The Polk County post., January 17, 1919, Image 1

J
T he P olk
VOLUME
i.
(TWICE A WEEK.)
county post
INDEPENDENCE, OREGON,
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1919.
IM M ER m ÜÜICIÜE; LENA BROWN: KILLED Tho Nation Dry- 99
When George Jones went to the home o f his sister-in-
law, ^liss Genu Brown, seven miles southwest o f lude
pendence, on last Saturday morning to ascertain why she
nad not appeared at his home for two days, he found the
bodies o f Miss Brown and Melvin C. .¡Spores, a neighbor,
in the sitting room of her home. Both had been shot seve
ral times thru the breast and after the arrival o f the coro­
ner and other officers it was soon ascertained that Spores
had brutally murdered Miss Brown and then killed him
self. The murder and suicide must have occurred some­
time the preceding Thursday. Spores still held the gun
in his hand. In his pockets two notes were found. One
addressed to Miss Brown said: “ 1 have gotten a divorce
from my wife and now you come through and marry me.”
The other stated: “ 1 killed Lena Brown and am going to
kill m yself.”
Miss Brown, age 28, owned a small farm near the home
of her sister, Mrs. George Jones, and spent the nights with
the latter. She was also a sister of Mrs. H. Hhrmon of the
same neighborhood, and her mother also lived with the
daughters. Miss Brown was quite well known in this sec
tion, being often seen on the highways riding some high
spirited horse with grace and ease. She was immensely
fond o f horses. , Miss Brown also specialized in Jersey
cattle.
Spores, who came to the locality recently from Port­
land, was living on a farm belonging to Jolm Moran, close
to the farm of Miss Brown. He at one time was quite
well to do, living in Lane county, and has two brothers.
His wife resides in Portland and was seeking a divorce.
A fter the murder his relatives disowned him, but his wife
had the body buried in Portland.
Spores’ infatuation for Miss Brown was a great sur­
prise to the community for their acquaintances are confi­
dent that no closer tie existed than that Common to
neighbors. I f Spores sought Miss Brown in secret and
forced his attentions upon her it is not generally known.
The‘evidence that Spores committed the murder is too
plain to justify any suspicion otherwise.
SALEM ROAD IS A DISTINCT PROJECT
Hops Remain 'Wet”
_ The nation has gone “ d ry ” by nearly the unanimous
action of the 48 states in ratifying the constitutional
amendment prqhibiting the manufacture and sale o f in­
toxicating liquors within the United States of America
beginning J an. Hi, 1920. It can be accurately prophecied
that it will be a long time " d r y ” for as it took 36 of the
48 states to change it from “ wet” to " d r y ” so will it take
36 of the 48 states to change it from " d r y ” to " w e t.”
Among the so-called intoxicating liquors coming under
prohibition is beer and the chief use of hops is for the
brewing o f beer.
One would have supposed that when the manufacture
and making of beer had been prohibited by constitutional
provision tnat the market price of hops would have fallen
to-such a low figure as to make them valueless and their
growing profitless. But there was no decline in hop
prices, in fact there has been an incline. The foreign de­
mand for hops is so great as to create a market for this
year’s crop at a good price. Even three year contracts are
being offered at a price over twenty cents.
How many years this foreign demand will continue no
one cares to surmise. It is reasonable to assume that af­
ter two years the raising of nops will be resumed in Bel­
gium, France, Germany and Austria. W ill there will be
sufficient acreage in these counties to supply the world
with bcey hops ( Not likely, and it looks aS tho American
hops wifi be.in demand as long as any portion of the world
remains “ wet.”
‘FLU ” BAN TO BE LIFTED
There are but a few cases of influenza remaining within
the city and if there are no new ones in the meantime,
it is the opinion of those in authority that the churches
may resume their regular services on Feb. 2 and the
schools begin on the following Monday. The Isis will be­
gin Saturday night, February 1. It is thought now that
the disease may be carried by a convalescent for ten days
after the fever is broken. Acting under this theory, every
precaution will be taken to prevent convalescents from
leaving their homes until the expiration of that period.
Restrictions have been removed on pool halls and usual
business conditions are prêvailing.
A third wave o f the epidemic has struck some places in
the Fast. There is no doubt that the disease will not be
entirely stamped out until Summer. In most cases those
who have had it once are immune to subsequent attacks.
It is yet pretty much a mystery to the medical world.
There appears to be some misapprehension regarding
the improvement o f the Dallas-Salem road, according to
later advices regarding the action of the state highway
commission. The state engineer, instead o f having been
instructed to prepare plans for the paving o f this highway
was instructed to petition the federal government for co­
operation with the state in building a post road from Sa­
lem westward about seven miles to the intersection of the
Independence-Salem road with the Salem-Dallas road. In
this action the commissioners were unanimous. I f the
federal government cooperates this stretch o f the road will
be paid for in equal amounts by the government and the
state, the latter contributing funds for the sale of bonds
under the Bean-Barrett act. The commission favors the
construction of this section o f the road as proposed, with­
out regard to future legislative appropriation.
Under these circumstances and conditions the improve­
ment o f the Dallas-Salem road as outlined should not in­
terfere with or retard the early completion o f the west
side Pacific highway, which was provided for and made of
primary importance by legislative action. This trunk
highway is necessarily an inter-county road in which Polk
Yamhill, Benton, Kane and other western counties thru
which the highway is laid are vitally interested, and to
stop its construction for local consideration does not ap­
pear to be the purpose o f the commission. Should the
federal government approve the plan as requested by the
commission, and the improvement work progresses as out­
lined thru the several counties o f the coast country, Dallas
would not only get the benefit of the main trunk line con­
nection at Rickreall— for the commission will doubtless
build by this route— but an improved roadway from this
city to Rickreall, and thence to the state capital over the
post road. The intervening few/miles from Brunk’s com ­
er to Rickreall would certainly be cared for, and the pave­
ment would be brought into Dallas, according to the pro­
vision of the bill.
^
The county o f Polk would not be called upon to supply
funds for the preparation of the grade on the proposed
post road, and hence would be free to employ its money,
approximately $9,000, for the grading o f the main high­
way wherever the commission may designate. The state­
ment made last weekby The Observer, that the Dallas-
Salem road was to have right o f way over every other pro­
posed betterment, seems to be at variance with the facts.
It is known that the commission is anxious to get'the high­
way south from Independence in shape for hard surface,
this connecting link in the trunk line southward, and it is
probable that if the county is unable to meet the demand
for funds to complete the grading, the commission may
lend a hand.
«
.
Much speculation will be put at rest by the action of the
legislative assembly, which will be asked to give addition­
al power to the commission in the matter o f locating high­
ways. But whatever action is taken by the legislative
body, the plans for the improvement south from Rickreall
I
will unquestionably stand unchanged.— Polk Count y O K
server,
S A
.THE RHYMING SUMMARIST
NUMBER 58.
wiiii mia. n u . timo
unii
"H e givetli His beloved sleep.”
So it was that Abraham Nelson passed into that, eternal
sleep Monday, Jan. 20. A sleep beautiful and calm with­
out even a trace of pain, senility being the direct cause of
the passing. His eighty years here had been full o f good
works, his was a life o f peace and plenty. A man strong
iu his convictions with many friends who knew that he
always stood for the right, be was recognized as an im­
portant factor in the formation of public affairs. At one
rime he was a regent o f the Monmouth State Normal and
he was a member o f the local school board for years, serv­
ing in that capacity when the present public school build­
ing was erected.
Abraham Nelson was born in Van Buren county, Iowa,
October 29, 1839. When but a young man o f twenty five
like many other ambition youths acquired a “ Western
fever” and crossed the plains with an ox team coming to
Idaho in 1864. But in his dreams it was still better farther
on for two years before Miss Sarah Henkle had gone to
California and engaged in teaching the youngsters o f the
Golden West. This same bewitching young lady, who had
played on his heart strings back in loywa, was there and
young Abraham cared not how long and winding the trail
might be, so in ’66 I k * came with his possessions to Inde­
pendence living on the farm now occupied by Allen K.
Chase. On November 20, 1807, the pretty romance culmi­
nated at H ym en’s altar when Miss Sarah E. Henkle be­
came the bride o f Abraham Nelson. They lived on this
same farm for sixteen years when they moved to their
farm home on the outskirts o f Independence. In 1916 they
retired from the activities o f farm life and moved to their
home on Monmouth street.
On November 20, 1917, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson celebrated
their golden wedding. During the afternoon amid a host
of friends and a bower o f golden-liued chrysanthemums
the couple sat before tin* hearth. The glow o f the fire
place smiled on their faces as they passed thru the dreams
o f their younger and more romantic days and imaged a
scene o f tranquility and profound repose. Both expressed
to friends that “ it did not seem they had been married so
long.”
On account of health regulations, the funeral was pri­
vate, being conducted at the home Wednesday, Dr. Duns-
more paying a pretty tribute to the departed. They car­
ried the body to tin* I. O. O. F. cemetery and left it in a
peaceful spot where the boughs o f trees rustle in the Sum­
mer and the birds sing sweetly all day long. As friends
gathered round the flower-covered tomb, as their thoughts
teemed with the assurances o f immortality, then with
tranquil and submissive hearts they turned away and left
their loved one with God.
Besides his widow Mr. Nelson is survived by one daugh­
ter, Mrs. Della Nelson Butler, wife of Dr. (). D. Butler, one
Kin, Ross, one grandson, Dr. Maurice Butler o f Monmouth
and one great-grandson, Master Mario DoleyButler, one
brother residing in Kansas and five sisters, four o f whom
are in Iowa and one in California.
V. S.
DEATH ENDS LIFE OF SUFFERING
No party fetes nor school or church
Y\ liile the tow n’s been tluing
And long as the germies stick around
Not a durn thing doing.
It may be “ grip ” with a fancy name
But many are confessing
That in its place
T hey’d rather face
Well, itch would be a blessing.
James Stalnaker, a resident o f North Independence,
died one day last week thus ending a life o f suffering due
to blindness and poverty. He has a number o f children
among them being Harry H., a member o f Co. L., reported
wounded in action.
MRS. FRED REECE DEAD
•M .A.
Since King Hoover no longer reigns
Eatings not a fake,
Some day soon it will taste as good *
As Cora Hubbard’s cake;
One by one the boys come home
Forsaking army treading
And every girl
W ith heart awhirl
Figures on her wedding.
The rain comes down in sheets o f w’ind
And seeps in from the ceiling,
The wall paper maw put on
' Begins o f course its peeling;
The old Willamette has riz and riz
Tts’s what might be called a hummer,
The water naw
W e ’re thinking how
To save it for .the summer.
4c
Tin* world wags on as it always does
No chance o f changing nature,
Tt can’t be done by mortal man
Or act o f legislature;
But the place in which we live
Ts subject to improving,
So let us try
r
To ride on high.
Keep the old town moving.
Mrs. Fred Reece, for many years a resident o f Inde­
pendence, died at her home in this city the first o f the
week o f dropsy, an ailment she has suffered for many
months.
, ___,
CIVIC CLUB LOOKS AHEAD TO FEB. 22
The “ flu” has gone on its ways upsetting the plans of
organizations. ■ Wednesday, Jan. 29, was red letter day
for federated clubs and each club was expected to raise
money in some way for the ¡¿cholarship loan fund. H ow­
ever, with rigid restrictions on, no benefits could be given.
With February, the month o f holidays, approaching, plans
are being made for a big “ jollification” by the Civic Club
ami Liberty Chorus. Dr. Butler o f the Board o f Health
states that by Feb. 22, he was sure it would Ije safe to plan
a large gathering. As this date has grown to be an annual
event ^ith the club and as the members are eager to start
a memorial fund for our soldiers and sailors, this date will
be chosen and it is hoped to give something the general
public will enjoy after so many weeks o f retirement.
ROBBED THE BELGIAN BABIES
One night recently somebody stole the Belgian Baby
Funds in Independence. This money was being collected
in two milk bottles stationed in front o f W illiam s’ drug
store.
Priscilla Dean in the dramatic production, “ Brazen
Beauty?’ at the Isis Saturday night, Feb. 1._____________
/