retail merchants urging him to sign the anti. trading stamp bill now in his hands. An opportunity will be given for the opposition to the bill to appear and It Is expected that trading stamp com panies will be represented. Governor Lister offers no hint as to his attitude on the bill, which provides that a company pay an annual license of $6000 in each 4-ounty in which it operates. The Governor has received many telegrams and letters from deal ers all over the state urging him to sign it. It apparing that the merchants are practically a unit lri) favor of the abolition of the trading stamp and premium coupon, which Is also Included under the ban proposed by the law. EGG LAYING CONTEST PLAN Tacoma Association Launches World Wide llenr Competlion. TACOMA. Waslu March 19. (Special.) A world-wide egg-laytng contest is the project launched this week by the Ta coma Poultry Association and the Com mercial Club. The two organizations have named a Joint committee, with Frank N. McCandless as chairman and Harry H. Collier as secretary, and plans are being made for 20 pens. Novem ber 1 has been fixed as the starting date, and September 1 the last day for entries. The birds will be called in a Chemical Analysis of Mrs. Hatfield's Stomach Fails to Reveal Trace of Foreign Substance. FOREST GROVE. March 19. (Spe cial.) We, the Jury, find that de ceased died from a cause unknown." Such was the verdict given today by the Coroner's Jury which had been in vestigating the death of Mrs. Myrtle Pease Hatfield, who died at her' home in this city Friday evening about 10 o'clock under peculiar circumstances. Dr. F. A. Bailey, of Hillsboro, who performed the autopsy, assistud by Dr. Tenney, of Portland, and Coroner Bar rett, of the county seat, gave an ex haustive report to the Jury In which he stated that every portion of the body, and each particular organ, had been carefully examined, without the slightest indication being shown as to the cause of death. The stomach of the dead womr.n was placed under & chem ical analysis by Professor ?ernoe. of Portland, and found perfectly normal. So trace of foreign substance, such as would cause death, was discovered. Dr. Bailey could give no reason for the sudden collapse and death of Mrs Hat field other than apnoae (cessation of respiration before the heart ceased to beat) and stated that the contributory causes were un Known to him or the consulting experts. The case has proved puzzling in every respect, and taxed the knowledge of the best physicians of this and other cities. Mrs. Hatfield was born In Newton, la.. In 1873. She came to Oregon with her parents, who located in Albany, in 1899. She taught in the public schools for five years and after two years In the district schools of the rural sec tions passed three years at Mount Ta bor, resigning to accept a position with the Boys' and Girls' Aid Society. While connected with this organlzaticn she traveled throughout the state looking after neglected children, often under going great hardship and privation in the pursuit of duty. On October 4. 1911, she was married to Charles Hatfield, a retired merchant of this city, and the couple lived here continuously since In a bungalow adjoining tne one occu pied by the father and mother of Mrs. Hatfield, who came to Forest Grove from Albany In the Spring of 1912. TAX FOR BRIDGE ESTIMATED Clark County Figures That $500,000 Would Cost $1.10 Per $1000. VANCOUVER. Wash.. March 19. (Special.) Should Clark County vote to bond itself for $500,000 to build its share of the Pacific Highway Bridge, It would Increase the taxes of the connty but $1.10 per $1000 assessed valuation, on the present basis, but It is held that as soon as it was known definitely that the bridge Is to be built the assessable valuation will Jump from $14,000,000 to $20,000,000, which would make the cost less than 75 cents per $1000 valuation, or three-fourths of one mill. The bonds It Is proposed to Issue will run for 30 years, at 4 per cent. and probably will be payable after 15 years, it is estimated tnat tne tons from the bridge would more than care for the Interest on the bonds now, and this will be Increased as the years go by. A sinking fund is to be established to wipe out the bonded indebtedness when due, but It Is hoped, and firmly believed, that long before this hap pens the State of Washington will make an appropriation large enough to relieve Clark County or any burden. PEPPERMINT OIL ASSAYED Joseph Swearlngen's Product Found of First Grade. OREGON AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. Corvallls. March 19. (Special.) An in dustry, which recent trial Indicates might be developed profitably in cer tain parts of the state is being carried on In a moderate way at Toledo by Jo seDh Swearlngen. who has had a sam ple of his product. Oregon-made oil of peppermint, assayed by proressor -.tartar, of the Oregon Agricultural College. The oil Is light In color and was found to be of the first grade. Mr. Swearlngen. who Is not an ama teur In the business, bought his pepper mint plants from Michigan and set them out In a damp soil similar to that of their natural habitat. They have done well, yielding 9II at the rate of 48 pounds per acre, which, selling at the Dresent market price, makes a neat in come from the type of soil used. Clatsop Tax Rebates $9701. ASTORIA. Or.. March 19. (Special.) The report filed by Sheriff Burns shows that during the rebate period, which expired Saturday night, the sum of $316,309.44 was collected on the 1912 tax roll and rebates amounting to $9701 were allowed. This leaves a balance of $132,145.84 still to be collected. A goodly portion of this Is expected be paid in calves. to Baker Chinese Singer Dies. BAKER. Or, March 19. (Special.) With the death of Wong Gee, the Baker concert band is mourning the loss of its Chinese soloist. During the Summer concerts the Oriental would sit on -the bandstand and sing witn the musicians. He was ta years old and well known to everyone here. Death was caused by paralysis. Pacific Alumni to Banquet. PACIFIC UNIVERSITY. Forest Grove. Or, March 19. (Special.) The alumni of Pacific university wm noia a dm quet at the Portland Hotel next Sat urday evening. The occasion is in honor of the victory of Mr. Grathwell. tho varsltv orator, who will deliver his oration "The College Man and Reform." AY' Final Windup of the Great Removal Sale Which Ends April Fifteenth Until that date our entire stock of Men's and Women's Wearing Apparel, including all New Spring Stock, will be included in this great sale, except contract goods. Men's Medium-Weight Suits and Overcoats at Following Reductions $20.00 Values at $13.SO $25.00 Values at $30.00 Values at $35.00 Values at .$40.00 Values at $ 1 6.SO $19.50 $24.50 $29.50 New Spring $20.00 Values at $25.00 Values at $30.00 Values at $35.00 Values at $40.00 Values at Suits $16.00 $20.00 $24.00 $28.00 $32.00 Special Reductions Ladies' Suits and Coats 200 Suits, Odd Lots Your Choice $12.50 New Spring Style Suits and Coats at the Following Reductions $25.00 Values $18.75 $30.00 Values 22.50 $35.00 Values $26.50 $40.00 Values $30.00 $45.00 Values $33.75 $50.00 Values $37.50 Now is the opportune' time to supply your apparel needs for the. Easter time, and when you get the Gray kind of clothes you are assured of the best. Take advantage of our spienaia oirenngs. v . Ladies' Entrance 148 Fourth R M. GrJ MY 273-275 Morrison Street HENRY IS ACQUITTED Murder Charge Fails but New port Man Is Held. SANITY QUESTION IS CAUSE Hearing May Bo Given Friday or Saturday to Determine Mental Condition or Man "Who Shot George Dodd October 31. ALBANY, Or.. March 19. (Special.) Though acquitted of a charge ot mur der in the first degreo tor the killing of George Dodd on a raft in the Wil lamette River near Corvallls on Octo ber SI. Ralph Henry is yet in jail here. For the iury based its verdict of ac quittal on the insanity of the defendant and Henry must remain in custody un til the question of his sanity is deter mined. Tiirie-o TCellv today requested District Attorney Hill to arrange for a hearing on this question ana ai tnsi ume it-1 n viii HAmtne Henry. Upon the re sult of that hearing Judge Kelly will determine whether or not enry win receive his liberty. This hearing prob ably will take place Friday or Satur day of this week. Instruction Are Varied. When charging the Jury Judge Kelly Instructed them that any one of Ave verdicts might be returned. They could either find the defendant guilty of murder In the flrst degree, murder in th. second decree or manslaughter, or thv could return a straight veraict or nnt jrulltv" or if they found that the rtofenriant was not guilty because of in sanity, that having been a leading de fense interposed in nis ueiiau, mcj should return a verdict of "not guilty hv rcuon of insanity." It was this lat ter verdict which the Jury returned. It is exactly the same kind of a verdict which was returned In th. celebrated Harrv Thaw case. The case was given to tne jury ai R-2S o'clock last night and it was 2:30 thi3 morning when the Jurors informed the bailiffs they had reached a veraici. Judge Kelly and court onicers were summoned and it was 2:52 o'clock when the verdict was received Dy tne court. No Emotion Shown. Henry showed no emotion when the verdict was read. seemingly almost perfunctorily he arose and shook hands with the members of the Jury. When he appeared in court at 9 o'clock this morning, however, when the matter of the proposed hearing on the question of his sanity was being arranged, he seemed much pleased at the result of the trial. The prominence or tne "unwritten law" in the case led many people to tne belief that a straight verdict of ac quittal would be returned, but the Jurors apparently took the view that Hunrv'n family troubles produced such stress on his mind that. In view of the predisposition toward insanity in nis fujnllv. he waa not responsible for his act at the time of the shooting. It is rumored tnat none ot tne jurors desired to return a verdict of guilty of murder, but that two or three or mem held out for a time for a verdict of manslaughter, one man Insisting for nine hours on that verdict. Ashland Taxes Involved. ASHLAND. Or, March 19. (Special.) In line with a course previously laid out, authorities of this city have ten- I Otrca v. " .. . j ....... tlon of taxes, ramus tn. I per cent levy assessed on county road schedules. The tender has been refused by county of ficials and the matter has been threshed out in th. courts. HOME OF VETERAN BURNS Residence and Furniture of Lester Westover Total Loss. VANCOUVER, Wash., March 19. (Special.) To lose his home by fire when he had reached the age of 85 years is the experience of Lester West over, a federal veteran of tho Civil War, living near Proebstel. While Mr. and Mrs. Westover were away from their home on Sunday and their daunhter was working In the basement, the building caught fire and was not discovered until the whole roof was wrapped in flames. Nothing was saved and there was no insurance. Springfield Theater Law Ordered. SPRINGFIELD, Or., March 19. (Spe cial.) The City Council of Springfield has instructed the City Attorney to draw an ordinance closing all theaters and other places of amusement each Sunday evening at 6 o'clock and keep ing them closed during the remainder of the evening. This action was taken upon the petition of the W. C T. U. and kindred organizations. The petition was signed by less than 100 people while a remonstrance was signed by over 300. There is only one theater Accqsh- Wondsrfui Results How Being piished by a Herbs! Extract from the Swift Laboratory in Atlanta. mmrrt ititiTtrihiir iiia-irllirf inity J II'-1- '- t----i.'t-j...-..-r The ancient and tlestrnctlve treatment so long In use for blood poison is now banished forever. No longer will mer cury, iodides and arsenic destroy human kind. The great Swift Laboratory at At lanta is making a powerful herbal extract that is unquestionably one of the greatest medical discoveries of all times. This wonderful preparation is now on sale in nearly every drug store throughout the country under the name of S. S. S. Its action Is marvelous. Some of the effects of blood poison cured are mucous patches In the mouth, ulcers on the tongue, lips, in the nose and throat: copper colored splotches, eczema, articular rheumatism, scrofulous sores and ulcers, and every de gree and stag s of blood poison. The fame ol S. S. S. has become almost world-wide.' It has given perfect health no antidotal effect. to those who years ago had given up all hope. It has been a revelation to hun dreds of physicians who enthusiastically welcome the remedy that can banish mer cury and other poisons. There are thousands of people who would like to know more about the won dera of S. 8. S., and a handy little book with colored plates showing the strange facts about skin and blood diseases will be mailed free upon request to Medical Department, The Swift Specific Co.. 127 Swift Bldg., Atlanta. Ga. In the mean time get a 11.00 bottle of this remarkable remedy from your druggist and thus be sssured of complete and permanent re covery from any skin or blood disorder. Be sure to ask for S. S. S. Do not be misled into buying blood tonics that have here now, but Its largest business of the week has always been on Sunday evening. There is talk of referring the ordinance to the people after it is passed by the Council. Japanese Will Retaliate. VANCOUVER. B. C March 19. A special cable to the World from Toklo says: It Is learned here today through official circles that in the event of the passage ot bills before the California Legislature directed against Japanese, Japan will withdraw her support from the Fanama-Pacifio Exposition, refus ing her exhibits and prohibit Japanese citizens to have any connection what ever with the fair. The Literary Event of the Year THEODORE ROOSEVELT'S Chapters of. a Possible AUTOBIOGRAPHY The first installment will appear on March 30 in The Oregonian and later installments every week. . These chapters will he published by special ar rangement with. 'The Outlook, of which Theodore Roosevelt is the Contributing Editor. Now a private citizen, after thirty years of continuous public service, Mr. Roosevelt will devote himself to relating in familiar and inti mate fashion" the stirring eventa of his first half century of life. Few have had the privilege of meeting Mr, Roosevelt at close range. The millions who know him as speaker, soldier, public servant, will now have the opportunity to know him intimately. He has taken part in so much and has done so many things that what is now to be told is largely a matter of selection. He will relate serious and amusing incidents will give sidelights on hap penings that have interested and puzzled the Nation. He will write about events as he has known them personally as a participant. So much of the personal side of public events as may properly be made known at this time Mr. Roosevelt will relate in these papers. He will tell of the Standard Oil and Sugar Trust prosecu tions; of the voyage of the battle fleet around the world; of the creation of the Interstate Com merce Commission; of the Panama Canal; and of many other historical events in which he had so large a part. He will deal not only with events, but with the men who made the events. To Begin March 30 in THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN IV