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PUBUSHKD
EVXBT FRIDAY
T he P olk C ounty P ost
FIRST
SECTIO*
Ratas: |LU a Tsar Strictly in Advance; Six Mentha 91; Three Months M cants. All subscriptions stopped at expiration.
VOLUME IL
INDEPENDENCE, OREGON, FEBRUARY 20, 1920.
NUMBER <7.
EX-INDEPENDENCE M il
HUS WIFE O D SELF
T W O R U S S E L L C L A R K S ' «BNiamBiiiwiifc :
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:.¡.^3,i.aíi-c.i|<Mii!Wii«iiaiiiBiiiaiiiaiiiamaiiiaiiuuiiMiaiiiaiiii ■IIHI A F R E A K S U R E ’N O U G H
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Mr. und Mrs. Russell Clark, vie-
tinu of the tragedy, have not
been residents of Independence
for over six years. Another Hus-
sell Clark has also lived in lnde-
pendence. He entered the service
and upon his return about a year
ago, went to Portland to live.
CLYDE T. ECKER, PUBLISHER
i
S U N D A Y A N D M O N D A Y , F E B . 22 23
(Including Sunday Matinee)
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,
G R A C E D A V IS O N
and
.
This has certainly been a freak
of a winter for Oregon. First, a
spell in December that made Min
nesota and Wisconsin green with
envy, aiid now when it ought to
be raining for the best interests
of health, crops, etc., there is no
rain.
c i r a ra í
M O O T H HUK
Russell Clark, a former resident
Lust Tuesday night the exterior
I
of the First Nutional Bank of Mon
of Independence, shot his wife and
C O N W A Y TEASLE
mouth looked so good to burglars
killed himself in Portland Tuesday I-
in
they decided at once to explore the
II
in a very sensational manner. The
interior. Alter entering the bunk
details of the crime and tragedy
FIVE HOMES GRIEF STRICKEN
The search on the heights wus a- jj
ing room thy tackled the old vault
are taken from the Portland Jour
WHEN LOVED ONES PASS where the books are kept. That
bandoned when a bottle of lauda- j
nal:
num, another of chloroform and a -
day, however, as E. S. Kilen, cash
“Dad, I tried, honestly I did.
Clyde W. Beckett
towel and soiye cotou were found 5
ier of the bank, was leaving for
To live, to love, to feel the treasures of life slip- |
God forgive me, and I know you
Clyde W. Beckett. former assessor Portland with the remains of his
about 1 UU yarns west of un old real P
and mother w ill—Russell."
estute office some distance from the u ping from our foolish grip— that is anguish; but to = and later commissioner of Polk wife, be bad thought of their silver
The above, writen on a post card
live to love, to hold within our hand the reins of our ¿ county, died at his home in West ware, und hesitating to leave it and
Pittock home.
»
and mailed to Matt Clark, a broker
Salem last Saturday. He was 59
Clark visited his father about 11 ~ life is joy. “ Atonement” shows both the anguish
other valuables about the house he
in the Railway Exchange building
years
old.
o’clock Monday, and borrowed $10 = and the joy of life. It is the story of a woman who g
had deposited them in this vault
was the last message left by his
from him. The father suys that his B
for safe keeping. The burglars, how
forgave but could not forget, of a man who was |
son, Russell Clark, supposed wife-
Mabel Boydston Ridgeway
son betrayed no especial emotion at if
ever, made a get-away with them,
slayer.
The death of Mrs. Mabel Boydston the loss being about $375. They
the time.
■ tempted— who thought he had reached the depths |
After probably half a dozen at
From there Clark proceeded to the g of despair-— but found that a second chance had been g Ridgeway, wife of William Ridge also took bonds to the amount of
tempts at ending his life, Clark shot
Farnk Nau drug store, Fifth and g given him, and he devoted his life to righting the g way, at her home in Dallas Thurs $1,500, which belonged to Miss
himself through the right temple
day evening has caused the entire Todd, a Normal instructor. These
Alder streets. At about the time 3 wrong he had never committed.
shortly before noon Tuesday.
9 town to mount and all hearts to bonds were $1000 in Idaho Highway
Clark left the drug store, with a
He was iound in a dying condition
weep because of the passing of an bonds, und $500 hud been issued by
Comedy
bottle of chloroform, he posted a
in a loom at- the Oregon hotel, by
universally respected and loved one a Beuver Fulls. Penn., Electric Co.
card to the chief of police, bearing
Deputy Sheriffs Christofferson and
called away in the bloom of woman
“ SKATE AT SE A ”
the cryptic message, “ I have killed
The cracksmen were very neat a-
Beckman. He died at St. Vincent's
hood.
myself up on King’s Heights.
bout their work aqd left no litter,
hospital at 3:45 o’clock, without re
Mrs. Ridgeway is the daughter of hence the robbery was not discover
Clark.”
gaining consciousness. His father
Mr. and Mrs. David Boydston of this ed until after 9 o'clock the next
From the drug store, he drove his
T U E S D A Y A N D W E D N E S D A Y , F E B . 24-25
and mother were at his deathbed.
city. She grew to womanhood here. morning, when officials entered the
machine to the Olds, Wortman &
Mrs. Russell Clark, his wife, was
About four years ago she was mar vault for books. The “nitro” used
King department store, where he
D O R O T H Y P H IL L IP S
found dead at the Clark home,
ried to Prof. Ridgeway, now princi to blow off the vault door lock
bought some cotton and a large tow
Clarkhurst farm, two miles north
pal of the, high school in Dallas brought no loud explosions to a-
m
el. Then he is believed to have pro
east of the Twelve Mile roadhouse, ceeded to the top of King's Heights
where they have since made their l'ousc the peaceful citizens of Mon
Monday night at 6 o'clock. It is be in his automobile.
home.
mouth and the burglars made a
lieved she wus killed Monday morn
Mrs. Ridgeway was a victim of safe retreat, without making a haul
A bottle of laudunum and theh alf
ing ubout 9 o’clock by Clark, who
the prevailing epidemic and had on on the money vault. Sheriff Orr
empty bottle of chloroform were
a
then proceeded to the .city, leaving found a short distance from the -
ly been sick a little more than a has thoroughly investigated the
A gripping picture of the frozen North, written g
instructions that his wife was not to Henry L. Pittock house on the \
week when the end came. However, case but has no satisfactory solu
by the famous author, James Oliver (Jurwood and i her death was not a surprise as
be disturbed.
tion.
heights.
Indications were that 1 H
The 18 hour search for Clark end
staged regardless of expense amid marvellous | nurses and attending physicians had
Clark had tried to kill himself by
ed with the discovery of the dying
mountain scenery. The dramatic story of a girl n thought recovery was hardly possi DR. A. SLAUGHTER OF SALEM
chloroform, but had evidently be
man by the deputy sheriffs. His come violently sick and given up
who was snowed in at a lawless mining camp and fe ble. As she passed to realms be NOT GUILTY OF SYNDICALISM
wound was bound up and he was the attempt.
yond with her went the spirit of a
had to make a great decision. Played by the daz
rushed to the hospital in an attempt
little one in embryo who would soon
Following his failure, Clark drove
SALEM, Or—Dr. A. SluughterJSu-
zling star of “ The Heart of Hum anity” in a way
to save his life, but the efforts were back to Portland and left his car
have been a .prattling youngster in lem chiropractic, was given a clean
in vain.
you ’ll never forget.
u its mother’s anus. Mrs. Ridgeway bjll by Justice (Jnruh here Wednes
at the corner of Stark and Park
Deputy District Attorney Earl streets.
Comedy
| was demure nnd unassuming lmt day afternoon, following a prelim
Bernard visited the hospital in the
always won her way into the heart inary hearing on a charge of violat
He then mailed the final postal
afternoon in an atempt to secure an to his father, the card bearing the
“S E E IN G T H IN G S ”
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of those who knew her. She loved ing the state syndicalism act
u
ante-mortem statement from the postmark of Station E, 4:30, Feb
music and was a splendid performer
International
News
o and will no doul^t continue her mus Judge L'nruh held that, although
slayer concerning the affair, but ruary 16.
Dr. Slaughter probably was in sym
---------------------------------------------------- g ic in the Heavenly orchestra.
the man never regained conscious
Shortly after that he engaged the
pathy with the teachings of the Com
ness. His eyes were wide open and room at the Oregon, signing the
T H U R S D A Y A N D F R ID A Y , F E B . 26-27
H The memory of the beautiful munist Labor, party, he was not ac
he groaned continuosly but no in name of Lawrence McGee of Se
young woman will forever have an tually a member of that organiza
telligible words were uttered. He attle. He attempted to disguise his
TA YLO R HOLM ES
influence in the world. In the lines tion, and consequently could not be
seemed to be in great pain, and the handwriting, but the nervousness
of Coleridge:
in
§ “ Ere sin could blight or sorrow fade, held liuble for the radicalism of
chloroform which he had evidently was apparent.
that body. Dr. Slaughter was de
drunk was nauseating.
Death came with friendly care
Clerks at the hotel declare that he
fended by L. H. McMahan, who de
The worry and mental struggle staggered slightly, as though drunk.
The opening bud to heaven convoyed nounced the Democratic party and
of the past 26 hours, during which This is thought to have been from
And bade it blossom there.”
declared openly that he himself was
time he had tried repeatedly to kill the effects of the chloroform. At 11
Mrs. Ridgeway was twenty six a radical and favored some drastic
himself, showed plainly on his face. o’clock Tuesday morning a repre
years of age.
She is survived by chunges in the governmental ma
I f lie told the truth for a week he would win his bet
He had suffered untold horrors dur sentative of The Journal inquired
her husband and one child. At this chinery.
of $30,000. it is a merry farce that produces gales
ing that time when he knew that he whether Clark had registered at the ■
time no funeral arrangements have
of laughter likely to carry off the theatre. The first
must die, but evidently revolted hotel. The signature of the man in
been made.
TO ORGANIZE BALL TEAM
nighters do not stop laughing when the play is over.
against the thought.
room 330 appearing suspicious, a
W. R..MAILLIE MANAGER
It contains an entirely original idea and is developed
Clark had apparently fired the bellboy was dispatched to the room,
Mrs. E. L. Kilen -
shot into his right temple about two and reported that the man was
Mrs. E. L. Kilen. wife of the cash
along the lines of the greatest number of laughs.
A meeting was held this evening
hours before he was found. Indica walking around, evidently dressing.
ier of the First National Bank of for the purpose of organizing a
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tions were that he had also used a
5 Monmouth, passed away at her base ball team to reperesent Inde
It was undoubtedly shortly after
bottle of chloroform, which he had that that Clark fired the shot which
home in that city last Sunday even pendence on the diamond this sum
“ I t ’s A B ird ”
purchased on Monday afternoon.
ing. Mrs. Kilen had been an invalid mer. W. R. Mailiie, an old base
ended his life.
Deputy Sheriffs
The gun he used, the report of Christofferson and Beckman, mak
for a number of years. Her remains ballist. w,as offered the place of
which is said not to have been ing an investigation of the hotels,
were taken to Portland for crema manager. He will accept, at least
S A T U R D A Y , F E B . 28
heard by anyone in the hotel, was noted the same signature on the ho
tion. At the time of her death she temporarily.
F A N N IE W A R D
not the same weapon with which tel register, and determined to visit
was forty years old.
There is much available timber in
Clark is supposed to have killed his the room personally.
this section for a good ball team,
in
wife, but was almost identical and
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Loy Gladys Sloper
including two or three players who
A noise closely resembling that of
was of the same calibre.
Last Thursday Loy Gladys, the have been in the leagues. From
a man snoring came form the room,
Before entering the room Christ and they were about to leave, when
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George the bunch the experienced Mr.
offerson pushed the transom open Christofferson hoisted himself and
Sloper, passed away at her home, Mailiie will be able to pick a team
and saw the blood covered sheets. looked through the transom. Clark
after a lingering illness. But a short that will be one of the top ones a-
triumph of emotional continuity with action so
He then broke open the door.
time ago her parents took her to mong the amateur teams of the W il
was lying in a puddle of blood on ! | =
Clark rented the room at 4:30 p. the bed. The deputy sheriffs enter
Portland where slip might have the lamette valley.
swift, so skillfully knit and sustained in its suspense
m. Monduy and signed the name of ed the room, and the police were no
care of specialists, but all that medi
as to grip the interest of the beholder from the be
Lawrence McGinnis or McGee, of tified.
cal skill could do wus without avail NEW REAL E8TATE FIRM
ginning until the high-pitched dramatic climax at
Seattle, on the register. Clerks at
and when just a hud she was taken
STARTS BUSINESS CAREER
Appearances in the room gave rise
the end which trembles on the brink of tragedy.
the hotel declare he did not leave to the conjecture that Clark had at
from this earth to bloom in a fairer
The picture brings out the theory that one-half the
the room after that time Monday.
world. At the time of her death she
E. E. Tripp and Peter Kurre, pio
tempted to kill himself many times
At 10 o’clock Tuesday morning during the night and morning.
crimes committed are really vengeance against the
was twelve years, 11 months and neer real estate men of this city,
he called for a half grapefruit for Chloroform was spilled in a comer
25 days old. Dr. H. C. Dunsmore opened a new office in the Barnett
harshness of society.
his breakfast The bellboy told t h e of the bathroom.
will conduct the funeral services building on Main street. They in
officers Clark was walking around
At 10 oclock Tue8day morning
“ HEROLD LLO YD COM EDY
from the family residence on Third tend to do a general real estate and
street Saturday morning at 11 o’ insurance business.
the room at that time.
< be ortjere(j some grapefruit sent to
“ Swing Your Partners”
The officers also found an empty hjg room and indications are that
clock. Interment will be made at
chloroform bottle, purchased at the be jrjed
take the poison with the
the I. O. O. F. cemetery.
P. O. POWELL CANDIDATE
Ford W eekly
Jones drug store. Clark tried to fruit.
A towel saturated with
FOR POLK REPRESENTATIVE
buy strychnine at the Nau phar chloroform, was found in the room. |
Mrs. Kate Bevins
macy, stating that he desired to kill He had evidently tried to wrap it |
Mrs. Kate Bevins died in Oregon | P. O. Powell, an influential farm
a dog. When the clerk told him around his head and die from the
City this week of a chronic ailment. er living near Monmouth, will be a
that would be too cruel a method, strong effects of the drug. In this
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INDEPENDENCE
The funeral and burial will take candidate on the Republican ticket
he asked for chloroform and was he was unsuccessful.
for representative. Mr. Powell has
llM IW I^ IIW a m B IIB IIH H B I« l!B lliB llia u u i« IIB IIB IIia M lB ilta .!,B IIIM IIIB IlK « i place at Buena Vista where she
given it.
He finally crawled into bed, pull mi
many friends in this section who
lived for a number of years.
Clark had arranged the bath tow ed the covers about him so as to
will be pleased to support his can
els and carpets in the bathroom to muffle the explosion, and pulled the
didacy.
C
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Y
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N.
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form a bed, and from appearances trigger. The bullet lodged in his
THIS WEEK FIVE YEARS AGO
attempted suicide there by drink head near the brain.
IN SOUTH POLK COUNTY INDEPENDENCE IS PRAISED
Don't forget that Friday, the 27th it will he found hard to fill his
ing the chloroform.
The theory that Clark had been day of February, is inspection shoes.
FOR RED CROSS SEAL SALE
An all morning search on King's
found out in a possible attempt to night and it is absolutely essential
(From the Independence Monitor
Heights resulted from the receipt by
At an election held this evening.
get away with a large sum of mon that all members he in attendance
February 19, 1915)
Mrs. Clyde Fcker—The remittance
Chief of Police Jenkins of the fol
ey, was advanced by his partner. <>n that night. If you are not pres- Louis A. Senggle, one of our ambi
Missal) A Knapp sell their cloth of the Treasurer, Mrs. Jennie Coop
lowing postal:
F. E. Manchester,
and District At- ^.nt on the above date, we will not lions young farmers south of town, ing store.
er, of $42.77 has reached this office.
_
“ I have killed myself pp on King's
tomey Evans Tuesda\ a ternoon, on 1 j .. regponsible for what mav happen was chosen to succeed Lieutenant
The Podunk Limited arrived and W e are deeply appreriative of the
Heights. Clark."
Newton and we believe he will come
discovery that Clark had drawn
* 0u later
work that you and your club and
departed.
Deputy sheriffs and police detec
nearer filling the hill than anyone
some $35,000 or $45,000 within a
those
associated with you have done
lives immediately rushed to the
Ren C Crow made his farewell ap
few days. It was intimated further
Lieutenant Guy A. Newton re else in this territory that is quali
in the matter of the seal sale in In
summit of the hills, and made a
pearance
at
the
Christian
church.
that other sums gained through ad ceived notice from neadquarters fied and willing to accept the posi
dependence. I note the writ«s-up in
thorough search of the woods.
Camp Fire Girls organized in In
vances on automobile contracts for that owing to an “athletic" heart it tion. He has had considerable ex
your paper. It is the kind of pub
A bank book was found in Clark's
Ixda Morgm.,
machines to be delivered later would be necessary to relieve him perience overseas as a drill master dependence with
licity that we desire. I believe the
possession showed that since Janu
might be involved In the affair.
from military duty. The Company and the Company is to be congra president; Hazel Calbreath. secre
ary 21 he had deposited $30,000 in
(Continued on Page 4.)
tary and Leona Gaines, treasurer.
(Continued on Page 4)
is losing a very efficient officer and
(Continued on Page 4.)
the First National bank.
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“ ATO NEM ENT”
1 “ PAID IN A D V A N C E” I
“ NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH”
“THE CRY OF THE WEAK
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THEATRE