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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 12, 1920)
THE MORNING- OREGOXIAX, THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 1920 1W OFFICER HELD FOR DEATH OF WIFE Dead Woman, Mrs. T. F. Flash, Formerly of Portland. AUTOPSY IS PERFORMED Surgeons Declare Criminal Opera lion Done, but Husband De nies Knowledge of Deed. SAN DIEGO, Cal., Aug. 11. T. F. Flash, chief pharmacist's mate of the U. S. S. Prairie, who was arrested last night and confessed to burying his wife in a shallow grave in Mission valley nearly two months ago, will he formally charged with murder. Chief of Poiice James Patrick stated today. Flash today reiterated his story of last night, saying: that his wife died In convulsions and that the reason he buried her in Mission valley was be cause he was too poor to afford funeral. In company with police offi cers, he today visited the site of the giave and showed the officers where he had hidden the shovel with wnicn he had dug the grave. Operation Declared Criminal. An autopsy was declared by the surgeons to have showed the woman died as the result of a criminal oper ation. Flash, however, persists in his denial that he is responsible for the woman's death and insists he knows nothing of an operation. Identification of the nude body as that of Mrs. Flash solved a deatll mystery which the police of Los An geles and San Diego have been seek ing to unravel since July 17. According to the navy petty officer who jvas arrested in San Diego in company with Mrs. Gladys Fox, 16 years old, he wrapped the body of his wife in a sheet and blanket and drove to Point Loma and later to Mis sion valley, where he dug a shallow grave and buried her. He could not account for his action in seeking to remove all identification marks from the wrappings. A laundry mark over looked by Flash resulted in the iden tification of the body. Lnondrr Mark Traced. On July 17 the body of a woman was found buried in the sand in Mis sion valley. It was clothed in bed sheets, a suit of pajamas and a man's overcoat. All laundry and other iden tification marks were cut from the sheets and clothing with the excep tion of one small one in the corner of the paiama jacket. With this as a clue, the police traced Flash's laundry and located him. He has been residing ashore and was arrested in the same house where he lived with his wife. "I did not murder my wife," he said, "she gave an outcry during the night and I found her In convulsions, fehe died before I could summon a doctor. As I had no money to pay for a funeral, I hired a rig the next day and burried her body in the sand in Mis eion valley." Mrs. Flash was the daughter of Mrs. E. W. Riner, 55 North Twentieth street, Portland. Or. Flash said they were married in San Francisco in 1917. He has been in the navy for 11 years. . FAITH EXPRESSED IX FLASH Parents of Dead Woman Confident Her Husband Is Xot Slayer. News of the identification of a body found in a grave near San Diego as that of their daughter. Mrs. Edna May Flash came yesterday as a shock to Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Riner, 55 North Twentieth street, parents of the young woman. Mr. and Mrs. Riner had been expecting their daughter's arrival in Portland almost dally. Despite the suspicion that has been cast over the dead woman's husband Chief Pharmacist's Mate T. F. Flash of the United States steamship Prai rie, Mr. and Mrs. Riner feel confident that he is not the slayer of their daughter. "Although I have never seen Flash myself, Mrs. Riner visited with them at San Diego last March and was very favorably Impressed with the young man," Mr. Riner said yesterday, "Mrs. Riner is confident that' he did not cause our daughter's death, and my wife is a good judge of human nature. Hence I am willing to stand by her judgment until further dis closures prove otherwise. "It is possible that Edna underwen an operation of some character in which her husband assisted, and that she died during the operation. Then, according to the theory 1 have thought out, he must have buried her to es cape trouble because of the operation. But we feel certain he did not kill her. They were too happy to have such a thing as that happen." Mr. Riner said that Flash has been writing to Mrs. Riner and himself frequently, telling them of their daughter's supposed illness. It was only about a week ago, he said, that Flash shipped their daughter's trunk to Portland, containing all her clothes. "He sent us word directing us to open the trunk and take out her things," he said. "He also said that he expected to come north with his ship in a short time and that Edna would come on to Portland for an ex tended visit with us. "At first he wrote his letters with a pencil, but during the last few weeks he has been using a typewriter. In every letter he spoke of Edna in en dearing terms, and, frankly, the whole affair, letters and all, is so confusing that I do not know Just what to think." Mr. Riner said that, according to In formation received by him. the grave . containing his daughter's body was found near San Diego about a month ago. The body was nude except for a heavy blanket in which it was wrapped. By tracing a laundry mark on tne Dianket the San Diego offi cials linally traced it to the naval vessel Prairie and then to Flash. It was then Flash was taken Into cus tody. airs, t lash was 28 years old, the father said, end was born in Portland. She had been' married once before. and a son. aged 14, by the former marriage, is now living with Mr. and Mrs. Riner. The daughter was mar ried, to x lash four years ago. PONZI CASE SENSATIONAL (Continued From First Paffe.) was released after serving a vers small part of his sentence. He had been now occupying for years a posi- j tion still greater than before. 'I do not mean in any way to imply that he Is not deserving respect of the public, but I merely ask, if he is deserving why shouldn t I be? "Montreal records show that a man of my description was convicted of forgery in 1908. and sent for three years to St. Vincent 4e Paul and served about 20 months. 1 feel that it is very important I for the people to know, that although I I am the man who was convicted and emencea ior mat crime. I am not I the man who perpetrated the crime. What is occurring today to me hap pened then in Montreal, the only dif ference being the object of persecu tion was my employer. Employer Declared Shielded. A man apparently friendly to him suggested that he leave Canada, the object of the man being to. appro priate during his absence all the as sets left by the fugitive banker. In 1 order to be sure he wouldn't cornel back to demand an accounting, he I compelled him to forge certain in struments which he was going to hold as a club over his head. I was I present at the transaction. "When it developed later that the man could not gain possession of the assets, revenge or other motives prompted him to demand the return from Mexico to Montreal of ray em ployer under extradition proceedings on a charge of forgery. "I felt indignant, as any other man would feel under the circumstances, and I decided that I would save my employer's name regardless of cost or consequences. When he was brought to Montreal I exonerated him by as suming all the blame. "The allusion made by me to re porters that I went to Canada to j carry on an investigation for the Italian government is immaterial, al though it could explain why I as sumed a name. Innocence In Protested. "My next unfortunate incident did not come of my own volition, but hap pened as a consequence of my first mistake. Released from prison with out a friend and without a dollar. I ried to earn a living the best I could. Within ten days I was asked to escort five Italians into the United States.. I did not smuggle them in. I crossed the border openly and was placed im mediately under arrest. 1 aian t dodge the consequences and pleaded guilty. I expected leni ency. I nidn t resist a conviction and yet I was sentenced to two years in federal prison in Atlanta, Ga., and my sentence was a maximum. "As I said before, I sinned and paid for it. When the time came I made a clean breast of it. Is this enough?" lne Hanover Trust company was depository of the Securities Exchange company. Ponzi became a sharehold er and was made a director. His de posits made under the name of Lucv Martelli, trustee, had been consider able, when recently they were aug mented by withdrawals from other banks. Ponzi throughout a run paid 11 notes due and many others that were not. The run ended last week when Ponzi declared he still had abundant resources. Bank Ordered Closed. Toward the end he had been paying with checks drawn on the Hanover Trust company. Monday Bank Com missioner Allen notified the bank not to honor any more checks. The com missioner said that the account was overdrawn. It was admitted that the trust company held a certificate of deposit from Ponzi of $1,500,000, but tn,e examiner explained this could not oe arawn against or withdrawn ex cept after 30 days' notice. The bank closed at 1:45 o'clock this afternoon. In a statement Ponzi said: "I have had to resign as a director until my connections are desirable. Regardless of these disclosures and my past I am fully able to take care of all my obligations. I may be bankrupt by legal process of others. but my obligations will be paid full." A casual remark by Poiizl is said to have given the authorities the first clue to his past. This related to the records in the penitentiary at Montreal. Attorney-General Allen communicated with the police there and a week ago received a copy of the prison record and photographs qf Charles Ponzi, alias Bianchi, who was committed to the prison in Montreal August 31, 1908, for forgery. lne prisoner then was 26. Identity Made Positive. ) The identity of Ponzi with Ponsl was said to have been made positive uy r.ugene j.aiiamme, Jertlllon ex pert of the Montreal police. The "Ponsi" with the Canadian record had been associated with Zrossi & Com pany, bankers. Ponsi was arrested after the company failed in 1908 and Zrossi fled to Mexico. This company is said to have offered large returns on -investments. Commissioner Allen in a statement said: Juast j-Tlday I sent examiners to the bank. They are still there. The closing of the bank was in large part due to tneir report as to the condition of the loans. Not only did they find I loans excessive and beyond legal imit, but they found also many loans tnat are either bad or of very doubt- rui value. Money Paid Ponzi. When asked if Ponzl's certificate of deposit of $1,500,000 had anything to do witn his action, he replied: t nave given you the reasons I which brought about the closing but j I know this to be a fact, the Hanover Trust officials acting contrary to law and against the specific direction of the commissioner of banks, have I paid either to Pqnzi or to his agents I uimui. iojj,wv ui me ti,uu,uuu rep resented in the certificate of deposit. 1 arrectea tne hank not to pay any! part oi tnat certificate of deposit. Nevertheless almost $500,000 has been paid out. Whether there Is any pen alty for such an offense except a fine I or iuuu, l do not know." As to the bank's condition, he said: "I fear its capital has been im paired. that society owed me another chance. "I am not the first one to have com mitted a sin. When I see others who were under the same situation years ago and now today occupy prominent positions, I do not see why I should become the object of persecution on the part of the authorities, press and the public Respect Held Deserved. Charles W. Morse, at one time a prominent banker, was also convicted in United States courts and sentenced to 15 years in Atlanta, Ga. I know, because I was there with him. Ha 'ts .x-'-jrttiti"- - -" - hiiiivi " - .-i '"',,iVnnisi """ " "" !! 7 j ii in i - -i r- a---. y. ..... t .... ... m- . , , limm , n'f1 ' ' G3 eWff Kli(y)CV3Acu'0(S -. ' f! r 15 00 SHARES HELD IX BAXK Ponzl's Connection With Hanorer Trust Company Is Told. BOSTON, Mass., Aug. 11. W. S. Mc- Nary, chairman of the board of direc tors and treasurer of the Hanover Trust company, explained today how Charles Ponzi became associated with that bank. He said: "Ponzi was introduced at the bank last June by leading reputable Ital ians of Boston, and he opened a sub stantial account. "Subsequently Mr. Ponzi acquired few shares of stock of the bank." he said, "and, I believe, now he has 200 shares in his own name. I am also informed he has more than 1500 6hares, all told, which he controls in some manner." "Did the officers of your bank have knowledge of Ponzl's past life when he was admitted to your bank?" Mr. McNary was asked. "No, we did not. We looked him up and found nothing agaMnst him." POXZICOXVICTED OF FORGERY Records at Montreal Show Man Was Member of Banking Firm. MONTREAL. Aug. 11. (By Cana dian Press.) From records in then hands of the Montreal police, it ap pears that Charles Ponzi was a mem ber of the firm of Zrossi & Co., bank ers, this city, which failed in 1908. ITTHEN an automobile VV owner's tire goes back on him be more or less cheerfully charges it off as a personal loss and tries to do better next time. It is different with the motor truck owner. Every tire must do exactly what is expected of it or be charged against his business. " Experimenting with tires is not the job of the truck owner. The United States Rub ber Company spent two years in developing the idea of putting a heavy truck on air before it brought out the first pneu- i r. matic truck tires. Even then it was not satisfied Even at that time it saw that you could not take an ordinary passenger car tire, enlarge it and make it do what truck owners expect of their tires. It went back again to first principles to the. foundation to the bead of the tire. .11 1 it - .AM I I The car owner who seeks United States Standards in tubes is paid in more mileage for his tires. U. S. Red Tubes. Tubes. Grey It created a new type of bead construction, posi" tively anchoring the cords.. It put in the right number of breaker strips, stronger side walls, a heavier tread. The result was a pneumatic truck tire not an enlarged passen ger car tire. Created to fill a need not padded and bolstered up to fill a market already created. There are still some sizes of U. S. Nobby Cord Tires you cannot buy. The market is there, waiting for them. But they will not be released until this company is satisfied that they will do what truck owners expect of them. The United States" Rubber Company has never asked truck owners to pay for its tire experiments. Rubber Coitipatsy Tire Division Branch, 24-26 Fifth St. North U. S. Pneumatic Truck Tire Dealers in this City: -MILES & CLARK, 26 N. Broadway Zrossi fled and subsequently was ex- J tradited from Mexico City. Under the name of Bianco, alias Charles Ponzi. a man was convicted of foreery and false pretenses and sen tenced to three years in the St. Vin cent de Paul penitentiary. Two Years Served at Atlanta. ATLANTA. Ga., Ant. 11. Records of the federal penitentiary here show that a Charles Ponci served a two year sentence in that Institution from 1910 to 1912. ,He was convicted at Buffalo. N. Y., of smuggling aliens into this country. Airplane -Wrecked In Fall. MARTINEZ. Cal., Aug. 11. An air plane piloted by Clarence Brown Yakima, Wash., and carrying Edward Dietz. Martinez, owner of the ma chine, was wrecked here today when it fell 60 feet shortly after it had taken to the air on a trip to Yreka, Cal. The men were not hurt. S. & II. green Holman Fuel Co. Adv. stamps for cash. Main 3S3. 680-21, MINERS TOLD TO RESUME v. S. COMMISSION' ORDERS STRIKERS TO AVORK. Kansas Men Who Have Been, Out Two Weeks Decide to Go Back Under Protest. WASHINGTON. Aug. 11. Striking employes of the Pennsylvania Coal company in the Pennsylvania anthra cite field were directed today to re turn to work by the- federal anthra cite coal commission and the anthra cite board of conciliation. The two mediation boards adopted separatebut concurrent resolutions declaring the return of the strikers, estimated to number approximately 10,000, was necessary that the public coal supply might not be jeopardized. "PITTSBURG, Kan., Aug. 11. Sev eral thousand Kansas coal miners. who have been on Btrike for two weeks in protest against penalties imposed by operators for observing a five-day week, will return to work immediately, it was announced by Alexander M. Howat, district presi dent of the United Mine Workers. The miners, Mr. Howat said, were not going back at his direction, but of their own accord, under protest. FISH INJUNCTION SOUGHT Astoria Packing Company Ask Writ to Block B'Mlle Law. SALBMi Or.. Aug. 11. (Special.) The Union Fishermen's Paeklng com pany of Astoria today filed with the supreme eourt an application for a temporary restraining order In an aetien against Carl D. Shoemaker, former state game warden, to prevent enforcement of the law prohibiting any person or firm to possess or sell food fish caught outside the three mile limit opposite the mouth of the Columbia river between the dates of August 25 and September 10. The application was placed in the hands of Justice Burnett who will have it under advisement until Au gust 21. Two Judges Run Again. ABERDEEN, Wash., Aug. 11. (Spe cial.) Judges George D Abel and Ben Sheeks, Incumbents, have filed for the superior court judgeship race this fall. The terms of both judges expire at the end of the year. Other filings for county offices include C. W. Arland. commissioner first dis trict; H. D. McKenny, Hoqulam, and Jesse L. Havens, Hoquiam, for sheriff on the republican ticket, and E. M. Hoover, Hoquiam, for sheriff on the democratic ticket. POSITIVELY STOPS FALLING HAIR .Invigorates the scalp promotes k. doubles the beauty of the hair in a few weeks. Toledo Totes Big Bond Issue. TOLEDO, O., Aug. 11. Toledo vot ers yetserday voted approval of $11, 000,000 bonds for school purposes, but turned down the proposal to bond the city for 17,000,000 for the purchase of the transportation system. Lncky Tiger I by million. cores dandruff mnd scalp eczema. 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