Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (May 8, 1908)
8 THE MORNING OREGONTAN, FRIDAY, 3IAY 8, 1908. ELLIOTT IS NOT OF SELF Admits on Stand All Crimes Charged to Him and to C. Sam Smith. VERACITY IS QUESTIONED AVitnesses to Be Called to Disparage His Testimony Williamson's Re fusal to Buy Smith's Hay Only Motive Shown So Far. PRIN IS V LLL.E, Or., May T. (Special.) Larkln Elliott told his story this afternoon to a Crook County jury before Judge Bradshaw. He related the burning- of the "Williamson sheep-shearing plant. 18 miles east of Prlneville, March 25; also of the cutting of a mile of wire fence on land leased by "Williamson, and distributing poison in Williamson's sheep corral. He told of planning to dynamite the city residence of the ex-Congressman and of the plan to burn the forthcoming wool clip if he did not In the meantime change his residence. This startling tale was along the lines of previous rumors ai.d was listened to by a crowded courtroom, where women Larkla Elliott, Wna Swears on Stand to All Crimea Charged to Him and to C. Sam Smith. were as plentiful as men. These rumors have been heard so much before that little surprise was shown when the story was given under oath from the stand. Elliott Is Embarrassed. Elliott was plainly embarrassed at first and gave his answers in an extremely halting manner, as if he was either dis tressed at being in the presence of so many people or was trying to remember his acts. He recovered his self-possession after being questioned a half hour and thenceforth was cool and collected. In substance his confession implicated C. Sam Smith, ex-Sheriff of Crook County, and his 14-year-old son, Stanley Smith, in the cutting of the wire fences, which was the last act in the drama before the arrest of the participants. In the burn ing of the sheepshearlng plant and ranch house and the attempted burning of the barn. Elliott said Smith and himself operated without assistance. The other acts, dynamiting the city home of "Wil liamson and burning his next wool clip while on the wagon, were only planned. Elliott was badly tangled in his dates In, cross-examination, showing an ex tremely bad memory and considerable hesitancy before giving hie answers. His cross-examination was almost over with at 6 o'clock, when court adjourned for dinner. Does Not Spare Himself. In the evening the courtroom was, if anything,, .more crowded than in the afternoon. Elliott was again placed on cross-examination, and the most rigid questioning failed to shake his testi mony. Throughout examination and cross-examination he spared himself not In the least, assuming; all blame where it was due and offering no ex cuses for his acts. He also did not spare Smith. After being on the stand for three and one half hours, he was allowed to return to his seat. Wei Allen, one of Williamson's herd ers, was the next witness called. He testified to the distribution of the con centrated lye mixed with, salt "and squirrel poison around the corral, and also to the burning of his tent and bedding on March 27. With the con clusion of his testimony, court was ad journed till tomorrow morning. Motive for Elliott's Acts. . A number of witnesses will be called In the morning who will swear that El liott's veracity is of very doubtful character. Without ample corrobora tion of Elliott s tale, it is generally thought here that the state's case against Smith is extremely weak. The only motive shown up so far was Williamson's refusal to buy Smith's hay or ranch, both of which he wanted to sell. Williamson wanted a small part of Smith's pasture land, which he would not sell unless he sold his whole ranch in a body. This consists of sev eral thousand acres of alfalfa meadow and range land, and Is valuable, but Williamson did not want it all. Ho also went elsewhere last Fall to buy hay, leaving a large quantity on Smith's hands. These two acts, the prosecution claims, constitute the mo tive. . ... WOODMEN IX NORTH YAKIMA Annual Convpntlon Being Held With 200 Delegates. NORTH YAKIMA.. Wash., May 7. (Special.) The Annual State Convention of the Modern Woodmen of America met in this city, elected officers for the ensuing year and appointed delegates to the National Camp in Peoria, 111., next June. The delegation will go Instructed to advocate the extension of the jurisdic tion of the "order to include Alaska and Canada, Two hundred delegates are present and about 700 other members of the order, as well as many of the Royal Neighbors and the members of the teams which are to contest for big prizes in the drilling contests tomorrow. The offi cers elected are: J. A. Tousley, Spokane, consul: J. D. Capann, Oak Harbor, ad viser: A. R. Maurer, Kelso, banker: F. Garret, Fisher, watchman; O. E. Sauter, Seattle, sentry. The triennial convention of the Modern Woodmen of America concluded here to xtight with a banquet attended by. over SPARING f ' A 1 700 delegates and members of the order. A grand parade was held at noon and this afternoon the forester teams com peted for two prizes of $300 and $150, re spectively. Seattle won with 95 points, Tacoma was second with 74 points and Belllngham third with 82 points. North Yakima and Spokane also competed. PAUPERS VOTE HEAVY BONDS Taxpayers of Liberty Object to Way Election Carried. SALEM, Or., May 7. (Special.) The taxpayers of Liberty school district, south of Salem, recently had the novel and unpleasant experience of having $6000 bonds voted by men who were not only non-taxpayers, but who were paupers receiving support from the county. The question of issuing bonds for the purpose of erecting a large school house had been submitted at a special election. At that election the issuance of bonds was ordered by a vote of two majority. It was discov ered that two men who voted for the issuance of bonds are being cared for by the county. This situation has en raged some of the heavy property owners of the district and they are planning to test the legality of the proceedings. ADVERTISE UMATILLA COUNTY Real Estate Men and Commercial Club to Co-operate. PEnsrrLETON, Or., May 7. (Special.) Real estate men from every town in the county gathered in this city this evening. They perfected a county organization and made preliminary arrangements for the establishment of a publicity bureau to be operated in connection with the Com mercial Club, of this city. It will have for its purpose the advertising of the resources of the county. Following the meeting, the visiting real estate men were guests of the local business men at a banquet. A Joint committee from the County Real Estate League and the Commercial Association will immediately begfh the work of soliciting funds for the publicity campaign. YAMHILXi TREASURER MUST TURN IN BUT PART OP TAXES. Outgrowth of Allegation That in Proportionment of Taxes Yam hill's Share Is Unfair. M'MINNVILLE, Or., May 7. (Spe cial.) Circuit Judge William Galloway, of the Third Judicial District, today signed an injunction to prevent rfce Treasurer of Yamhill County from pay ing, and the State Treasurer from col lecting, the state tax, apportioned to this county for the present year, except the eum of $23,117.03. This is an outgrowth of the allega tion that when the taxes for the vari ous counties in the state were propor tioned Yamhill .was obliged to pay an amount too large in proportion to the assessment. The complaint in part states: "The plaintiff county alleges that the said Board, when making the appor tionment amongst the several counties of the state, in January, 1908, did not base its computation upon the actual value of the assessable property of the several counties, or of any of such counties, but instead, apportioned the portion or part of the said revenue for state purposes by the .said several coun ties in an arbitrary manner and by an arbitrary rule, without reference to the relative value of the assessable prop erty of the several counties, without constitutional or legal authority." GET READY FOR CHERRY FAIR Salem Exposition to Surpass That of Last Year. SALEM, Or., May 7. (Special.) Ex tensive preparations are being made for the annual cherry fair to be held in Salem about the first of July and from Information received It is apparent that the fair this year will surpass that of 1907. Cherry growers at The Dalles are planning to come to the Salem fair and capture the best of the prizes in competi tion with Willamette Valley growers. Last year 30 silver cups and as many diplomas were offered as premiums. This year the number will be considerably increased, an effort being made to offer a premium for every class of fruit ripe at that season of the year. Special at tention will be given to cherries in com mercial pack. The Salem Board of Trade has taken charge of the preliminary arrangements and has committees at work. FIRE LIMITS FOR OREGON CITY Council Establishes Boundaries. Dogs Impounded to Be Hilled. OREGON CITY, Or., May 7. (Spe cial.) The city will establish fire limits for the downtown portion of the city, covering the territory between Third and Eighth Btreets. The new Hawley Pulp & Paper Company interests and the Oregon City Manufacturing Com pany's plant are not embraced. The Council last night passed to its second reading an ordinance granting a fran chise to the Hawley company for side tracks and switches. The Improvement of Madison street will be accepted in a few weeks, at a cost of 118,000. Under an order of the Council last night, dogs that have been Impounded will be killed unless they are claimed in two days, while they were formerly kept five days. Ada County for Taft. - BOISE, Idaho, May T. (Special.) Twenty-four men. Republicans of Ada County, instructed to vote for a Taft delegation to the Republican National Convention from Idaho, and every one a strong Taft admirer, will attend the state Republican convention at Wallace next Tuesday. They will go, not only instructed for Taft, but instructed to vote for Senator Heyburn and Senator Borah, if those two will consent to represent the state at the Chicago convention. This was decided on at a harmonious county convention held yesterday afternoon in the District Court room, at which were present 141 delegates from the various precincts. Indians to Vote Against Saloons. PENDLETON. Or., May 7. (Special.) The big Indian camp-meeting on the Umatilla reservation is developing strong assistance for the anti-saloon forces In their fight for a dry county. Large num bers of the Indians are Joining the tem perance society and are being lined up to vote against the saloon. The Indian vote in all former elections has been inconse quential, but the temperance forces are now bringing great pressure to bear, with the result that the Indian vote will probably be greater by 200. Tomorrow and Monday positively the last days for discount on West Side gas bills. Remittances must be received be fore discount period expires. .PORTLAND GA3 COMPANY. PILES' FRIENDS CONTROL Sway King County Republican Convention That Elects Delegates. BALLINGER IS INDORSED Favored for Delegate to National Convention Platform Declares for Taft and Election of Peo ple's Choice for Senator. SEATTLE, Wash., May 7. (Special.) United States Senator S. H. Piles' friends controlled today's Republican convention that selected a delegation of 131 to at tend the ' state convention at Spokane. R. A, Ballinger, ex-Commissioner of the General Land Office and both Mayor and supporter of Piles during his fight for Senator four years ago, was indorsed as the sole candidate from King County for delegate to the National Convention. Anti-Piles leaders wanted to indorse two or more candidates, but the Piles pro gramme was to give favors to North western counties which have been loyal. John H. McGraw, who was one of the BEN SHEEKS. i t i 11 ::: f: x ". V mm 4 s f i Nominated by Chehalls County Bar lor Superior Judge. ABERDEEN, Wash., May . (Special.) Ben Sheeks, who. has been nominated by the bar of Chehalls County for Superior Court Judge, is a lawyer of much distinction in the State of Washington and in Utah. Be fore coming to Washington he was connected with some of the largest fee cases in Utah and was counsel for Brlgham Young in several suits, notably that of the divorce proceedings in which Anna Eliza Young sued for a separation from the Mormon leader. Mr. Sheeks was counsel for the City of Tacoma in its fight against the Tacoma Light & Water Company, which sold to the city its franchise for $1,750,000, and was afterward compelled to return $787,000 of the amount as an excessive pay ment. Mr. Sheeks has never sought office. In the present case he Informed the members of the bar that he did not seek the position but. If nominated, would accept, and if the people desired him to serve them they could elect him. Plies managers in the Senatorial fight four years ago. and who now heads the Plles-Ankeny movement in King County, was temporary chairman of the conven tion, and by unanimous consent was made chairman of the delegation to the state convention, with power to name all committees. Fight Over Chairmanship. A fight developed three days ago over the chairmanship between McGraw and H. C. Gill, both Piles supporters. Mc Graw had an overwhelming majority and this morning Gill agreed to withdraw and accept the permanent chairmanship, which had been offered him. Some of the McGraw supporters demanded that the fight go to a vote, but McGraw per sonally Insisted that Gill was not only his friend but a supporter of Piles and ought to be recognized. A fight was threatened over the elec tion of state delegates. It was pro posed by the committee on permanent organization that each Senatorial Dis trict choose one-eighth of a delegate, three extra men being given the Thirty-seventh, which has an unusually large proportion of the King County population. A proviso in the commit tee's report, which the convention adopted, was that delegates must be residents of the district from which they were elected. John L. Wilson was defeated in the Thirty-fourth District, where he resides, but returned as a del egate from the Thirty-seventh, at the request of W. T. Dovall, a law partner of E. C. Hughes and Maurice McMicken, who are business associates of Wilson. Wilson to Be Contested. The point of order raised by Eugene Chllds, that Wilson's election was ir regular, was Ignored by Chairman Gill, who also declared an appeal from his decision to have been lost. Senator P. L. Allen, one of the Piles leaders, who was chairman of the permanent organ ization committee, Immediately took of ficial transcripts of the record to pro test Wilson's election as a delegate be fore the Spokane convention. Inas much as the complete Plies programme was unanimously agreed upon in the delegation to the State Convention, the fight may be dropped, on the ground that Piles' victory was so complete it cannot be misunderstood. . Platform of Convention. The platform adopted indorsed Na tional, state and county Republican ad ministrations; indorses the work of the Congressional delegation, approves Postmaster-General Meyers' postal savings bank and parcels post schemes. Instructs for Taft, demands a law guar anteeing bank deposits through a spe cial state fund, supports the National employers' liability act, and demands a similar state statute, commends the Legislature for favorable labor legisla tion, and asks an eight-hour law for females and miners, insists legislative candidates sign a pledge to support the Senatorial candidate receiving a .popu s.-.-. .-.-.v.-.-.-,.-..- -i J. lar majority, and makes a strong rec ommendation for support for the good roads movement. BILL AMENDS THE CAREY ACT Mondell Proposes to Remove Limit on Acreage Reclaimed. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, May 7. Representative Mon dell has Introduced a bill removing the restriction as to the amount of land any state can reclaim under the Carey act. His bill will permit states to reclaim as much arid land as they desire under the provisions of this law. Representative Hall, of South Dakota, Introduced a bill providing that coal lands In forest reserves shall be held by the Government and leased in tracts not exceeding 2560 acres for periods of 25 years, leases to be in the nature of a royalty on the coal mined. READY TO GET GOOD WATER Eugene Signs Contract for Con structing Gravity System. EUGENE, Or., May 7. (Special.) This afternoon the City of Eugene signed up the contract for the construction of the gravity water system and the work of preliminary surveys will commence Mon day. The contract was made with F. C. Kelsey as consulting engineer and J. W. McArthur and Carl McClaln as resident engineers. The latter will attend to the construction work. The city will secure for itself a flrst-class water system. The first surveys will incude the Ritchie Creek stream and watershed, which the Coun cil favors. It will take about two weeks for the preliminary work. DEAD OF THE NORTHWEST D. Fisher. OREGON CITY. Or.. May 7. (Spe cial.) D. Fisher died here yesterday. aged 59 years 31 days. He was born in Germany and came to America with his parents -when a child, arriving In Oregon from Indiana 19 years ago. He has been a resident of Oregon City continuously for the last 15 years, and is survived by a widow and six chil dren Mrs. J. W. Johnson, of Klamath Falls; Mrs. Etta McCoy, of Forest Grove; Miss Anna Fisher, J. D., C. D. and August Fisher, of Oregon City. Death was due to stomach and kidney trouble. Malheur Prisoners Sent "Up. VALE. Or., May 7. (Special.) Sheriff Robert O'Dell, of Malheur County, took six men to the Penitentiary at Salem, Henry Share, Fred Wheatley, Roe Gray and Harry Reed go up for horse steal ing; Wheatley gets four years, the others indeterminate sentences. Lewis Jones, sent up for cattle stealing, gets an inde terminate sentence, with a recommenda tion to the Governor for a pardon at the end of a year. Sam Yarborough gets two years for rape. All except Yarborough are young men, two of them mere boys. Eugene High School Elects. EUGENE. Or.. May 7. (Special.) The student body of the Eugene High School this afternoon elected Its officers for the coming year as follows: President Rob ert Kuykendall; vice-president, Esther U'Ren; secretary, Pauline Potter; edl tor of the News, Leonard Buoy; business manager. Holmes Holman; basketball manager, Cleary Watson. For manager of debate, Ernest Lamb and Edward Bailey tied. Eugene Mayor Helps Clackamas. OREGON CITY, Or,, May 7. (Special.) J. D. Matlock, Mayor of Eugene, will aid the local option element in Clacka mas County in a speech Friday evening May 15. He will talk on "Civic Right eousness," with special reference to the campaign for prohibition. Mayor Mat lock will refer especially to the condi tions in Eugene and Lane County since the victory- of the dry people two years ago. Logger Cats His Throat. RAYMOND, Wash., May 7. (Special.) Victor Koski, a logger, who has been em ployed during the Winter In Ellsworth's camp, committed suicide yesterday at Willapa in a neighbor's woodshed by cutting his throat almost from ear to ear with a razor. Koski had been drink ing heavily for two weeks. He leaves a wife and three children, the youngest being an Infant two weeks old. Teachers Get a Raise. EUGENE. Or., May 7. (Special.) The Board of Education this evening re-elected for the coming year all the teachers now employed in the grades, raising the salary of each from $55 to $60 per month. Prin cipal Lyons, of the Central School, re signed some time ago.' His successor was not chosen today. The board will choose the High School staff and finish Its busi ness Monday evening. . Many Take French Leave. CENTRA LI A, Wash., May 7. (Spe cial.) It wffs learned today that 17 in mates of the State Reformatory at Che halis have escaped since April 7. The numerous escapes are attributed to a change in detail officers. A new detail officer was appointed about a month ago. An attempt was made to keep the es capes secret. ; Parmenter Back in Eugene. EUGENE, Or., May 7. (Special.) Dep uty Sheriff Hammond arrived this after noon from Omaha with his prisoner, Da vid Parmenter, charged with polygamy. His arrest in Omaha was on the basis of his being a fugitive from Justice. College Annual Ready. UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, Eugene, Or., May 7. (Special.) Announcement has been made that the college annual, the Beaver, which Is put out by the Junior class, will be off the press and ready for dtetrimitlon tomorrow. ndependent Furniture Company 1A1 1 1 U" 1 This PINE REED t V ROCK ER Regular S 9 I 5 Value. Special P J 9J J LOGGERS HARD HIT Splash Dam .Operations Are Stopped on Wishkah. , GOVERNMENT MAKES RULE Heeds Complaints Filed by Ranch ers Who Contended That Naviga tion Was Impeded Body Blow to a Big Industry. ABERDEEN, Wash.. May 7. (Special.) A notice received from the Government by the Wishkah Boom Company to stop all splash dam operations on the Wish kah River and keep a free channel has caused consternation among the logging companies on that stream. The order is the result of the persistent efforts of the ranchers along the river, who com plain that the stream Is monopolized by the Wishkah Boom Company to the ex clusion of transportation. If the order is made permanent It will compel the logging companies practi cally to quit business. The logging com panies affected are as follows: Haynes & Preston, Coats Logging Company, Aberdeen Lumber & Shingle Company, Boeing & McCrimmon, Murray & Black well, O. K. Logging Company, Wishkah Logging Company, Larkln Logging Com pany. It is estimated that there .are now about 25,000.000 feet of logs in booms on the river and many of the companies have large quantities of down timber In the woods, bucked and ready for the river. Logging on the Wishkah is ex pensive at best and if the dams cannot be splashed It is entirely impracticable. The different logging companies are, so to speak, "up a stump" and are very much discouraged by the turn which af fairs have taken. After a long period of inactivity, the companies have at last resumed operations and now, to be com pelled to again shut down, has caused them to view the matter with considera ble impatience. The boom companies will. It Is under stood, endeavor to clear the river, and It Is thought they will be able to do so by the date Indicated in the order from the War Department. COTTAGE GROVE ON RECORD Woman's Club Passes Resolutions Favoring Appropriation. COTTAGE GROVE, Or., May 7. (Spe cial.) At the last, meeting of the Woman's Club the merits of the univer sity appropriation, which comes up at the June election under the referendum act, was discussed and the following resolutions unanimously adopted: Whereas, at the last session of the Legis lature of the State of Oregon, that body passed an act granting to the State Uni versity an annual appropriation of $125,000 for the maintenance of that Institution, and "Whereas, certain persons are seeking to defeat this appropriation by means of the referendum, and Whereas, we. the -Woman's Club of Cot-tne-e Grove. Oresron. believe that if this appropriation is not granted, the cause of higher education In this state win receive a setback that - will oast a serious reflec tion on the ceoDle who believe In higher education and result in bringing the state Into disrepute in other Btates that have wisely provided for their boys ana girls ty allowinsr a larce appropriation to their uni versities, and also result in delaying a large number of pebple from coming to this state who would come if the state, institutions were allowed the appropriations necessary to carry on their work: therefore, be it Resolved, that we do use our best efforts to have the appropriation carried; and be It further Resolved, that we are most heartily in favor of said appropriation, and request all voters to support said appropriation. MRS. F. D. WHEELER, MRS. A. L. BRIOGS. MRS. F. H. ROSENBURO. Committee. COMMISSION TO BEGIN HEARING Meets at Rltzvllle to Go Into Ques tion of Grain Rates. OLYMPIA. Wash.. May 7. (Special.) The State Railroad Commission will as semble at Ritzvlle Sunday night to begin the hearing Monday morning on the petl tfon of 100 gralngrowers of Eastern Wash ington for a general reduction in the grain rate. This petition was circulated by W. R. Cunningham about two years ago and was presented to the Railroad Commission shortly afterward, but the Commission did not take action because it thought It should first procure data on the cost and value of railroad property so that its find ings as to the reasonableness or unrea sonableness of the rates would stand the test of the courts. The Commission now has the data on railroad values and is ready to proceed with the hearing. Commissioner Lawrence leaves tonight for Outlook and Grand View, on the Sun nyslde branch of the Northern Pacific, to Investigate complaints of Inadequate sta tion facilities there. MUST KEEP AWAY FROM WIFE Subject of Drunken Husband's Club Asks Divorce. OREGON CITY, Or., May 7. (Spe cial.) Snth P. Smith, charged with wife-beating, this afternoon entered a plea of guilty in the Circuit Court, and his case was set for trial next Saturday, the1 last da3- of court for the April session. Smith was arrested Tuesday night upon complaint of a neighbor, Ernest Frost, in whose home Mrs. Smith and hor small children found a COMPLETE HOUSEFURNISHERS AC CTDQT CTDUCT green front building, between UQ r 1 O 1 IILH 1 WASHINGTON AND STARK STREETS Pay Cash or Easy Payments If you are not buying your Furniture and other Housefurnishings from us, it is not because you wish to squander your money, but because you are not aware of the fact that we are selling better Furniture cheaper than any other store in Portland. It is up to you to come and see us and FIND OUT H. B. LITT 351 WASHINGTON STREET EVERY lap; MESSES SUET HALF" REGULAR PIECE FRIDAY STORE OPENS 9 O'CLOCK refuge. He has been Intoxicated a number of times, and when In this con dition abuses his family. In default of $250 bonds, he has been committed to the County Jail. Mrs. Esther Abble Smith, fearing her husband would do her bodily injury if an opportunity offered, this afternoon obtained a restraining order forbidding him to Interfere with her in any way. Mrs. Smith entered suit for a decree of divorce, stating that her husband threatened to kill her; and would have cut her throat last Tuesday night but for the interference of neighbors. She says he locked her out of doors in her night clothes, that, though earning good wages, he has squandered them in drink, and failed to provide for his family of four children. They were married in Elma, Wash., March 4, 1893. The Injured wife asks for $30 . per month alimony and costs. nd three-quarter Inches longer than the woman s average. spring filled value EES AMD 'AT CLEANLINESS Is the watchword for health and vigor, comfort and beauty. Mankind Is learn ing not only the necessity but the lux ury of cleanliness. SAPOLIO, whlob has wrought such changes in the home. Announces her sister triumph HAND SAPOLIO FOB TOILET AND BATH 'X special soap whloh energizes the whole body, starts the circulation and leaves an exhilarating glow. All gfm mm and drnsrglsta. TtpfipCV Cured: quick relief; removes all ISIturjl swelling in 8 to 20 days: 0 to SO days effects permanent cure. Trial treat ment given free to sufferers; nothing fairer. rr. H. H. (ireen's Sons. Box K. Atlanta, iim. This Solid eoldea Oak Mortis Chair, seat, reversible hair. velour cunhlona. A 910 special, 9S.&3. i