THE OREGON MIS
rm
VOL. XXXI.
ST. HELENS, OREGON, FRIDAY, NOV. 24. 1911.
NO. I.
'attempted robbery
New Railroad Depot at Deer
Island Broken Into
I ROBBERS DRIVEN AWAY THROUGH FRIGHT
Sheriff Arrest Suspects at Clatikanie
The new dejiot at Deer Island
broken into last Tuesday at
: noon but nothing was secured by
th robbers as the station agent
returned unexpectedly and the
robbers ttiok flight. It appears
that two men not otF the train at
Doer Island on Tuesday morning
ind stood around the depot plat-
form until nearly noon when one
of them asked thu agent i: he
locked up while he was gone to
lunch. Receiving an answer in
the negative, that the reception
room was left unlocked, one of
the men volunteered to accom
pany the agent to his lunch and
the other one said that he would
itay around till they returned as
he did not want anything to eat
it that time. However when
the 8K-nt w'as ready to go they
had evidently fixed matters up so
thatbith men went with him.
At the hotel these two men ate
their lunch and departed some
fifteen or twenty minutes before
the agent had finished his meal.
; When the agent started back to
the depot the men were not in
sight, but when he got close to
the building the two started
down the track in a run as if try- J
inn to hail a farmer who was un
loading something from his
wagon down the track. The
aircnt did not immediately go in-
side the depot and the men got
ion the farmer's wagon and were
going down the road toward Tide
Creek when, on entering the
waiting room the agent found
that the window between the
waiting room and the office had
been broken, doing inside he
found the till had been pried but
notopened. He immediately gave
Wiee to the olliccrs and Sheriff
Thompson took the trail.
He traced them to Clatskame
pnd fount their luggage in the
fiepot at that place and waiting
FOIl SALE - Confectionery and
cigar store, with rooming house i
above, all furnished. Will sell I
for half value. Call at the HALF j
WAY HOUSE. Between St.
Helens and Houlton.
KEEVES PHOTO STUDIO
A Mint. i mini in will 1 opened lifiei
wiil Orlnlx-r Htli iu the Dr. Montgom
ery HuiMiiiKon Willamette Street, where
rl dim iilinto work of all ItilxU cn be
''! t renwinaMe t.rioe. We kimlly 1
"quest the people of St. Helen "
Houlton to K'v ua a trial.
i
0n SuikIht 0 '10 a. in . to 4 :.' . "
C. 8. Reevn.
Twolrenh niiltli cowi lor nale. Injnir
'if Frank Glinieekl. Sr. Helena, Ore.
REMOVAL NOTICE
1 rin, lra,iafir hllitll
to OUT ftt lini-M lii iii frnnt the
kltool hoiiMwhera wa will be nlad(o
ava you call on n when yon wlh a nice
inviujf rK transfer or lrayK Wl,r"
We Cirr In t..b l.rl..b fmntmnt NUIIlt
hlnKlHi ami feed 'and will t iilnd to fill
yonr onlm-a promptly. l'lione 15 or
"ve order at Fred Watkiiw and your
wrk will 1 promptly allendi-d to.
M. Helens Transfer Coinpmi) .
'Oil SAI.IC Ntock farm. PR) acre, with
""k and farm luiplt-meiiti. Knuuire
t thii office.
WAiltnil fur ilntrv and tork
'i8inea) th 11000 to .1000 capital.
F'B opportunity, for iartlcnlara en-
1Blr at thi otrice, liberal Urina. 2t
until near train time readily re
cognized them from the descrip
tion already given him. Placing
them both under arrest he
brought them to St. Helens where
they are now in jail. When they
were arrested they were
very indignant and called the
Sehriff everything they could
think of besides a gentlemen, but
the Sheriff was not moved by
their entreaties nor threats and
they are now in durance vile.
On the way to St. ' Helens, on
the train. Sheriff Thompson talk
ed some with them when one of
them spoke up and said that they
had left Deer Island on the pass
enger train and made some few
other remarks that were not true
when the other man, realizing
that they were being caught,
slapped the first one on the knee
and said "You keep still; if there
is to be any talking here I will do
it". They gave their names as
Alex McDonald and William Mc
Donald, claiming to be brothers
and that they were representing
their father who runs a store at
Tacoma. They were peddling
dress patterns and suits and were
selling them for anything their
customers would pay, telling
people that the goods had been
smuggled into the country and
then sold to them for a small sum,
thereby permitting them to sell
for much less than the true
value. It is quite evident, from
the prices they were selling for
that the goods were either stolen
or smuggled and thorough in
vestigation is leing made as to
these f aets. One of the men had
$111 in his pocket and the other
had $i:.W when arrested. They
are held in the jail at this place
w ith a charge of Peddling with
out a license filed against them
for the present.
KEAL KSTATK TRANSFERS
The following real estate trans
fers have been recorded in the of
fice of the County Clerk during the
past week;
M ;& M KSpafford to F Mo
Intosh. land in Sec 21 T 7 K 2.
A W & H L Lamliert to V (1 &
S Clayes, Seappoose Orchard Tract.
J VV & K A Terry to W A Me
Inly re, land in Sec 5, T 4 It 1.
W Spencer to C K Manx, land in
Sec 2t Ti R r).
C E Marrs to F M Marrs, land
in Sec 2Ci Tfi K fi.
S Keunian et ux to I'.latshford &
Holaday. laml."
F S Cooler to J & A F.rickaon,
land in See 24. T 1 R
V & J Kelley to K Matscn.
V & J Kelley to A Carlson.
F. I! MeFarland et ux to Fred
Finn.
I) H Stehinan et ux to L Butts.
I) II Stehnian to I.illie Stchnian.
M J Watts to Mrs A Uhltnan.
Cora Maeoon to H & O Rennett,
I'art of Uroyles D L C.
I.J Wheeler to II & 0 Bennett.
Jan. SKnee et ux to John Ulman,
land in Sec 4T4H1.
There will be an old fashioned
basket social at Bachelor Flat
school house. November 25th. at
8 o'clock P. M- Good program
assured. All are invited.
IMPOSTER
ABROAD
A stranger tepresvnting himself
to be a repairer of sewing machines
is around the country bilking the
ieople, if his actions at Houlton
can be taken as a .criterion. On
Thursday of this week, this stranger
approached the house of Mrs. Cole
in Houlton and asked if she had a
sewinjr machine that needed repairs
and tin being informed that she had,
he enquired as to the make of the
machine and upon being told the
name he. told her that he was re-
presentiug that particular company
and that if her machine was out of
repair he would fix it for her free
of cost. Of course she permitted
him to do the work on those con
ditions and when it was done, or
when he said it was repaired, lie
demanded $10 from her for the
work. She refused to pay the
amount when he used threats and
to such force that it had the de
sired effect. After he was gone she
tried to get assistance and recover
the money hut the slick gentleman
was nowhere to be found. Mrs.
Cole was alone at the time and of
course was somewhat frightened and
the house being about a half a
mile from town, she was powerless
to do anything else. It would be
well for people to lie on the look out
for this imposter.
St. Helens
City Hall
The City Hall at St. Helens, com
pleted just a year ago at a cost of
$.S(HI0. Contains Council chamlier,
IVivate room for Water Commission
ers, Fire Ocpartnient. Commercial
Club rooms, Work room for water
works, I'ulilic H.ill and opera house
w ith a stage and scenery and an
office anl store room now occupied
by the Oregon Mist. The building
is a credit to the city as well as a
paying investment.
Red Cross Stamps
Dr. L. G. Ross has received
several hundred Red Cross
stamps to bo sold for the bene
fit of the State Tuliercolosis
patients. These stamps have
been distributed among the diff
erent stores of the City and are
for sale at 1 cent each.
Mr. C. P. Raudin, representing
;de Sanborn Map Company of San
Ki anciseo, Cal., was surveying the
'ity during the week. His Com
iany will make a complete map of
this city, and other cities, which is
used by Fire Insurance Companies In
riting their business. Mr. Baudin
as much impressed with our water
sy
stem and fire fighting apparatus
and we will probably get fire insur
anee at reduced rates after his map
t made.
The Ladies Tuesday Evening Five
lundred Club met at the home of
Irs. A. J. Deming last Tuesday
ijtht and hail a turn nt the lx.pu
ir game with the result that Mrs.
(Jeorge carried off first honors.
, , i i .
is. I'eming proved w e a "
ightful hostess und served luncheon,
ir the ladies as she supHsed, but
just at the projter moment several
f
the husbands apeared on the
ne and enjoyed the fine lunch.
Mrs. Alfred John Peel will re
ive on Monday, November 27th
her residence St. Helens and
Oak Street.
Mrs. Fanny Edwards of Sheridan,
0
ire., was visiting at the homo of
Charles Scott during the week.
City Marshal Wilkins returned
home Tuesday after spending a week
T 1 - I 1 1 !
on Grays liaroor looKingauer ousi-
ness interests.
MESIIER GETS
)() DAYS
Police Judge J. 15. E. Bourne of
Rainier, tried a case on Tuesday of
this week where Clemens Mescher,
an old resident of that city was
charged with assault and battery
upon , different members of his
family, particularly his son. It
was charged that he came home in
toxicated and undertook to chastise
the whole family when his son took
courage and tried to defend himself
and the old man charged upon him
with a lantern, striking him on the
head and inflicting quite a wound.
After hearing all the evidence in
case, Judge Bourne sentenced the
man to 90 days in the county jail
and he was brought to St. Helens
Wednesday and is now serving out
his sentence. Mescher is about CO
years old.
Congressional
Timber
The time is approacning for an
other primary election, and candi
dates for the larger otlices are al
ready springing up quite numer
ously. Columbia County, under the
new apportionment, is in the rust
Congressional Distrfft and we hear
of several men who are willing to
serve the people of the district in
Congress, prominently among whom
are the following; W. C. Hawley,
present incumbent; A. W; Norblad,
a prominent attorney of Astoria; W.
W. Williams, an Insurance man of
Forest Grove; C. L. McNary, of
Salem and ExMayor Rodgers of
Salem. It is reasonably certain
that there will lie others as nearly
all the men so far mentioned are
from that portion of the District
North of Salem, and there are
doubtless some good material for
this office in the Southern part of
the State who will soon make their
announcements.
COUNCIL MEETING
Council met in regular session last
Monday nirht und transacted the
following business;
Minutes of last meeting read and
approved.
Insurance policy of $ 2000 on City
Hall received and the premium of
$L0.00 ordered paid.
Michael Pierter requested per
mission to ojK'n the street between
the Dr. Edwin Ross proerty and
the River; if so permitted lie would
build the road at his own exjiense.
The street Committee was in
structed to investigate the matter.
Application from Rev. A. A. Hiest
pastor of the M. E. Chueh, to rent
the Commercial Club room in the
city hall for use as Sunday School
room and on motion the same was
allowed at a monthly rental of $1.50
per month. Council adjourned.
Mrs. D. .V Richardson, who re
cently returned from the hospital
at Portland, is quite bad off again,
but latest reports are that she is
slightly improved, and her condition
is not now regarded as serious.
GOVERNOR OLCOTT
For the next month Secretary of
State, Ben W. Olcott, will lie the
governor of Oregon. Governor
West will leave Monday for a trip
on the "Governor's Special" which
will visit all over the East before
returning, and during his absense
Mr. Olcott will have the job of
governing thu people of Oregon.
White & White the popular
merchant of Houlton have a
fine delivery team but they will
not stand and allow blasting
near them without a driver. As
a result the team took a little run
on Thursday and wound up in a
ditch with a broken delivery
wagon and harness.
HANGING ABOLISHED
Governor West Defines Policy
on Capital Punishment '
HASSING'S SENTENCE COMMUTED
No More Hanging in Oregon While Wet is Governor
Governor West has abolished
Capital Punishment in Oregon
for at least three years. Jans M.
William Hassing , convicted of
murder in the first degree for
killing his wife in Portland, was
under sentence of death, but be
fore the Governor left Salem
Thursday he commuted the death
sentence to one of life imprison
ment. In commuting the sen
tence the Governor said;
"Whereas, it has been shown
by numerous presentations from
C. Moltke, Envoy Extraordinary
ano Minister Plenipotentiary of
Denmark, and by P. C. Knox,
Secretary of State, and otherwise
that the family history of the
said Jans M. William Hassing
shows that the majority of his
immediate ancestors have been
adlicted with insanity, thus rais
ing the presumption of recurrent
attacks of mental irresponsibility
in the case of him. the said Jans
M. William Hassing; and
"Whereas, capital punishment
is, in my opinion, a relic of the
barbarous and mediaeval ages of
man and not in consonance or in
keeping with the enlightened
spirit of the civilization of this,
the 20th century, and is not, in
my opinion, as great a deterr
ment of crime as imprisonment
for life;
"Now, therefore, I, Oswald
West, by virtue of authority in
me vested as Governor of the
State of Oregon, do hereby com
mute the sentence of the said
Jans M. William Hassing to that
of imprisonment in the Oregon
State Penitentiary for the term
of his natural life."
As in the case of Jesse Webb,
The Backward Social at Houlton
The Backward Social given by
the Ladies Aid Society of Houl
ton Wednesday night at I. O. O.
F. Hall was a very unique and
enjoyable affair. The manner
in which it was conducted shows
that the ladies are quite resource
ful. On arriving the guests were
bidden good bye, with express
ions of sorrow for having to go so
soon and hoping they never call
again. Old fashioned games were
played causing much amusement.
Prof. E. S. Faxon and T.S. White
selected sides in an apple passing
contest and after the Prof, and
his side were hopelessly defeated
they avenged themselves on
their opponents by playing an
Uncle Bob trick in which Mr.
White was the goat. To sing a
song backward seems very diffi
cult until you know how. All you
heve to do is to turn your back
to the audience while singing.
A quartet composed of Rev. and
Mrs. Dark, MissJanie Reid and
Prof. Faxon rendered one very
feelingly in this manner, after
which, the toothpicks
were passed, much to the sur
prise of everyone. The back
wardness of things was remem
bered, it proved to be the rear
end of a very dainty luncheon
for which the ladies are noted.
About twenty ladies and gentle
men from St. Helens were in
attendance lending much to the
pleasure of the occassion. The
last report showed that everyone
got home successfully with the
Hassing was required to sign a
statement that he would not ask
for a pardon in his term of prison
and that he would not ask for
executive clemency or favor in
any form and that he would not
ask his friends to intercede in his
behalf. His sister also signed
the statement.
In his formal statement today the
Governor says:
"There will be no hanging in
Oregon while I am Governor of
the State. The old rule that blood
shed must be expiated by the
shedding of blood is, in my
opinion a relic of barbarism and
not in consonance or in keeping
with the civilization or in the
spirit of the 20th century. It is
an antiquatee and an uoeconomic
remainder from the dark ages,
"I contend that the spirit
and the civilization of this age
call for the repeal of capital
statutes as the punishment for
first degree murder. I believe
that imprisonment for life should
be the penalty paid for shedding
human blood.
I recommended abolition of
capital punishment to the last
Legislature. I will again make
the same recommendation in 1913
unless the law has been previous
ly amended at the general elec
tion of 1912. .
"I will, and do advocate there
peal of the capital statute and the
limitation of the pardoning power
of the Governor in relation to life
sentences for first degree murder.
I hope to see this reform accomp
lished before the expiration of
my term of office and the present
barbaric law wiped from the
statute books of this state."
exception of those who had their
clothes on backwards. Prof Faxon
was seen to cross Milton Creek
three times before finding his
own domicile.
Virgil Noland, an athlete at the
U. of O. was burned to death
Wednesday in an electric bath
robe.
L, C. Hartman. the well known
Portland detective, was in the
city during the week.
The Oregon Mist is 30 years
old this week.
Boys' Conference
After having made a round-up
af the towns from Portland to
Roseburg, visiting Sunday
School ciasses and all agencies
interested in boys work, Mr.
Dalzell. the State Boys Secre
tary, feels confident there will
be the largest and most enthusi
astic Boys Conference this year
that has ever been held in the
Northwest. He estimates there
will be at least 150 of the older
boys in attendance.
A round trip fare of ! a fare
and a third has been secured on
the Southern Pacific and Cor
vallis & Eastern on the certifi
cate plan. All delegates should
pay full fare going and ask for a
certificate of receipt. This, when
properly signed by the Secretary
of the Conference, will entitle
them to a third return fare.
' Mr. Dalzell will be very glad
to answer any inquiries relative
to the Conference.