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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 2, 1908)
0 THE SUNDAY OKEGONIAN. PORTLAND, AUGUST 2. 1908. i VICTIM OF PLOT, OB SELF SLAIN Mystery Surrounds Death of Mrs. Mary Livering, Lou isville Woman. HER HUSBAND IN PRISON Is I'ndrr Life Sentence on Convic tion or Her Murder, hut He Stoufljr Maintains His Innocence. 1-AJCISVII.L.E. Aug. 1. Was the death of Mrs. Mary Livering. of Louisville, the irhastly fruit of a poison riot, or was she a suicide weary of life? Cpnn the ultimata answer to these questions de pend the fate of Charles Livering. hus band of the dead woman, now under a life sentence for lier murder. He has ap pealed hi rase to the Kentucky Supreme Court and all Kentucky is speculating as to what will he the final outcome. Uve rlrur hope to be acquitted in the end. His conviction rested upon the testimony of confessed accomplices, supported al most alone by circumstantial evidence. But what a story those accomplices told. It had to dfv that story with a fraudu lent will, a note purporting to be the last act of a suicide, but said to have been obtained by treacherous running, the concoction of deadly poisons while a sneer played about the lips of the prison er, a husband's determination to kill the wife, of whom he was weary and his fierce yearning; to possess as his own that wife's estate these and other matters and things quite as ghastly, quite as atartllnfr. Telle Shocking Story. It was three years ago that Mrs. Live ring died and for more than two years the husband dwelt In security. Then, one day. a policeman, whose suspicions had been active all along, quizzed Mrs. Anna Gray. who. with her husband, was an intimate friend of Livering. What she told the policeman seemed to corrobo rate his worst suspicions and that tame day Livering was placed under arrest, charged with the murder of his wife. He was Indicted and the case went to trial recently. The whole state of Ken tucky was shocked by the testimony In that trial. Anna Gray and her husband. Lou Gray, were the principal witnesses for the prosecution. It was a grewsome tale they told. According to the testimony of those people. It was a $1j.0u0 estate belonging to Mrs. Livering that caused the thought of murder to rise in Livering's mind and ultimately led him to prepare and give to his wife a dose of poison. The Live rings formerly resided in Shelby County -d Livering was a farmhand In the Aploy of the first husband, of the wom an who later became his own wife. This employer died of poison and was sup posed to have committed suinlde. Not long afterward the wedding bells rang and the widow became the bride of Uve ring. .. ! Coveted Land. I But though Livering was possessed of 'he widow, he had not got hold of the dead man's estate, consisting of farming lands valued at $1T.ooo or more. It is aid that his mouth watered for those lands. He longed to have the title deeds to the farms in his own name to see the fact that he was lord of the domain spread upon the official records at the courthouse. Rut there was only one way to accomplish his heart's desire, and that was to wheedle Mrs. Livering Into making him her sole heir by a legally drawn will, and then for her to die. It is a peculiar thing how hearty and hale undesirable wives are. and undesirable husbands, too. for that matter. But. if the evidence upon which Charles Live ring was convicted be true, he kept his eye on his wife and observed that she was in robust health, not likely to die oon. unless, maybe, a railroad engine or a big automobile should run Into her or. that he should take a hand and assist nature. Indeed. Mrs. Gray testified that Livering frequently urged his wife to commit suicide, once even taking her out in a boat and arguing with her that she jump Into the river and drown herself. But she was obstinate and refused. "I have heard him say," testified Mrs. Gray. -ln conversations with his wife. Why don't you go ahead and kill your self like you promised." Livering sought to destroy the effect of that testimony by bringing witnesses who swore that Mrs. Livering was ad dicted to morphine and whisky, and that, after partaking of these In large quanti ties, she would be despondent and ex press a desire to die. Mrs. Gray replied to that evjJence by saying that Mrs. Livering ntr took drugs or whisky ex cept when repeatedly urged to do so ty her husband. The witness also said Mrs. Livering was of a cheerful, self-reliant disposition, and not morbid or despond ent. And here arose the question of whether or not Mrs. Livering did commit suicide. For alongside her body when It I was found was a note, in her own hand writing. In which she declared herself to be weary of life and prepared to die by her own hand. The letter also stated her desire to be that her husband should Inherit all her property. Suicide Note Frank. Mrs. Gray swore tiiat "suicide note" was a fraud and a fake, obtained by IJverlng through the faith and trust re posed In him oy his wife. According to the evidence. Livering persuaded his wife to write that note a month before her death en the plea that they would "play a Joke" on a relative with whom there had been a quarrel. "He put the note in ims povi ana i amn t see it any more until TX,f Mrs. Uvering was dead." said Mrs. Gray, -'but I knew in what manner it was to be used." Then Mrs. Grav told of how the suicide was arranged, how cunningly, how cruel ly, how pitilessly and how clumsily and carelessly. She said the poison was pestled at her house. It was a mixture of soot and Tour and strychnine, she said, which wxs pushed Into capsules with a big nail. Mrs. Gray said he mut tered imprecations against his wife as he rammed home the poison In the cap sules, remarked the while that lie guessed these would fix her." Then he went away to feed the deadly stuff to the doomed woman, said the mitness, but. in his haste, he left some of the cap sules behind. There was a dramatic incident at that juncture of the trial. The woman in the witness chair opened her purse, saying, "Here are the capsules he left behind. and she held them up so all could see. Mrs. Livering was told that the pills were a tonic. She was not feeling well. The evening before her death Mrs. Gray , called on her. "Didn't you warn her?" asked the at torneys for the defense. "Tes." said Mrs. Gray, "but I didn't tell her there was poison in the capsules. I didn't dare to. Mr. Livering had threat ened to klil me and commit suicide if I told on him." Livering was not at home the night his wife took the tonic. Ho came by the Gray home the next morning and asked if his wife bad been there. He was in formed she had not. "Well." said he. according to Mrs. Gray. "I guess she's a dead one by this time." And not long afterward they re ceived a message from him that his fire diction had been verified. Mrs. Gray said that fter the woman's death Livering called on her and had her taken to the country for two weeks "to get over the excitement." Then he put us into a house he owned," she said, "and told me and my husband we could live In the house alwavs at his expense. He said, too, that everything he owned should belong to him. his sister and to nie for the rest of his life." Livering brought him a blank sheet o paper, that is, blank with the exception of Mrs. Liverlng's name signed at the bottom of It, and on that paper lie (Lou Gray) wrote a fraudulent "will" and he and Mrs. Gray signed it as witnesses. By the terms of that "will" Livering was to be the sole heir of his wife. Probate Is Denied. A tier her "suicide" an attempt was made to probato the will in Shelby Coun ty where the real estate was situated, but the probate was denied on the plea, offered by Mrs. Liverlng's relatives that the document was fraudulent, that Gray swore Livering had told him Mrs. Live ring's signature was obtained on blank rift ni tv raiisine her to believe a lease was to be made out. Gray admitted wlinoul hesitation that he had perjured himself in the Shelby County will litiga tion, in which he had testified to hav ing seen Mrs. Livering sign the document. Gray made a bitter denunciation of Livering from the witness stand, and, re fusing to keep silence at the judge's com mand, he was fined for contempt of court and sent to jail. s The Jury was agreed as to the guilt of levering and would have fixed his pun ishment at death had not the principal evidence against him been the testimony of accomplices. So the penalty was m.Hn nro imr.rinonm.-nt. Livering accept- n.t ihA wrritct as calmly as he would have had the whole affair been some minor civil suit. Is Livering guilty? A jury has "pro nounced him so. If he is not, then surely he is the victim of a plot most hideous. But the question rcsls now with the Su preme Court of Kentucky, to which trib unal it has been appealed and before which it will be heard at the approaching term. BEGIN WDBK ON BEG PLANT Sl'KVKV GOKDOV FALLS SITE THIS WEEK. Promoters Expect to Have Large Woolen Mill in Operation by January 1, 1909. Active work on the site of the new power plant and woolen mlllVt Gordon Falls, near Bridal Veil. Or., will begin tomorrow, when a surveying party un der the direction of Engineer J. H. Cunningham will leave for that place to establish a permanent camp and en gage in surveying and platting the new townsite. It Is the Intention of the promoters to begin the erection of the power plant and woolen mill at the earliest date possible. Architects are now preparing plans for thee buildings, together with plans for an excelsior mill", hotel and a few rouairi. Orders for goods already re reived makes It necessary that the mill shall be ready for operation by Janu ary 1. 1909. Upon the completion o the nrelimlnary surveys and plats, sites for tho various industries will be se leeted and building operations will be Kin at once. It Is proposed to have the various buildings completed at as near lv the same time as possible in order in have them In operation wtthou delay. Charles Coopey, one of the promoters of the new enterprise, is negotiating for several sheepmen for a large tract of land In the vicinity of Gordon Falls, which It is proposed to use as a sheep ranch. This will enable the owners to have their sheep sheared on the Dremises. Representatives of the Methodist Church yesterday visited Mr. Coopey for the purpose of securing a site for a church and parsonage In the new town of Gordon Falls. It is understood that such a site will be presented to the denomination In questiol by the owners of the townsite. Application has been made by several merchants for the privilege of estab lishing a store in the new town. TMs concession, however, is not to be grant ed. It being the purpose of Mr. Cooper, Mr. Peaslee and their associates to es tablish a co-operative store on the plan of those In operation in England. I'n der this arrangement each resident of the town will be a stockholder of the institution. No one wiH be permitted to own "more than one share of stock which will be valued at tS. A cash business only will be transacted. Every three months the profits accruing from the sale of the merchandise will be di vided among the members In propor tion to the amount of their purchases. If the member so desires, he can leave the money with the savings department and get his legal rate of Interest for It. This method Is followed to a great extent In . England. at Oldham, Blarkburn, Preston. Leeds, Manches ter, Liverpool and other manufacturing centers. Merchants Savings & Trust Company 247 WASHINGTON STREET Capital$150,000 Fays interest on Savings Ac counts and Time Certificates. Receives deposits subject to check without limitation as to amount. Effects collections in any part of the country on most reason able! terms. Acts as Trustee in all legiti mate relations. Cares for properties, collects rents, etc ' Interviews solicited witi those contemplating any phase of our service. TEETH . Refuses to Surrender Auto to Sheriff J. H. Krllr I hsaxM Mi4. Hmtver, Wfcea More Depntlea Appear ts Ka force V rtt t Replevin. HEN Oeputy Sheriff Bulger Ttnt own to serve a writ of replevin on J. B. Kelly for an automobile, the peace officer didn't know just exactly what he was running up against, so he did not take a company of the Oregon National Guard with him. But Bulger wasn't long In getting reinforcements when he was surrounded. And the Peputy Sheriff got the machine he wenfc after. Automobiles cauwe trouble in many ways it was a new kind that Bulger found. Ira T. Beeman is the owner ot the chug-wagon. Something got wrong and the suto had to be sent to an ex pert. J. B. Kelly, who was a candidate for the nomination for State Senator not long ago. has a motor-car hospital on the corner of Second and Salmon streets and hither went Beeman. In due course of time the owner of the horseless pleasure wagon went round to see If the break was mended. It was. He asked for his bill. It was handed him. Beeman thought the bill would be in the neighborhood of a dosen dollars: Instead he declares that It was over 1100. And he couldn't get the aito until the bill was settled. Straightway Beeman proceeded to se cure a writ of replevin in order to have his machine for a Saturday night spin. About noon yesterday Bulger went down to serve the papers on Kelly. This office is equipped with all the latest appliances and formulas for doing high-class work. Consultation free. Ate n-y ear guarantee given with all work. CHICAGO PAINLESS DENTISTS Corner Sixth and Washington. Be sure you are in the right office. Lady attendant. Phones: Main 3SS0, A 5340. Office Hours: 8 A. M. to 7 :30 P. M. Sundays, 9 tol2. When the owner of the hospital saw what was doing, he informed the Dep uty Sheriff that the machine could not be taken out of the place until settled for. At that, Kelly called all of his workmen up and ix or seven husky men gathered " about the repaired Joy cart. Bulger then showed his star and told them not to monkey with tho strong arm of the law. But his arm didn't look so strong to them, and they laughed. At that, Bul ger at once telephoned the Sheriff's of fice for help, aid and assistance. Dep uty Sheriff Jones quickly slipped a pocket-sized Gatllng gun in his hand and made a run for Second and Sal mon; Deputy Sheriff Sam Wagner Sam fs not a relative of Lou followed after. When help came, Mr. Kelly changed his mind, and the automobile was secured without one drop of blood having been shed in Its defense. RESCUED JSS Br MIRACLE BREAKING OF AIRPIPE SAVES FERXIE MINERS. Three Dead and One Dying as Re suit of Cavc-in at Crows Xest Pass. VANCOUVER, B. C. Aug. I. A Pro vince special from Fernie says: Three dead and one dying Is the death roll of yesterday's frightful acci dent In the Coal Creek mine. Twenty miners, penned In by hundreds of feet of earth and rock, escaped as by a miracle. The eras was about to over come them and several had slipped to the ground ready to die, when a flood of fresh air filled the chamber In which they had gathered. A falling rock hsd broken the com- pressesd-air pipe Just at the point where the men were gathered. Here by accident fresh air wa let loose- inster.d of being delivered hundreds of feet further into the depths of the workings, where It would have been of little beaeflt to the entombed men. With the first alarm, hundreds of women, who had snatched their babes In their arms, crowded around the pit head. . Children freed from school Joined them. The cpeclal train from Michel, with President Llndsey and his staff of of ficials on hoard, slid down the five miles of the 3 per cent grade In less than 7 minutes. Llndscy Immediately Joined Superintendent Strachan and the pit bosses who had entered the mine as far as it was possible to get. The tun nel was absolutely -closed, and after half an hour of fruitless work It looked as If the 24 missing men were surely dead. But just then faint rapplngs could be heard on the air pipe, which Indicated that some at least were still alive. Then it became a race which would reach the entombed men first, the picks and shovels of the rescuers or the kill ing gas that was undoubtedly rapidly ccunuilatlng. The miners of the searching party drove a hole through te main all of coal, reached an inner chamber, bored another hole and found 15 half dead men on the other side. The cheers on the surface were hardly finished when other men were found and the total number of rescued was later ! brought up to 20. . No Students No Gas No Cocaine Special Reduction on All W- WIT fff A uemai wont unm August ICtti ; Cleaning teeth anrl painless extrac tion 'free for a short time only. - FALL SHOWING eT CARPETS AND RUGS NOW COMPLETE Comprising the newest and most exclusive designs in Body Brussels, Axminsters and the famous Bundhar Wilton. In the Body Brussels are designs and colorings especially adapted to general use, including also a complete line of exclusive bed room patterns. In the different grades of Axminsters are all the new combinations of tan and brown, in Oriental and artis tic conventional designs. Our line of Bundhar Wiltons for this season surpasses all previous displays for beauty of de sign and coloring. We particularly mention the L'Art Nou- veau, Oriental and conventional patterns, in all the popular colorings. 6th floor Carpet Department, SALE OF GO-CARTS AND CARRIAGES Fourteen patterns are offered in a three-day sale and priced for quick clearance with the intention of reducing our stock of children's vehicles. Sale commences tomorrow. Mail orders and out-of-town inquiries will receive careful and prompt attention. SPECIAL $13.75 The Allwin patent folding Go-Cart; all metal frame; full nickel-plated; has reclining back; can be folded most com pactly. SPECIAL $14.75 Reclining Carriage with best spring and gear construction; green fiber body. Cushions and parasol. SPECIAL $19.75 Reclining Carriage in cream enamel; coach finish; upholstered in same color leather cloth. Best gear and construction; parasol. SPECIAL $22.75 Reclining Carriage, with best gear and construction; body of green fiber; tipholstered and fitted with parasol. 1 SPECIAL $22.50 Carriage with reclining back; body in coach finish; upholstered in corduroy; best spring and gear construction. SPECIAL $14.25 -Folding Go-Cart with wood body; coach finish; best gear and con struction. Upholstered in leather cloth. Parasol. SPECIAL $15.00 Folding' Go-Cart, with wood body; green coach finish; upholstered iu leather cloth. Reclining back: parasol. SPECIAL $23.00 Reclining Carriage with high-grade gear and spring construction; body in best coach finish; uphol stered and fitted with parasol. SPECIAL $24.00 Reclining Carriage in brown coach finish best gear and spring construction; upholstered and fitted with parasol. . SPECIAL $31.75 Auto Carriage with brown reed body; reclining back; hood and upholstery in leather cloth. High grade gear and construction. SPECIAL $37.50 English Perambulator, in best cream coach finish; upholstered best quality leather cloth; reversible hood. tV?e CROCKERY DEPT UNUSUAL VALUES IN A THREE-DAY SALE OF GLASSWARE Clearance selling of odds and ends from our line of glassware in pressed, etched and cut-glass designs. Take advantage of this sale for replenishing your household stock. Monday, Tues day, Wednesday. Custard Cups, special, each 5 Toothpick Holders, special,, each 5 Olive Dishes, special, each 7 Spoon Trays, special, each ..7 Handled Jelly Dishes, special, each 7C 6-inch Nappies, special, each 10 Bonbon Dishes, special, each : 10? Horseradish Cups, special, each 10) Water Bottles, special, each 45i Decorated Finger Bowls, special, each ...55 Water Pitchers, special, each 55C 9-inch Nappies, special, each . 60 Tea Sets, special, each 80 Tumblers, special, per dozen 80 Decorated Water Bottles, special, each 85 Berry Sets, special, each ' 9o Decorated Water Sets, special, each ' $1.2o 5-inch Plates, special, each 10 Finger Bowls, special, each 10? 8-inch Berry Bowls, special, each '....15 Vinegar Cruets, special, each 15? Salt and Pepper Shakers, special, pair 15 5-inch Footed Bowls, special, each 15c Decorated Olive Dishes, special, each 25c Berry Sets, special, each 35 Wine Sets, special, each f..$1.45 Berry Sets, special, each $1.45 Decorated Tea Sets, special." each $1.50 Decorated Tumblers, special, per dozen $1.85 Decorated Water Sets, special, each $1.85 Cut-Glass Tumblers, special, per dozen $2.35 Cut-Gass Claret Goblet, special $2.45 Cut-GIass Sherbet Glasses, special, per dozen $2.75 Cut-Glass Tumblers, special, dozen $4.95 TWO SIZES IN SANITARY REFRIGERATORS SPECIALLY PRICED In the Basement Depart ment tomorrow and Tues day, special sale of two popular sizes in the won derful "Sanitary" Refrigerators. NO. 5 SIZE SPECIAL $14.75 Galvanized iror' lined ; outside measurement : Width 23 inches, depth Hi inches, height 46 inches. Ice capacity 40 pounds. NO. 205 SIZE-SPECIAL $16.75 . White enamel lifled; outside measurement: Width 25 inches, depth 16 inches, height 46 inches. Ice capacity 40 pounds. f - -r h l n ri u id ia U iT: M?iatttfffiri?'frBJ SHIRTWAIST BOX E S Monday and Tues- day in the Drapery Department, a sale of Shirtwaist Boxes in dainty cretonne coverings, pleated edges, padded seats and lined. Your choice from several in striped and floral effects, at the special . . $4.95 COUCH COVERS SPEC. $4.75 Extra heavy couch or davenport coverings of good width and length; 6 feet wide by 8 feet long, in Gobelin, and other tapestry fabrics. In the Drap ery Department Sixth Floor. Mail Orders and Out-of-Town Inquiries Given Careful' and Prompt Attention. INCOMPLETE- M0U5E-FURHI5HER5II Make your 11 OWN TERMS jj ART WALL PAPERS in the Decorative Dept. Sixth Floor. J WINGFIELD STEALS MARCH MARRIES SECRETLY AHEAD Oh TIME TO DECEIVE WOMAN. Prelpndcd Common Law Wife Storms Wlien Slie Learns She' Is Supplanted. SAX FRANCISCO. Aue. 1. (Special.) George Wlnirfield. millionaire mining op erator.' of Goldfleld. Nev., married secretly Thursday night Miae Maud Murdock. daughter of Robert Murdock, cashier and manager of th United States National Bank, and they are now ependlngr their honeymoon In Southern California. The weddinir was announced for Satur day afternoon, but Mr. Wingfield antici pated thta dflte. as he reared trouble from a woman with whom he used to live in Nevada and who claims to be his wife. This woman appeared late lasrf night at the Stewart Hotel and was greatly in censed when she heard the marriage had occurred. She declared that Mr. Wing field had spent Wednesday night with her and promised her money If she made no trouble. She claims under Nevada law Fhc can prosecute Mr. Wintrtield for bigamy. A year ago she created a scene at the t. Francis Hotel by threatening to shoot Mr. "Wingrield. " Mr. Wiugtleld wired yesterday to Gold- field's three hlg saloons ordering the pro prietors to set up wine for the boys and charge it to him. As a heavy rain set in, the mining town was doubly soaked. NAMED CONSUL FOR PERU Prof. Vejar, Acting Chilean Consul, ' Gets Additional Appointment. Professor A. J. Vejar. acting Chilean Consul, lias recently been appointed Peruvian Consul In Portland, with of fices In the Commonwealth Building. Professor Vejar came to Portland last November, and soon after was ap pointed acting Chilean Consul to suc ceed W. H. Jenkins, who resigned shortly before Professor Nejar's ar rival. Professor Vejar is a native of Valencia. Spain, but for many years resided in Mexico City. He first visited Portland in 1305, during the T,ewis and Clark Exposition, as a member of the South American Commission. Profes sor Vejar was for several years editor of a Spanish and English journal in Los Angeles. At the same time he held the position of Secretary to the Mexi can Consul-General at Los Angeles, 1 General G. Andrade. He is at present head of the department of languages in the Portland Y. M.' C. A. Permitted to Clianpe Name. Kalherine Elizabeth Ieary was yester day eranted permission by the County Court to change her name to Katherine Elizabeth Fitzgibbon. She says In her petition that for the past an years she has been living with Mr. and Mrs. Tliiwii a Fitzgibbon. of this city, her parents having died when she was but 2 years old. and that she would like to hear tho name of those who have been so kind to her. Every woman covets a shapely, pretty figure, and many of them deplore the loss of their girlish forms after marriage. The bear ing of children is often destructive to the mother's shapeliness. All of this can be avoided, however, by the use of Mother's Friend bef6re baby comes, as this great liniment always prepares the body for the strain upon it, and preserves the symmetry of her form. Mother's Friend overcomes all the danger of child birth, and carries the expectant mother safely through this crjtical period without pain. It is woman's greatest blessing. Thousands gratefully tell of the benefit and relief derived from the use of this by all druggists at $1.00 l4 per bottle. Our little book, h'y telling an aDoui mis nm- i Ml 1 i C ' " mem win dc sent rree. THE ERADFIELD REGULATOR CO. Atlanta Ga. . -J.J