THE OREGON MIST
VOL. XXX.
8T. HELENS, OREGON, FRIDAY, SEPT. 8. 1911.
NO- 42.
local iruns
(Mr. 1 Mn. 0 0. Maaten, Mr. and
u. Vi. T. Hverton and Mr. and Mr.
K.1, . Jrlfcolt vialled Aatnrla and Sea-
Ll during th pael week.
Mr. an.) Mr. M. L. Wilton and Miss
Wilson tituk lo tbe Centennial Kx-
Ltition and vlailed tli t Heaalde
r . . i a
&ut ifcliiruay mm oumi-j.
W . . Ilarria and N. A. IVrry pnt
Lit Saturday and Sunday with thei
tallies at Seaside.
Ed Benaett. Roy Craig and Harold
JtoH were vlilortothe Centennial Kx
trntiun during the past week.
W. U. IHlIard returned lt Monday
Lm a few day arnt at Snaslde. Mr.
B DilUrd ha several lota at the
Inch and will -r diably put up a collage
Li iheni by next ata)n..
Mr and Mn. J. II. Collin of tliit
htj, went ilowa to Aiioria on in even-
nitiain last Monday, lo attend me
jlaail)i County teacher inatltute
Mn. B. P. HalUgh. ol Prairie City.
., ia veiling In this city with her
kiUf , Mra. leouian
1 crowd of about thirty wire taken up
k the faiui of A. K. Vclgutb, on Sauviea
Land, iast Thursday, and left tbere
alii tvenlng to picnic and bave a good
at. Peter Ilrakka and tba Triton
taging them home In Ilia ercmon
rt ol the day wit spent by tbe picnic-
Imin bunting arrow bralf and a num.
kt uf very pretty eclueu were found.
John I pieman returned from tbe
piul la I'oitlaad tbi week, after
tid there fur wirne lime as a result of
hi Injuries received while working on
fit of the boats here. Ilia leg waa badly
lure I aliov tbe ankle, and it now
V i cut, which cunnot be taken off for
Vat lime to rotue,
(won, Fonts, the well known 1'iirt-
lad attorney, waa a bnaiuca visitor to
County irat tbia wrek.
fjt Lost
i rin alih a ntimier ot ke? on it
Win Si. Helena. Kinder please leave
tin- Mut oilier.
FOlt S.W.I'. Heavy wagon, or will
til fir n horre wagon. IiMnire
C. C. Moyer, Warren, (Jargon.
Ul Hearty
Touight, Friday, September "lb, it
it chance, for the Ladiee of the Con
rfalioiial Church arc going toterve
ipper at the (luild Hall, and there
II be a great plenty lor all. They any
Ittthry are telling It but the charge ia
W2x and Irom tha bill of far that
"fhave prepared it look a though
fJ are giving the biggeat art of it
y. Hrre it la; Clam Chowder, Veal
', Potato Salad, HliCed Cucumbers,
'ke, Sherbet, and Coffee and Tea with
Nm. The proceed a will be need In
Ipalring the church building, though if
K "ruti" ere not lurnlahed bv tbe
arch eopl it looks to U at though
lw would not be any proceed, but on
contraiy tba church I woo Id lie in
ktl. Lvervhodv eouie out and have a
KUate."
Iwnkarahip Day
tit Sunday I to I a banner day at
Mrthn4itt Kpixoopal church. At
Ftnurning arrvlc theaacrament of bap-
will bea lminiatnredtoall who wiali
I' aanic. Iu tbe evenine a larire coin-
of probationer are to be recnlved
(to full iiifinlierahip and Quite num-
f'of lottert from other churchet are to
P'rwnlid. It ought to I a day long
remembered . It will form a htt-
kcliiinx of a year Work In which the
I'TOlwraliip ,,i the church hatincreaaed
ftt SKI i.er rent anil rvprv ilrnartmenl
' e woik haa been greatly quickened.
' public ia moat cordially invited to
'and all otl.er tervlce ol tbe day.
To niimked men entered the house
Mr.C. Hilene Monday, and pointing
'Molver at her informed her they
'""ted her nionev nr her life. She told
PH to help tboniaclve, and they
paged their mind. All they got n
WHniia of wine.
ktt.TMimlain.ed at the Saint Helen,
tff"n' poatoflu e lor the week ending
Member 2, 1911,
J"hnMa. Kay. 01 e letter: Nl Crl-
ft, car nl 11 ......
- w. vi tfviinaun, uuv jcicii.
tlera uncalled lor by Keptembyr 10
'" h lent to tbe dead letter ofllre.
M. COR AY, I. M.
School to Start.
The
' HIIHKH, .in. b
r'lU'llbia I V r. in : i... .
" " t k-imi villi uc(in im
'I ninnll.a w i i,-. it
s wmh monuay, ne.i. 11,
r". Hill, M- rt t. i lit
.... mm, vi. r. i;oi.iiia ui n.
c,t"" I'rinciwil and ML I- A. Wil-
Po' Portland a a.al.Unt.
T.C. Watt
Mat. Clerk.
SCHOOL BOARD UPHELD
In order to settle beyond a
peradventure of doubt, questions
that seem to have arisen in the
minds of some of the taxpayers
of School District No. 2, rep;ard-
mir the method of proceedure
adopted and beinir carried out bv
the Board of Directors of the
District, M. E. Miller, chairman
of the Board, and whose advice
in legal matters isbeinp; followed
by the board, has referred the
whole matter to the offiice of the
Attorney General, with the re
sult tht the course as outlined
by the Board, has met with the
unqualified approval, from a legal
standpoint, of the Attorney Gen
eral. In answer to Mr. Miller's query
rt'Kardinjr the validity of the bus
iness transacted at the meeting
held at the City Hall on Tuesday
evening July 25th. the Attorney
General sas: I am of the opin
ion that the business transacted
at the meeting was within the
purposes of the meetinar as stated
in the notice." A reference is
here made to the School Ltws
as follows: " all that is neces
sary however, is that the inhab
itants of the District may fairly
understand from the notice, the
purpose for which they are con
vened." In answer to Mr. Miller's sec
ond question; "Does the author
ity given to the Directors at the
meeting, (July 25th) to remodel
the old building, build an addition
thereto, etc, include the issuance
of warrants without further
meetings af the electors?" the
States Attorney again replies in
the affirmative.
Another question that has
given rise to considerable discus
sion is the one in regard to the
egality of the notice calling the
recent bond election, in answer
ing which, the Attorney General
haa the following to say; "I do
not think it essential to the val
idity of an eiection held to vote
on a bond issue, that the notice
of such election be signed by the
Chairman of the Board. Section
119 School Laws of 1911, provides
for the signature of the Clerk of
the Board, only, and this, I think,
ia sufficient
While the School Board has, at
all times, felt that they were
proceeding in an entirely legal
manner they concluded that an
opinion from the States Attorney
would possibly carry conviction
to the minds of the doubting
ones.
F. M. Thorp received newlhta week
of the alcknef of hi n Frank in Aber
deen and on Wednesday Martin White
went over to see that he was all right.
He brought the ick boy to Portland and
he 1 now in the hoapital at that place.
He 1 lufforing from a had attack of
typhoid and 1 in a very dangerous con-
lition.
The County Court met laat Wednesday
and commenced the job of again going
over a liquor petition Irom Heappoose
precinct. Thy are till working it
and it Is hard to tell what there decision
will lie, though Mr. Milloy has better
chance ol getting the much deaired
license this time than ever before.
Clatakania Man Suicides
Valentine Kramer, a Danish fisheiman
of Clarskanle wai lound dead in hi
home near that place laat Tuesday,
having cnmmlted lulclde by (hooting
hlmaelf through the bead with a 38 cal
ilier revolver. Though the body waa
not found nntll Tuesday, It 1 thought
by Coroner Sherwood that tbe death
occurred on Sunday. Kramer had been
acilien ollbe I'nlted State for some
lime, and bad lived in tbi county
alx.ut eight year. The body i now at
the morgue in Raii.ier.
"masquerade
A Jolly mH'qiierade will be given at
St. Helen Skating Kink, Saturday even,
ing, Sept. 3oth. 1'rUes will be given
lor the beat coatume, also the mont com
iral. Skates regular price, spectator 1(V.
MOTHER AND SON SLAIN
Lonely Cabin in the Woods Ten Miles From Here Is the
Scene of Revolting Double Murder. Victims Are
Daisy and Harold Wehrman. Crime not Einvlar to
Hill Tragedy. Court Should Offer Reward.
One ol tbe tuott mvateriou murder
In the hiatory of Columbia County oc-
cured ten mile w eat of here aome time
Hunday, when Mr. Dainy Wehrman,
aged 36, and her four year old ion were
badly beaten and then ahot to death.
The crime maa revealed on Wednesday.
When Sheriff Thompton of St. Helen,
received word of the murder be hastened
to the Wehtuan home, a cabin, the front
door of which be found padlocked.
After entrance wa forced Thompson
and hi deputies dincovered the bodie
of tbe mother and child ou the bed half
nude.
The condition of tbe face and bodie
of both showed aiitna ol a atruggle, it
being apparent that they were severely
beaten before tbe bullet, from a 38
revolver ended tl e fight between
tbe woman and her aarailant
The Webmun are newcomer to tbia
vicinity, having acquired a imall piece
of orchard land ten mile from here,
aix month ago, Mr. Wehumu taking
charge of the place while her husband
who i employed with tbe New York
VICTIMS OF SCAPPOOSE TRAGEDY, BEREAVED HUSBAND
FATHER, AND DIACRAM OF SCENE OF CRIME
1
l ' ? '
I j ; . u ?. :
VY & ill
" I J
X " cJ?
f.ouv vf Mm il
Above, Mr. and Mrs. Wehrman, Below,
in Diagram Marka Position of Mother a
Whs i Found. Position of Hatcnet, Gun
Washed Blood From Handa la Shown.
when found, Sheriff Thompson believe
trie crime was coin in i ted some time
Sunday night.
Frank E. Wehrman, who pent all of
laat week with hi wife and ton on their
farm near Scappoose, 6rt heard of the
crime through the Oregonian when found
laat night at his lodgings, 170 Rant 8th
Street. He waa completely overcome
by the new ol tbe tragedy, dut aa soon
a he recovered infllciently to talk de
clared he would go immediately to Scap
poose to aid In running down the crim
inal. He ia completely at a lota to ac
count lor the murder of Ida wife and
ton, Mserting that he has no enemiet
Bakery of Portland, pissed only the
week-end at home, arriving on Saturilay
and returning to tbe metropolis Mon
day morning.
Wehrman arrived In acappoose ax
uaual laat week and met big wife and
am, purchased aome groceries for over
Sunday ami rode with the deliveryman
to hi cabin home. This il tbe last seen
of his family alive.
Mn. O. 8. Sierck, a neighbor, bap.
pened to ba passing the Wehrman
home Tuesday niorniug, and noticed
that the front door was padlocked
peered in at In window and raw the
bodie ol Mr. Wehrman and the baby
lying on tbe bed. For anme reason or
other ahe did not report ber discovery
till ahe had muae a second visit to the
cabin Wedi esday. Sheriff Thompson.
who bappenad to 1 in Scappoose, heard
of the crime and hastened to the scene.
He msde thorough investigation, but
awaited tbe coron-TK arrival before
taking action in the case outside of
working up several clews.
From the condition ol the bodies
AND
Harold Wehrman. Large Croaa on Bed
Body ana smaller unn i nai or .nua
and the Waahbasin Wherein Slayer
toward whom luapicion may be directed.
Wehrman, who I employed at the
New York Bakery, East Seventh and
Belmont Streets, returned to Portland
from Scappoore Sunday evening and
reported for work but a hi position
was temporarily filled did not resume
hi work until Tuesday night.
When told that his wife had been
found murdered ha tat back in hie
chair completely dd by the an
nouncement, and when he recovered
he asked eagerly:
"Are you sure of It? In't there a
mistake?''
He ant on the chair for a short tlms,
in
bia banda, completely
stunned.
"Great God:" be
finally exclaimed;
I can t oelieve it.
Ilia first inquiry wa when tbe next
train left Scappoore. He called up bia
cousin, Mr. Meyers, on Ae tele
phone, told bim the facts, ind asked
him to prepare iminediatelyTvleave I r
the scene of the crime. "Yqu're the
only one I have out here, an. I want
you to come along," he told bim.
Wehrman tnen went to where lte' hai
been employed since bis arrival iiAl'ori
land. "My God !" be exclaimed again, on hi
way to the bakery, " what man could
bave done it?" and hi voice broke out
in sobs. At the bakery he informal
one of the two other men wbo work
tbere with bim on the late nit eh i ft,
and one of them accompanied him
down tbe street to hi cousin' bouse.
We'irmao i a young man, and would
bave celebrated the sixth anniversary
ol bn wedding to lay. He has been in
Oregon aince Julv, 1910, and all with
whom be lias been associated since that
time give him a character of the best
tie darted to work Tueiday morning
at the bakery, efter an absence of nine
day. Saturday, August 28, he left for
b'l we k-end visit with his family, and
Monday his wife reported by phone to
the bikery that he waa aick and could
not come to work. He remained at
home until Sunday evening, when he
reported for work the same night.
Biioniy after coming to Portland, in
Auuit, 1910, he took up residence wi.b
his latmly with Mrs. Jack hmmett, at
('U Eat Ash atreet, remaining there
untill March of this year, when he re
moved bis family to Scappoose. Mrs,
K in met t said laet night that ebe bad
become very closely acquainted with
the couple during their residenre with
her, and that she thought much of
them.
"Mr.Mehrman," she Paid laat night,
'was a fine, sober and inrlu-trious man.
He was quiet and unassuming, and al
though they lived with us ns part of
the family, I never noticed the slight
est difference between the couple. They
evidently regarded each other with
great effection. Ha gave her all the
money be earned. She waa a good
busineM woman."
Both Mr. ami Mrs. Wehrman. lived in
Eldora, Ia., when they were married.
His wif.-'a maiden name was Daiey
Lund. Immediately after their marriage
they moved to Waterloo', Ia . where
Mr. Wehrman was employed in the
Iwkery of AUtedt & Lsvglass for three
years. Later he entered the employ
of Humphrey A Stevens, bakers in the
same town, and remained with them
two years. After leaving them in
March, 1910, be went direct to Seattle,
where he started a tranofer business
w ith bia cousin, W. II. Hammer, and
continued in it until July, when he r;
moved to Portland, and went to work
for the New York Bakery.
With the money he had earned as a
baker he bought a one and one-half
acre plot at Scappoose in Febnury of
this year, and removed bia family to
it iu March. He had erected a modest
house uKo it.
Mr. Wehrman say bis dwelling is in
an isolated place, the nearest neighbor
being about a half mile away. He said
that he knew of absolutely no etieruie-i
ho could have been implicated in
the deed, nor could he divine a motive
for it, as there were practically no
money or other valuables in tbe house.
He said that he had never had cane
for suspicion that anything might bap-
pen since his residence tbere. He said
he was little acquainted in the neigh
borhood, and knew scarcely anybody.
It was dis-'overed that following death
the body of the woman was uot violated.
Clitsped in the dead woman' handa a
she lay lifeless on the bed in the little
one room xhack which served tbe fam ly
as borne, was a wisp of hair, light in
color, indicating that she bad struggled
with her assailant or assailants. This
htir may have come fiom tbe head of
the boy, but investigators are not inclin
ed to this theory lor the reason that the
little fellows hair ia of a darker shade
The scene of the crime was visited
yesterdaj morning by Sheriff Thompson
ol Columbia County, Coroner Frank
Sherwood of Columbia County, Sheriff
Stevens and Ifeputy Shetiff Hunter, of
Multnomah County; Detective Sergeant
J. M. Hunter, Bertillion expert of the
Portland Police Department; Iepiity
Sheriffs Grant and I-alie of Columbia
County, Deputy District Attorney W.
A. Harris, of St. Helens, Dr. J. H,
Flynn, ! Scappoose, and Dr. K. Uos,
ol St. Helens.
The teuulns of both the mother and
child were taken to the undertaking
parlors of Fnley and Son. in Portland,
yesterday afternoon.
The investigators lonnd a rongbly-
otiiir, singic-rooit. none and inside a
lied on which
Of the two
were stretched the bodies
victims. That of Mrs.1
b is faro
Wehrman was laying face upward on
the bed and was partly nuder while
over toward the wall wa the body of
tbe child, face downward and atretched
acros the arm of the mother. On the
Moor lay a bloody hatchet, one or two
which bad been in use in the family.
An examination of the bodies disclosed
that 3 38-caliber revolver bullet bad
paed through Mrs. Wehrman' head.
There was a large gash over the left
temple TT the child and 3 ballets of tbe
same caliber had p -net rated hi head
from a point half an inch below the
right ear. Fve bullet were lonnd,
3 in the walls, one in the bed and one on
tbe fl'ior. The boy was fully dressed
and bi mother evidently wa also
fully dreefced before the attack upon her.
Her feet were incased in a pair of tan
oxford over which were rubber. The
rubber were clean, indicating that (be
bad probably not been outside tbe
house after donning them.
The interior of the bouse presented
a neat and orderly appearance. Noth
ing ol value bad been taken except a
32 caliber revolver which Mrs. Wehr
man was in the habit ol keeping loaded
at the head of ber bed. A couple of
boxes of cartridges for use in this
weapon remained on a piece of two-by-four
scantling which ran entirely around
tbe interior of the house about four or
Q e feet above the floor and which was
used a a ehelf. Mrs. Wehrman't gold
watcbremained hanging in its case on a
nail and on an adjacent nail were two
lings oi, e set with a garnet and the
Other with two pearls.
Detective Seargeant Hunter tried to
obtain band and finger prints, but did
not get satisfactory results. He was
able to get imprint of portion of finger
and thumbs but not of a full hand.
His investigation disclosed that the
murderer bad washed bis bands la a
granite basin left on a drygoods box
near the door and had wiped them on a
towel which was found hanging at the
foot of the bed .
So far Sheriff Thompson and Sheriff
tevejg declare that they have no tan
gible clue on which to work. All the
neighbois for miles around were called
vesterday and questioned carefully, and
one in particular, a man who bas here
tofore borne a bad reputation, will be
required lo submit to a searching Cross-
examination later.
With his cousin, L. C. Meyers, Frank
E. Wehtuan, husband of the murdered
woman, went Wednesday night to Scap-P-oe.
The two men managed to get
within a ini'e of the house ia a machine
and then walked the rest of the distance.
They remained outside ol tbe hou-te all
night and ttll the county peace-officer
mired yesterday morning. Mr. Wehr-
mau mind seems wrecked by the
shock. His face was pale, and haggard,
yesterday he (.poke scarcely above a
whimper and his condition was such as to
arouse the sympathy and pity of all ob
servers. His brain teemed to have
been numbed by his grief and be Wa
subj jct to lapses ol t'azed silence.
A jury was drawn at Scappoose yes
terday and went to view Ihe scene of
the crime with the official. It consist
ed of James McKay, Fred Grant, Louis
tlrant, Matthew Englert, M. H. Bush-
nan and John Weimul.er.
The witnesses and jury came to St.
Helens this morning and the inquest is
now in progress, but it is not expected
that anything not already known will be
revealed. Tbe verdict will of course be
that Mra. Wclirman and Harold Wehr-
nan were murdered by some party or
parties uu known.
The local officers have been highly
complimented by the Portland officials
for their manner of handling this case.
Sheriff Stevens, of Multnomah county'
inform us that Coroner Sherwood has
proceeded w ith bis work in a manner
that could not be improved upon. District
ttoruey E. B. Tongue is in St. Helens
lodav.
The county court will be requested to
offer a reward, and aIo. Governor West.
The big jer they make it the better.
Miss Annie L. Hazen, niece of M. F.
II:t7.en of this city, ariived here on
Thursday of this week to assume a posi
tion in the St. Helens School Miss
I laen's home is in Lebanon.
One day this week a Chinaman was
bit by the evening train Just beyon I
Scappoose and instantly killed. Coroner
Frank Sherwood was summoned and
took charge of the body, which was turn
en over to the deceased' relative.
Card of Thanks.
We wish to extend cur sincere thank
to Ihe friends who showed n to many
kindnesses during our recent bereav-
nient, and especially the Sunday school
cla-isf (.f .r,. Etitherford and Miss
1 m"p'
Mrs. Carrie Waltirs, ami Family.