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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (May 11, 1913)
THE SUNDAY OR1SUOMAN, JPOKTJLAA'LI, MAY 11, 7 LA FRANCE SECRET HAY HANG ON BODY Clackamas Officials Plan Open Grave of Late C. M. Abbott. to EDITOR'S DEATH PECULIAR If Xo Corpse Is Found Coroner Wil son and Sheriff Mass Believe They Will Hare Reasonable . Ground for Suspicions. OREGON CITT. Or, May 10. (Spe cial.) Coroner TVllson, of Clackamas County, on Monday may open the grave in .which Charles 1L Abbott, ex-editor of the Western Stock Journal, was burled on June 7, 1911. If Abbott's body is found in the- grave, hopes that Clackamas County officers have of clearing up the mystery surrounding the means J. C La France used in ob taining a corpse for his Insurance swindle will fall. If, on the other hand, no body is found in the grave. Coroner Wilson and Sheriff Jlaan believe they will have reasonable grounds to charge that -La France and his confederates robbed Abbott's grave to further their own scheme. A number of things make It seem possible that Abbott's body was used in the substitution. ut ranee ana Abbott were almost identical in stature and general appearance. While Abbott had a spot of gray hair on the top of his head, this hair could nave Deen dyed by him after he obtained the body, if such was his plan of procedure. Abbott's grave lies close to Mountain View cemetery fence, on the outskirts of the city, and is in a location where . tampering would not have been noticed " easily. From the grave to the spot where the body probably was et afloat in the Clackamas River is between " .three and five miles, by Indirect roads. Abbott Death Peculiar. Abbott died here under peculiar clr- - cumetances, in that he had no relatives Ja this section of the country, and after his death his father, John T. " Abbott, tax attorney for the Western "Union Telegraph Company, sent funds fon .his funeral from New York. No relatives attended the funeral, though ' " Abbott's friends in this city went en masse. Since the funeral but few peo- , pie have visited the grave. ' Some time after the burial two young "Women of this city. Nan and Louise Cochran, visited the grave to place flowers upon it, and today both of them declared positively that when the went there there was considerate loose earth about the grave, and that "It looked peculiar." At the time they wondered if somebody had tampered with it. but concluded that this wo-s ."improbable, and said nothing. Abbott death, and the fact that no relatives attended the funeral, were widely com merited upon at the time, and had La France at that time been seeking body thajt could be used in his swindle, fhe facts .In regard to Abbott must have impressed him as being favorable to his plan. Another point which leads Investlga tors here to believe that Abbott's body mav have been used is that the body found the last of June in the river, and subsequently identified as that of La France, showed that it had been par tlaflv. at least, embalmed. Traces of t lotynaldehyde were found in it: and ' this fluid was used In embalming Ab botts body, as it was necessary to keep it In the morgue some time while Vhis family in .New lorn was Deing preached by telegraph, '. Theory Thonght Plaaalble. V Undertaker Holman. who had charge -'of the preparation of Abbott's "body for . burial, is skeptical about the grave robbing theory, but admits that it Is plausible. . The theory has also been advanced '' that the body might have been that of ; Lloyd r. Williams, wno aisappearea on , June 23. the same year. Little credence 'lu grVen this theory, however, as the - condition of the corpse figuring In the La France swindle was not such as to iead to the belief that death had re suited but a week before. The condi tion of the body would more nearly i gree with tha of Abbott's, which bad been in the grave nearly a monto. That the use of Abbott's body would - Itave been extremely practical for La France is what gives strength to the theory and present Investigation. As he. has admitted that he was planning , the deed for some time previous to its commission, and as he made many trips Into, the Clackamas .and Lower Wil lamette valleys.4o. seek a place where his ghoulish scheme could he put through without observation or inter ruptton, it is believed worth investigat ing to open Abbott's grave. be known as Aberdeen 7 o clock ex ecutive. If his announcement made yes terday, that he will be on the Job by that hour every day. holds good. The exeoutlve surprised the city employes and there has been great activity on their part since he took his office, two days ago. COLLEGE GIVES AID "IN AESTHETIC WORK Demand for Assistance in Beautifying Grounds Is Growing Rapidly. CALLS COME FROM FARM ALBANY TO HAVE GAS SOON Portland and Detroit Capitalists to Build Plant Within Tear. ALBANY, Or.. May 10. (Special.) That a gas plant will be established in Albany within a year year by a party of capitalists residing in Portland and Detroit, Mich., Is now almost a cer tainty. G. L. Ranch, of Portland, who represents the men planning to estab lish the plant, has been here for sev eral days and It is understood that ar rangements with -the City Council for the granting of a franchise are near-ins- completion. Cnder the terms of the proposed franchise the company must begin work by January 1, 1914, and have the plant in operation within a year from that time. It Is said, however, that If the franchise is granted, work will probably begin this Summer and the plant rushed to completion. A longer time is granted In the franchise mere ly to provide for unexpected delays. The franchise will contain a provi sion whereby the city can purchase the plant when desired. The company will also be required to furnish a $5000 FIRST HOME-GROWN STRAWBERRIES OF SEASON ARE MARKETED AT ROSEBURG BY DELLARD GROWER, Co-Operation Planned Wltb School Boards, Officials and Individu als for Improvement of City and Country Places. OREGON AGRICULTURAL COL LEGE, Corvallis, May 10. (Special.) That, the district schools of Oregon may ' ultimately have artistlcally- -O V ' 4 i r 4 5?fci "LINN ROAD TO BE CHANGED fountain to Be Avoided on Route From Foster to Cascadla. ALBANY. Or May 10. (Special.) The Linn County Court has decided to change the route of the Lebanon-Cas- cadla wagon road, so that It will follow the South Santiam River all of the way - from- Foster to Cascadla, instead of , going over the mountains for a Jls- tance of six miles as at present. It is asserted that the new road will avoid the "only part of the present Toute which is bad in Winter and will afford good all-year traffic to Cascadla. : ' The new road will be expensive as it ,ill be necessary to blast a roadway out of solid, reck over part of, the course. . The old road is a part of the old Wil lamette Valley and Cascade Mountain wagon road, tor many years a main . highway between' Eastern and West- rru Oregon BARK W. B. FLINT MISSING Alaska fishermen's Packing Com pany's St, Francis' Is Located. V ASTORIA, Or., May 10. (Special.) A wireless message was received today from the Alaska Fishermen's Packing ' Company's cannery ship St. Francis, stating that on Thursday the vessel was 125 miles southeast of Unlmak Pass and that all on board are well. The local officials of the company . are now communicating- with the St. Francis to have her report the location of the bark W. B. Flint, which has been ' out of wireless connection from here for several days. The steamer North Star is to make a trip through the Pass to ascertain the conditions in Behring Sa and then return to stand by th company's two vessels on their Jour ney through the pass. Aberdeen Mayor Works Karly. ABERDEEN. Wash, May' 10. (Special.) Mayor Eugene France Is to ROSEBURG. Or., May 10. The first crate of home-grown strawberries marKeteo in noseourg for tne season arnveu nere Tnuraaay from Luiara, six miles south of Roseburg. The berries were grown by M. L. N orris, a Dillard rancher, and are among the finest marketed here in yeaj-s. The berries are large, and of a delightful flavor. Dillard has held the record for the early marketing of strawberries for several seasons and this year was no exception. bond ,to Install time limit. the plant within the WATER IS. ORDERED BOILED Steps Being Taken In Chehalis to Force Improvement In Quality. CEN'TRALIA, Wash., May 10. (Spe cial.) Following the death of May Saunders In Chehalls Wednesday, Prosecuting Attorney Cunningham. Mayor Coleman and others are taking steps to force the Washington-Oregon Corporation to better the Chehalls water supply. A long session behind closed doors was held with an omcer of the state Board of Health yesterday, but what course was decided upon has not been announced yet. The Chehalls Mayor has ordered all water for domestic use boiled, and the public drinking fountains have been Bhut off. The schools were without drinking water Thursday and Friday. ALLEGED THIEF NOW BLIND John Carroll. Formerly of La Grande, Loses Second Eye. BAKER. Or.. May 10. (Special.) When John Carroll goes to trial for tha alleeed attempt to break into The Live-and-Let-LIve Drugstore he will be blind, as the result of being shot during the alleged attempt two months ago. The man came here from La Grande with a wife and two small babies to search for work. ; Unable to get it he tried. It is said. to break into the store and was shot in the face by Penney Currey, son of the owner of the drugstore. His left eye was Instantly put out and today the other eye was removed. His wire and little ones are being cared for by charitable organization and tneir plight Is pitiful. Hillsboro Folk Go Abroad. HILLSBORO, Or., May 10. (Special.) John Kamna. his wife and three chil dren, left today to pass the Summer n Germany. They expect to motor through Europe and will return to Ore gon this Fall. About 15 years ago Mr. Kamna bought a ranch of several hun dred acres near Farmlngton, pacing but S1000 down and making a ten-year con tract to pay the residue. He paid off the debt in a few years and today is rated as one of the wealthiest farmers n Washington County. He made his monev raising timothy, ciover ana grain and conducting a dairy. Tinibermcn Will Fight Fire. RICKREALL. Or.. May 10. (Special.) Timber owners of Polk County have Just organised for the purpose of pro. tecting the forests In this county from fire durinsc the oomlng dry season, w, Fuller, of Dallas, a prominent um- berman of the county, has advised all owners concerning the work of forest protection, and all efforts by the own. era will bo put forth to lessen tne ex tent of the burned districts this Sum mer. South Bay to Benefit. ABERDEEN. Wash.. May 10. (Spe cial.) More expenditure on the Bouth Bay branch was authorized by General Manager E. C. Blanchard, of the North ern Paclflo, who has completed inspec tion of the roadbed and properties prior to the inauguration of a twlce-a-day train service on July 15. The North- tTL racinc win exploit Westport, co- hassett and other South Beach points this year. Two trains each way a day. besides special Sunday excursions, are assured. Increased Valuation Urged. ABERDEEN. Wash.. May 9. (Spe cial.) An increase of $10,000,000 In the assessed valuation of Chehalls County property Is proposed by Assessor H. A. Wiley, who thinks that this can be made within a year and' that a like increase can be made in the succeeding two years. Of the Increase $2,000,000 would be added to the per jsd tax rolls and $8,000,000 to the real estate roll. planted lawns and tnoroughly equipped playgrounds: that every Grange so de siring may have its grounds developed in keeping with the natural surround lngs according to the plans of an ex pert landscape gardener; that ' rural community centers may be properly laid out and have .the buildings well grouped and designed: that every pro gressive farmer in the state may se cure practical aid in the improvement of his home is the object of the en larged scope of the extension work in landscape' gardening outlined by the Oregon Agricultural College in re sponse to a largely increased demand for such service. In reviewing the work done by the college along this line as recently as a year ago it is found that the requests for assistance and instruction were limited to urban improvement clubs and to the directors of a few of the most progressive- schools in the state. At .the present time, .however, indi vidual farmers, Granges and other rural organizations seem to have launched a statewide contest in the beautlfication of residence property and public grounds. School Held Point of Focus. . "As progress in scientific agriculture In our state is becoming more and more rapid it is but natural that various so cieties and communities should lead in campaigns tor social service and community improvement work," said A. L. Peck, professor of landscape gardening, in discussing this branch of extension work. "The school, being the center of community interest, usually serves as the focusing point of community pride, and from the school lessons of clvla Improvement are car ried directly to every household in the neighborhood. "Many of onr rural school grounds must also serve as playgrounds and wo usually find bare dirt areas where the boys attempt to play baseball 'while the girls will, perhaps, sit around the building. This situation could easily be remedied by providing different forms of playground apparatus." But the activities of the college ex perts is not limited to the solution of school and playground Improvements. Consideration is also given to the re quests of villages and towns for help along various lines. In the develop ment and improvement of any social community the question of the growth of village or town Is always upper most In the minds of those looking to the real esthetic and beautiful develop ment of the community. In connec tion with this growth, the arrangement of streets, width of streets, street planting, the small village squares, and larger public grounds in the way of parks should be considered. Many of our smaller towns own a certain amount of property now that is being reserved for park development in the future, and in the handling of this land It Is olten times so worked over as to ruin many of its" most valuable natural features. Buildings To Be Considered. Not only do we have the vacant' pub lic property to consider but there should also be a keen community Interest in the surroundings of our public build ings such as libraries, county buildings, churches and lodge halls. It is beyond argument that the farm er today is to be envied. He has ttie best of nature's gifts surrounding him. It is in an effort to discharge its full duty toward those who are inter ested in employing the agricultural sciences for landscape -beautlfication as well as In the production and mar keting of crops and in the solution of home problems' that the college is send- ng out its specially trained advisors In this particular line. Often it is teas. tble to handle this work by correspond ence alone but whenever possible .the members' of the college staff who "are trained in the questions relative to the development of school grounds, play grounds, town and village improve ments, the laying out of grounds sur rounding public buildings, and the ar rangement of rural social oenters are co-operating with the various people interested in such lines of development to she end that these improvements may be brought about in the most sat isfactory and permanent manner. ' It's Strange When One Knows the Facts - that so many young men, who want snap and style in their clothes, and who appreciate the economy of quality, cling to the grandfatherly idea of made-to-measure clothes. Clothes - making has advanced far beyond that stage; ready clothes like Hart Schaffner & Marx are better than the average made-to-measure; at $25, for instance, you'll find these suits, -with fabrics, tailoring, style and fit such as your made-to-measure at fifty per cent higher price doesn't equal. As for the very cheap "made-to-measure," it's not to be compared. There's another thing we call vour attention to it's the balance of your wearing apparel you'll need. You'll find every standard make of any importance here in Hats, Shirts, Neckwear, Underwear, Iose, Gloves, etc. Better come in and see what we have for you. ' , Sam'l Rosenblatt & Go. The Men's Shop for . Quality and Service Northwest Corner Third and Morrison , & Marx Copyright Hart Schaffner FLY CRUSADE IS ON Seaside Club Offers Prizes for Best "Kills." REST ROOM NEW PROJECT Committee Meets With Ready Re sponse and Matron Will Be In Charge at AH Honrs Dur ing Summer Season. SEASIDE, Or, May 10. (Special.) A war on flies by school children. housewives, markets and grocerymen and the installation of a woman a rest- room are two of the Important move ments which have been Inaugurated by the women members of the Seaside Civic Improvement Cluu. The war on files In the public market places of the town was started two weeks ago. Mrs. V. 6. Webb visited the schools and made an address to the pupils, offer ing cash prizes to those who swatted tha greatest number of. flies each week Since the movement began there has been a run on the stores for patent fly killers and empty cigar boxes. The plan ot Mrs. Webb is to have the crusaders save the flies killed dur lng the week and bring them to her home every Saturday. They are given a brief talk on the Importance of keep lng physically clean and of the danger of accumulated garbage which attracts flies, which Jn turn cause disease. The campaign will be carried on all Summer and the prlzeslll be awarded each Saturday. The merchants of the town and residents have agreed to subscribe the amount of the prizes each week. The rest-room for women Is to be tried out for the first time. At a re cent meeting of the Civic Improvement Club a committee, consisting of Mrs. Webb, Mrs. Grimes and Mrs. Mclntyre, was appointed to solicit ' funds for building and maintaining the rest room.' The committee has met with hearty co-operation from the business men and private citizens. The site has not been selected, but it la agreed that it will be on the west side of the Necanlcum River, eith er on Bridge street or Just off the main thoroughfare. . In - addition to cash donations, there have been pledges made of books for the reading-room, light by the Seaside Light & Power Company, free plumbing, water and carpenter work-in fact, all that will be necessary to get tne rooms in read iness. A matron will be in charge of the rooms at all hours during the sea son. Park Offered Aberdeen. ABERDEEN, .Wash., May 9. (Spe- claL) Er-State Treasurer John Q. Lewis has declared that he will offer this city the cholnce of two free park sites, with 'the proviso that the city expend $5,000 on improvements. Al though the park board is waiting to see what action with respect to their positions Mayor Eugene France will take. It is likely that the offer will be accepted soon. WATER FIRM ORGANIZES System for Salem and Nearby Towns IS Proposed. SALEM, Or., May 10. (Special.) Witj the view of laying a pipe line to the Santiam River and supplying pure water to the city of Salem and the state Institutions, and also to Stayton. Turner, Aumsvtlle, Sublimity and other towns in the Santiam valley, the San tiam water company filed articles of incorporation here today with the Secretary of State. The capitalization is fixed at (300.000 and the incorporators are W. E. Pieree, of Boise, Charles Thels, of Spokane, and John D. Turner, of this city. Both Pierce and Theis are capitalists, and Turner is a lawyer, being identified with the firm of Carson and Brown. One side of her handsome residence is covered! with climbing roses and she has many other flowers. Aberdeen Educator Retained. ABERDEEN, Wash.. May 9. (Spe cial. Arthur Wilson. Superintendent of Schools has beea retained by tho Board of Education for another year. All former principals and many of the old teachers have- been retained also. Salaries will be Increased from S to 10 per cent. George B. Miller will be prin cipal ot the High Srihool again. - - Wasco County Redl-stricted. THE DALLES, Or., May 10. (Spe cial.) The County Court has just com pleted the task of redisricting the voting ,preclncts of Wasco ' County, Under the old system many voters were compelled, to go several miles out of their way to reach the polls. In some cases a farmer would be compelled to drive 25 miles to reach the place where he had to deposit his ballot, whereas a voting place In another precinct would bet only a few miles away from hii home. It was to obviate such inconven lences and comply with the new state law which stipulates that not more than 200 votes shall be cast in any one precinct, that the redisricting was un dertaken. One of the greatest changes was made in The Dalles district, which was formerly made up of six precincts. Hereafter there will be 19 polling places In this city. Sanitary Egg Farm Growing. INDEPENDENCE. Or., May 10 (Special.) The v Sanitary Egg Farm, seven miles north of this city, may be the largest poultry farm in the state of Oregon ' within the next year. At present on the farm are 600 White Leghorn hens, 700 Spring chickens ready for market and 600 two weeks old. Nine hundred chickens were shipped last Sunday. The present equip. ment consists of five 1200-egg and one 250-egg Incubators. Two large poultry houses have -been built and an output of 15,000 chickens is planned for next year. . McMinnvtUe Rose Early. M-MINNVTLLE. Or.. May 10. (Spe claL) The report from Portland of i rose blooming unusually early this year has brought to light that a rose of the Douglas variety was discovered by Its owner, Mrs. Jacob Wortman, of Mc Mlnnville, ' to be in full bloom on the morning of " May 4. Mrs. Wortman is the mother of Frank Wortman. presi dent of the First National Bank -here. 00 Pianola Player Piano for $290. in fine mahogany. Graves Music Co. Re moval Sale, tomorrow. See advertise ment, page S. We Have a New Invention of Interest to You Come and Listen to the Music Daily Demonstrations at Our Office Arrange for One of Our Reproducers 'In Your Home " When You Want to Entertain or Be Entertained Turn the Switch We Dp the Rest OREGON ENUNCIATOR CO. 83 Fifth St Near Oak " Hot Weather Pointers Add to your sales by adding to the comfort of your patrons. The easiest way in hot weather, is to keep them cool. Electric Fans are the most effective cooling devices also the least expensive. They provide cooling breezes at a cost of less . than a-cent-an-hour. ' You can get them in all styles and sizes suitable for your purposes 12-inch and 16-inch oscillating fans that swing the breezes to and fro, thus giving all the people at the counters the benefit of their cooling influence. Ceiling fans that can be placed conveniently above the aisles. Exhaust fans that perfect the ventilation ot your store. The various styles we carry in stock offer you the opportunity for an investment which will pay handsome dividends during the summer season. Portland Railway, Light & Power Company Electric Store BROADWAY AND ALDER STREETS Phones: Marshall 5100, A-6131 Keep Him Out, He Is gerons . We make Screens to measure at surprisingly low prices. Onr machin ery "and facilities enable us to do so. Phone us for an estimate. If you think our prices are not low enough, don't buy. You are pnder no obligation. We also manufacture oak flooring. WARD BROS. Phone East 32, B 2633 ii Union Avenue North