Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, January 18, 1908, Image 1

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    VOL. XIvX NO. 14,T0O.
PORTLAND, OREGON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1908.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
LAYS FOUNDATION
FOR PROSECUTION
Heney Is Moving With
Much Caution.
BUILDS UP HIS CASE SLOWLY
Hall and Mays Trial Making
but Little Progress.
DEFENSE FIGHTS EACH STEP
Few Witnesses Examined and Scs
. nion J,argely Given X p to the
Reading of Letters Said
to Show Conspiracy
The Government yesterday continued
las-Ins the foundation of the case
against John II. Hall and Edwin Maya.
' Heney introduced some BO letters,
written from June, 1900, to September,
1902, by Hall, Mays, Loomis, Stratford
and Putnam. More such letters will
follow today.
Hall objected seriously to only, one
letter, written by Secretary Hitchcock
to Special Inspector A. R. Greene, di
recting Greene to investigate the
fences. Heney's purpose is to show
that this investigation was prompted
by settlers, who had appealed vainly
to Hall to act against the fences. Hall
objects to the letter because a copy and
not the original letter has been offered
and because it is Irrelevant. Judge
Hunt will decide the question this
morning.
Unlike Hall, Mays raised numerous
objections In the course of the day.
" The steps In the Government's evi
dence of conspiracy will be about as
follows:
First To prove Hall aid Mays had
frequent knowledge from protesting
settlers of the fences as early as
March. 1900.
Second That Stelwer, Zachary and
Hendricks caused various persons'fto
file on land for their company, in or
der to complete the company's enclos
ure of public land. -
Third That Hall and Mays took no
steps to prosecute the offenders, though
they had full knowledge of the fencing
and the conspiracy for more than three
years.
At this stage, Stelwer" is expected to
testify about the alleged understand
ing by which Hall and Mays wore not
to prosecute him and his associates.
One of the terms of this alleged agree
ment was Stciwer's vote for Fulton. "
George Brownell is expected to tes
tify that Hall promised him Immunity
from land-fraud prosecution for his
withdrawal from the contest for Hall's
office. "
In trft ITall-Mays conspiracy frialjudge
Hunt this morning will rule on the ad
missibility by the Government of a letter
from Secretary Hltchcodf, of the In
terior Department, to A. R. Greene, then
Special Inspector, in which Greene was
instructed to proceed to Wheeler County
and. make an investigation of the al
leged illegal fencing of the public lands
by -YV. Vt. Stciwer ct al. Just before
court adjourned yesterday afternoon
llcncy sought to introduce this corre
spondence, but Judge ' "Webster," attorney
for Hall, seconded by H. F. Wilson, at
torney for Mays, objected vigorously for
ihe reason that the letter offered was
only a copy of thp original.
"In the opening addresses to the Jury
In this case," replied Heney, "counsel
for the defendants said it would be
shown that the investigation ot the
' illegal fencing in "Wheeler County was
ordered by the Interior Department on
the request of Hall. I propose to show
by the Introduction of this letter and by
subsequent testimony that the investiga
tion was secured solely through the
efforts of Mr. Putnam .and Mr. "Walters,
(Government witnesses) who labored to
that end during 1900, 1901 and 1S02. It
will show that these men brought about
the sending of Special Agent Dixon, who
made the only honest Investigation and
report that was made. That Is the only
thing I desiro to establish by the letter."
Judge Will Iuvctigate.
Judge Hunt remarked that tho letter
might be offered In rebuttal, but since
there was no evidence of that character
before tho court he. questioned the ad
missibility Of tho letter then. Before
finally deciding the question, however,
he sld he would Investigate it" further
and announce his decision this morning.
In order to establish the charge of a.
conspiracy against Hall and Mays. Heney
has been obliged to Introduce consider
able preliminary evidence to prove the
'beginning of a conspiracy among the
different defendants. '" While the letters
and documents that arc being Introduced
do not appear to be directly connected
with tho two defendants on trial, they
are considered important by the prosecu
tion as tending to show that Hall and
Mays, together with their co-defendants.
Ioomls and Stratford, at that time
special agents Tc,r the Interior Depart
ment, who are named In the same In
dictment, were advised early in 1900 of
the alleged violation of the fencing law
both by letters nd personal visits from
settlers. The letters will be of further
value, it is claimed by Heney, In show
ing that while the defendants had knowl
edge of the violations complained of. they
took no active steps cither to abolish the
illegal fences or to jjrosecute the guilty
parties. The significance of these letters
as relating to the case will be further
shown by the Government when it pro
ceeds to show the relations between. Hall
and the indicted Special Agents.
' Another Link in Chain.
. The second step towards forging the con
spiracy chain will be furnished in tHe testi
mony that will be given by various per
sons who entered on lands bordering on the
Butte Creek grazing lands, which wee.
afterwards acquired by Steiwer's com
pany for the purpose ot completing the
inclosure of Government land. yhese
witnesses are expected to testify that
they settled on the lands not for their
own use and benefit, but at the Instanca
of Stelwer et - al. of the Butte Creek
Land, Lumber & Livestock Company, to
whom they sold their land as soon as
they had received their patents in ac
cordance with a pre-arranged under
standing with the officers of the cor
poration. In this way the consplricy
charge will be established against
Stelwer, Hendricks and Zachary.
When this has been accomplished, the
Government expects to associate Hall and
Mays with the conspiracy by proving that
while they had full knowledge of the un
lawful fencing for more than three years,
they took no steps-to prosecute the of
fenders criminally. It will further be
shown that the fences complained of were
not removed until after the settlers had
taken their complaint by petition to Sec
retary Hitchcock, of the Interior Depart
ment, who assigned Special Agent Dixon
to make an .investigation. In this connec
tion it is probable that Steiwer will take
the stand to testify as to the existence
of an understanding that existed between
him and his associates on the one sido
and Hall and Mays on the other, by which
they were not to be prosecuted criminally
for violations of the land laws. George
C. Brownell may also be called as a wit
ness in support of the charge that Hall
dclined to prosecute him for his connec
tion with,, tha land-frauds of the State in
consideration of his retirement from the
race for the appointment of District At
torney to succeed Hall.
Much" Preliminary Testimony.
Because of tb large,amount of prelimi
nary testimony that must be produced by
the Government before the material evi
dence against Hall and Mays can be pre
sented, nothing sensational has yet de
veloped in the trial. Witness Putnam, the
Wheeler County rancher who labored un
tiringly for several years before breaking
up the combination, remained on the
stand all day, and when Court adjourned
until 10 o'clock this morning Heney had
not completed his direct examination ot
the witpess. Putnam's testimony related
entirely to correspondence that passed
between himself and Hall or Mays or be
tween himsef and Special Agents Loomis
and Stratford. Over 50 of these letters
have already been introduced and Heney
has a large number yet to offer.
In a letter bearing date of June 4. 1900.
which was introduced Putnam wrote to
Hall and Informed him that various per
sons' ware about to make flnap!! "
homesteads in violation of tha law.. He
charged in his letter that the entrymen
had not only failed to reside on their
claims, but had made no improvements
other than the erection. of a shack .13x14,
which was uninhabitable, and the con
struction of a fence which completed the
enclosure, of the grazing land complained
against. . "
Mays was connected with the alleged
conspiracy yesterday for the first time
by the introduction of correspondence be
tween himself and Putnam in which Maya
had replied that the complaint would re
ceive "early and careful attention in. an
effort to stralnghten It out in a manner
satisfactory to all concerned." In one of
these letters to Mays, Putnam had writ
ten that "there is stronger evidence of
fraud "3n these homestead n tries (refer
ring to those inspired by the Butte Creek
Company) than that on which Durrant
was hanged." In a later letter, dated
March 4, 1901, written by Putnam to Mays,
the writer complained, that . unless . the
smaller stockmen in the vicinity of Fossil
were granted some relief soon from the
existing monopoly of the grazing land.
they would either have to -sell their cattle
or go elsewhere."
Failed to Investigate.
After having had considerable corre
spondence with B. D. Stratford, a spe
cial agent, who had promised on a num
ber of occasions to visit Fossil and had
as many times failed to put In an ap
pearance. Putnam on September 22, 1901
again wrote to Hall notifying the District
Attorney that Stratford had not made
the investigation and urging that tne
matter be hastened along, for the reason
that the weather was getting bad and
unless the work was done soon it would
have to be abandoned for another year.
"The land sharks (referring to the of
ficers of the Butte Creek Company)
claim to have 'seen' one Government
agent who has refused to come to Fossil
at all." wrote Putnam in this letter., "One
of my neighbors, who had been asked to
go in with the others and file on some
of the 'land across which fences were to
be constructed by the Butte Creek Com
pany. told them he was afraid the law
would get after him. but they had as
sured him that they had 'fixed' the agent
from the Land Office, and nothing . was
to be feared. If they are In tne Busi
ness of buying ff agents, let's give them
a chance to buy by the wholesale."
In his answer, .Hall Informed Putnam
that he had turned Putnam's letter over
to the Interior Department and would
haVe to wait until they had acted before
he could do anything. Hall also referred
Tutnam to Special Agent Stratford, who
was then connected with the Roseburg
Land Office.
nail Asks for XariM-s.
Replying to a later letter of a similar
character from Putnam. Hall asked Put
nam for a list of persons and corpora
tions who had illegally fenced public
lands, saying that he would write them
a "sharp" letter and tell them what the
law was." In this letter Hall said he had
used his every endeavor to get an inspec
tor to visit Fossil and Investigate the
complaint reported by Putnam.
Witness testified that Special Agent
I-iOomis finally visited Fossil In June, and
again in July. 1902. when affidavits were
signed by both Putnam and a neighbor.
W. D. Shepard. alleging the'illegal fenc
ing of Government land by the Butte
Creek Company. Affidavits were also
signed by Putnam and Shepard declaring
that the entrymen on the different claims
sought to e acquired for the Butte Creek
(Concluded on Pace 4. -
TAFT iS SURE OF
0
DELEGAT ON
Half Counties Assure
Him Majority.
FORAKER A MERE GUERRILLA
Ashamed to Show Weakness
. by Making Fight, .
BUT ONE COUNTY DIVIDED
Senator Refuses to Run Ticket
There; Nearly Every County De
clares for Taft Legislature
Working on Primary Law. k
COLUMBUS. O., Jan. 17. (Special.)
With Just half the counties of the State
heard Trom, the Taft forces are assures
more than 600 delegates in the State Con
vention, or far more than necessary for
control. In the majority of cases reso
lutions have been passed Indorsing "W. H.
Taft, and in all but three the State call
has been followed without question.
Guernsey, Holmes and Meigs Counties
declined to call primaries, but in every
case the declarations were for Taft, the
objection to the primaries being on the'
ground that there would be no opposition
and the expense would be useless.
Opposed In Only One County.
In only one place Is there known oppo
sition to the Taft primary ticket, and
that is Lake County, where Mr. Beldler
will have a rival ticket In the field. The
Taft forces will be marshaled by Repre
sentative S. D. Shankland, and it is said
that Senator Foraker has declined to file
the required consent for the use of his
name at the head of the Beldler ticket,
as this showing of having only one ticket
in the whole State would not be flattering
to him.
Over 35 of the remaining 33 counties
have been "definitely heard' from, and
from these the sentiment is almost in
variably for Mr. Taft. No report has yet
tomie. from Hamilton, tn which Cincin
nati is situated, nor from Cleveland, the
metropolis of Cuyahoga County. Frank
lin, in which Columbus Is located, de
clared for Mr. Taft.
' foraker' Men Only' Guerillas.
The Taft people already say that the
Foraker warfare is now only of ' the
guerilla kind, in which the attempt Is
merely f o harass the cause of Taft and
to gain all the concessions possible..
The attitude of the counties is reflected
strongly In that of the Legislature now In
session. It is evident that any effort to
rush the Huffman primary election bill
through to carry out Mr. Foraker'e com
pact w It'll certain Democrats will meet
with Arm opposition in the House. The
committee ' on elections . will meet next
Wednesday for the purpose of arranging
for public meetings on the subject. The
three bills pending are to be referred to
that committee and all persons interested
In primary election reform are to be In
vited to appear before the committee and
offer suggestions. When these have been
heard, the committee will undertake to
prepare, from the data thus collected and
the pending bills, a measure that, will
conform to the popular demand.
HUGHES LEAGCE ESTABLISHED
Incorporates to Secure Nomination
of New York Man for President.
ALBANY, N. Y., Jan. 17. A 'certificate
of incorporation of the Hughes League of
the United States was filed with the Sec
retary of State today. The papers state
its purpose to- be "to aid in crystalizing
public sentiment and public opinion and
to foster the same for the purpose - of
securing the nomination of Charles E.
Hughes; of New York'City, as the Repub
lican candidate for President oftae Uni
ted States of 'America in the year 1908
and to assist in his election." "-"'
The directors are Frank Brookfield,
State Senator Alfred R. Page, Samuel
Strasbourger, State Senator" Martin Saxe
and Andrew B. Humphrey, of New York
City; Edward F. Gragin, Darwin R. James,
Jr., and George Waldo, of Brooklyn; Ed
win A. McAlpln, of Osslnning; John K.
Mulholland, of Essex County; Superin
tendent . of Public Works Frederick C.
Stevens, of Attica, and Charles E. Young,
of New Rochelle. The principal offices
of the league will be In New York.
PREPARING FOR CONVENTION
Democratic Committee to Go to Den
ver Hall to Be Completed.
CHICAGO, Jan. 17. The sub-committee
in charge of arrangements for the
National Democratic Convention to be
held in Denver on July 7, will meet at
the Brown Palace Hotel In Denver on
Monday, January 20. . The members are:
Roger C. Sullivan, Chicago, chairman
of the sub-committee; Norman E. Mack,
New York:John T. McGraw, West "Vir
ginia; John B. Osborn, Wyoming; Clark
Howell, Georgia; R. M. Johnson, Texas;
J. C. Dahlman, Nebraska; " Thomas
Taggart, chairman of the National com
mittee, Indiana," and Urey Woodson,
Kentucky. x
DENVER, Jan. 17. Colonel John I.
Martin, of St. Louis, sergeant-at-arms of
the Democratic National Conventions
since 1896, arrived in Denver today. After
looking over the situation Colonel Mar
tin said he had no . doubt the city
auditorium would be completed in time
for the convention and would be safe.
He expressed the opinion that the con
vention would bring 150,000 people to this
city. - -
T
POPE PIUS' GOUT SETS ITAL-
IAN TONGUES BUSY.
Severe Attack Causes Audiences to
Be Postponed, but There Is
No Danger.
ROME, Jan. 17. Various alarming ru
mors were in circulation this ' afternoon
regarding the health of Pope Plus. They
were to the effect that his holiness had
suffered a stroke of apoplexy, that he
had had ' a bad fainting spell, and that
disease of the heart from which he suf
fered had suddenly grown worse.
The reports were more alarming In char
acter -than those circulated when Pope
Plus, a 'few days after his election,
fainted In the Pauline Chapel while cele
brating his first pontifical mass.
All were greatly exaggerated, .however,
as the Pope is only again suffering from
gout The attack began last night, and
by morning had become so acute that by
the advice of his physician. Dr. Petaccf,
his holiness postponed all the audiences
that had been arranged for today and
tomorrow. The doctor says that a few
days of rest and of dieting will be suf
ficient to restore the Pope's health, as
aside from the gout, he is In perfect con-
i dltion.
NOW FOR THp NEXT THROW!
HER STORY.
F
THE PUBLIC
Jerome Moves When
Evelyn Testifies.
CALLS HERS. HORRIBLE TALE
Sensational Move Interrupts
Thaw Trial.
THAW'S MOTHER A WITNESS
"Weak From Illness, She Repeats
Narrative or His Strange Conduct.
Nurse xand Others Testify
to' Insanity of Defendant.
"NEW YORK,. Jan. 17. A series of sur
prises brought the Thaw trial, near a
crisis today. Both Evelyn Thaw, the
wife, and Mrs. William Thaw, the
mother, of the defendant, were on the
witness stand and Just as the former was
about to relate anew the story of her
life as she told It to Thaw in Paris in
1903, District Attorney Jerome arose and
said that in the interest of public morals
all persons except those interested in the
case should be excused from the court
room during what he called the recital
of a "horrible tale." This . included
representatives of newspapers, as well as
the public generally. Martin W. Little
ton, of the defense, Joined In it to' shield
the young woman from curious, eyes, and
said that, so far as the right to an open
hearing was concerned, he was ready
to waive that point In any ironclad man
ner the court might suggest. Proceed
ings were suspended 'Until next Monday
morning, when Justice Dowllng, who is
presiding, will announce his decision.
t Jerome's Move a Surprise.
The District Attorney's suggestion was
a distinct surprise and called forth the
remark from Justice Dowllng that It
would have come with greater force at
the first hearing of the case. When Mr.
Jerome , arose, it" was- generally believed
that he was about to- contend against the
admission of young Mrs. Thaw's testi
mony, on the ground that It could not
have had a very serious effect upon the
mind of the man who became her hus
band, inasmuch as the homicide did not
occur until three years thereafter.
Mr, Jerome had previously objected to
Mrs. Thaw's detailing conversations she
had with Thaw three years prior to the
tragedy, but Justice Dowllng ruled that
the declarations of the defendant .were
admissible on general principles and
without any reference to the Wood, case.
under which evidence in dispute was
admitted last year, and Mr. Jerome had
been expected to ask a construction this
year.
"I will not except to your honor's rul
ing," said the District Attorney, "for tho
state has no power of appeal."
Then Mr. Jerome attacked the wi tress
tn another way, and by standing im-
KEEP
ROM
mediately In front of her and objecting
to practically every question which Mr.
Littleton asked In his preliminary ex
amination as to her early history, cut
the young woman's recital from the
effective narrative form It assumed last
year into hundreds of fragments. Many
of the objections, based upon Irrelevancy
and immateriality, were sustained by the
court When these failed, the prose jutor
was ever ready with others until tha
testimony fairly .was torn Into shreds
'and had lost entirely the many little
touches of human Interest which were
a part of the narration last year whBn
no objections were offered. Mr. Jerome
said his objections were Intended to cut
out all the stories about pet cats and a "ot .
of other stuff," which had no place in
the trial.
Jerome Glares and Shouts.
The day, however, was one of good
progress for the defense. The elder u.ra.
Thaw, pale and weak from her recent
illness, was assisted to the witness chair
and repeated a large part of the testi
mony she gave a year ago. Her appear
ance and the sincerity of her evidence,
as she told of her son's strange conduct
after meeting Evelyn Nesbit and hear
ing her story, had a marked effect upon
all who listened. On account of her
weak condition, her examination was in
terrupted by consent, to be resumed
some time next week, when she will tell
of Thaw's Infancy.
Mr. Jerome's manner, while the mother
was om the stand was all deference' and
It was his suggestion which led to the
respite In her ordeal. But when' the
young wife took the stand a change was
marked. Mr. Jerome glared at her and
his objections were taJrly shouted In her
ears. Well accustomed to court usage
from her former experience, the young
woman waited patiently for a ruling as
to each objection. When they were sus
tained, she was silent; when over-ruled,
she was everready with her response.
The trial' may be concluded In two
more weeks. ' .
Wild and Staring Eyes. "
Miss Alice G. Fletcher, of Washington.
D. C, who said she had been a frequent
visitor at the Thaw household In Pitts
burg, and had known Harry K. Thaw
for 26 years, was the first witness today.
She declared that Harry was an unusual
child nervous and moody, with wild and
staring eyes. He seldom talked coherent
ly,, and was unable to carry on a sus
tained conversation.
"Throughout the period you knew
Harry Thaw did his acts and appearance
impress you as rational or Irrational?"
asked Mr. Littleton.
"Irrational," declared the witness.
Miss Fletcher told of seeing Thaw at
his mother's house In 1903. Thaw 'said
he had had an awful experience; that he
believed he had a terrible disease of the
eyes, and thought he was going to die-
In fact, he wanted to die.. He mentioned
Evelyn Nesblt's name frequently, but his
talk usually was too Incoherent to follow.
His eyes looked without seeing, appar
ently. .. " . -i.w" .. ..
On cross-examination. Miss Fletcher
said that although a frequent guest at
the Thaws' home, she had never known
Harry to be placed under restraint in any
way.
Mr. Jerome wanted to know If the wit
ness' impression of Thaw was only of .
nervous, eccentric man or a person of
unsound mind."
"He impressed me always as a person
who was not rational," declared Miss
Fletcher. "He often acted oddly and
would leave his -meals untouched."
"Did you ever counsel with his mother
as to Thaw's mental condition?" asked
tha prosecutor.
"I remember his mother's anxiety and
her speaking to me about It,"
"Do you remember anybody you ever
discussed the matter with?"
"I never discussed Harry Thaw with
anybody."
Had Never Known Parallel Case.
Mr. . Jerome asked many questions as
to the ideas of irrationality the witness
entertained and then started to Inquire
as to whether she had ever before ob
served a young man very much in love
with a chorus girl, when Justice Dow
ling Intesrupted to say there was noth
ing in evidence so far as to any chorus
girl.
"Well," said the prosecutor, "had you
eve before observed a young man who
told, 'you of a beautiful young woman
who hid been greatly wronged?"
"No."
Miss Fletcher insisted that Thaw's talk
constantly was incoherent, with a shift
ing ot subjects. She could not recall any
particular occasion on which there had
been a violent outbreak.
- Nervous, Moody Child.
Catherine Neill, an elderly woman, who
was a nurse in the Thaw family for six
years, and took charge of Harry K,
LThaw when he was between 3 and 4 years
oi age, lesunea as to me cnuanooa or
the defendant. She described: him as
very nervous and moody. He would have
nervous outbreaks which would end In
complete collapse. His mouth would
twitch and there were general facial con
tortions. The nervous outbreaks occurred
during all of the years the nurse was in
the employ of the family, causing her to
reach the conclusion that Harry's mind
was affected.
Mr. Jerome sought on tiross-exam-inatlon
to show that Thaw was simply
a child of nervous disposition and an
ungovernable temper. The nurse ad
mitted he showed all of these tenden
cies. It was necessary, she said, to
call in the -family physician after the
outbreaks. Thaw suffered from St,
Vitus' dance.
Mr. Littleton here caused a ripple of
excitement - by calling . Evelyn . Nesbit
Thaw to the -stand. It had been said
yesterday and again this morning that
she would not be a witness until next
week. Young Mrs. Thaw In her- blue
schoolgirl dress appeared promptly and
walked briskly to the witness chair,
where Clerk Penny administered the usual
oath.
Thaw's Delusions in Jail.
While Mrs. Thaw was sitting with anx
ious face ready for her examination. Mr.
Littleton changed tactics and asked her
to withdraw for the time being, to make
way for Policeman Thomas F. Lynch,
who was doorman at the Tenderloin
police station at the tlme Thaw was
confined there following the shooting
of White.
Lynch repeated the testimony he
(Concluded on Face 4-
TORPEDO-BOATS
THE FLEET
Uncle Sam's Armada
Makes Fine Show.
LIVELY SCENE IN RIO HARBRO
False Report of Disaster Mys
tifies Officers.
GARDEN PARTY A SUCCESS
Over 3 0 0 0 ' Persons Entertained by
. Brazilian Naval Club Flotilla
to Sail for Bnenos Ayres
After Four Says. . '
RIO DB JANEIRO. Jan. 17. The
American battleship fleet was Joined
today in the harbor of Rio Janeiro by
the torpedo-boat flotilla, numbering
six vessels, which arrived from Per
nambuco and anchored near Jthe 16 big
battleships at 3:45 o'clock In the after
noon. The flotilla left Pernambuco
January 13, and met with good weather
on the voyage to this port. Some delay
was occasioned by the machin'ery of
the Lawrence, but a few hours Sufficed
to make repairs. '
Lieutenant-Commander Cone reports
the health of the men of the torpedo
flotilla as generally good, though there -are
some cases of malaria among them. :
The vessels in his command will sail '
for Buenos Ayres after coaling, prob
ably about January 21. (
Great Array of Warships. ,
Never before were so many warships
anchored in this part at one time. Be
sides the great fleet of IS battleships
swinging idly at anchor, with their
white sides shining in the brilliant
sunlight of a perfect day, there "were
the fleet of Brazilian warships, the
cruiser Bremen and finally late In the
afternoon came the six American torpedo-boat
destroyers to swell the great
fleet. Scores of small boats ran to and
fro between the warships and the
shore, carrying thousands of men who
had. been granted leave for the day,
while the officers were still being feted
by Jhe government, the city and the
people of Bio. Nothing occurred to
break the absolute peacefulness of the
scene in the harbor, and the enjoyment
of the men ashore.
False Report of Disaster.
There was considerable surprise and
not a little amusement among the offi
cers of the battleship fleet, as well as
among the people of Rio, over numer
ous inquiries cabled here ftom the
United States during the day for infor
mation regarding a reported disaster
to the battleship Connecticut, Admiral
Evans flagship. At first the Inquiries
were mystifying to those to whom they
were addressed, as the rumor of a mis
hap to the Connecticut did not origi
nate here, and at the' time frenzied
inquiries were being telegraphed from
the United States all the ships of the
fleet were lying peacefully In the har
bor In plain view from the shore.
Finally it became clear that the rumor
of an accident originated In the United
Concluded on Pais S.)
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
Th Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 46
degrees; minimum, 39
TODAY'S Rain, Increasing easterlr winds.
Foreign. ' ,
Pop Plus has (rout, but alarming rumors
are not justified. Pas 1.
Women suftrasists Invade Brlttso, Cabinet
meeting. Pago 3.
Haytlan rebels capture - two towns and
President threatens bombardment, page T
National.
Torpedo flotilla arrives at Bio. Page 1.
Senate committee questions Goethals about
Canal literary bureau. Page 2.
Marines on transport successfully resist
Army officers orders. Page 4.
Domestic
Montana mineowners unite tf build smelter
and fight trust. Page 3.
Jury In "Walsh trial reaches verdict. Page
Lawyers want Evelyn Thaw's wtory kept
from public; evidence of Thaw's mother
and wife. Page 1.
Four Scranton factory girls killed in fire.
Page 3-
Sovereign Bank of Canada falls. Page 7.
PaeJBc Coast.
Chinaman fatally wounded in tong war at
San Francisco- Page 3."
Salem people figure out that Jim HIU Is
behind the Oregon Electric. Page .
Seattle banks will resume specie payment .
Monday. Page ft
Indian agent t Hoquiam missing; said te
be abort In accounts, page 4.
Politics.
Taft men carry more Hian half Ohio coun
ties and are sure of others. Page 1.
Commercial and Marine.
Active wheat buying in Interior. Page 15.
Chicago wheat-market affected by Hessian
. fly reports. Page 15.
Gold may be exported to Kurope. Page 13.
Steady improvement in general commercial
situation. .Pap 15-
C&ptain Andrew Hobcn resigns from the
State Board of Pallor Boarding-House
Commissioners. Page 14.
Portland and Vicinity.
Little progress made In Kail and Mays
trial. Page 1
Toung girl found lying Intoxicated, or
drugged. In gutter. Page 7.
Officials of Title Guarantee & Trust Com
pany advance technicalities in effort to
quash information against them, page 11.
Judge OTay grants 11 divorces and con
tinues two cases. Page JO.
Oregon State Press Association opens annual
convention here. Page 14X
Ladd chooses R. S. H o ward . Jr.. for re
ceiver of Title Guarantee 6c Trust Com
pany. I'age 11.
JON