Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, November 07, 1910, Page 7, Image 7

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    . Till; MOltXiyH OREGOXIAy. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7. 1910.
MURDER MYSTERY
IKES 000 TWIST
Woman May Be at Bottom of
Death of J. E. Roberts
at Salem.
FRIEND TELLS OF LETTERS
fclaln Man rote to t nknown Cali
fornia Woman Fire Clews la
Case Aid bat Little la Un
ravelling Strange Crime.
BT FRANK J. afGETTIGAX.
SALKM. Or.. Not. . Staff Corre
spondence.) Is thera a woman at tha
bottom of Salem's latest murder case?
O. U". rvl. closest friend of J. K.
' Roberts, who was killed and robbed
here last Wednesday nlKht. implies that
there Is. saying the slain man's only
daughter, Mrs. IT. & iJotson, Informed
him her father wrote letters to and
received replies from a woman resi
dent of the Golden State.
'What's the woman's una and In
what city does she live!" Mrs. Dotson
was asked.
"I do not know anything; about It,"
was her response.
Iwvts. a boyhood friend of Roberta
In Stewart. Neb., appears to hSTe been
the only confidant of the aged realty
dealer and his mention of a woman lo
the case may disclose the motive which
prompted Koberts. at times, to (ret his
mall secretly and may account for his
habit of burning; all his letters.
Letters Cannot Be Found.
Thorough search of the old man's
effects." said Sheriff Mlnto. "failed to
rereal letters to him from any woman.
1 do not believe Koberts corresponded
with any one in California except a
man friend in Los Angeles. Me loved
his family dearly and It Is not reason
able to suppose he carried on any cor
respondence than that demanded by his
business."
"He may hay been negotiating a
deal and the woman might have
tipped' his reputed wealth to some
one." was Davis' explanatory assertion
after he had volunteered the Informa
tion that Roberts, ha had been told, re
ceived letters from a woman In the
neighbor stats.
This new phase may also throw light
on a remark made by Koberts on the
day of his death as he burned a letter.
"I am sorry I received that." be said.
"It makes me feel blue."
Five Clews Vnfathomed.
Including this latest view of the
Capital murder puzzle five clews re
main unfathomed.
No trace of the youths who, the day
before the murder, tried to buy a cheap
revolver of .1ft caliber haa been found.
Two men in a vehicle Immediately
preceding the buggy occupied by Kob
erts at the time of the murder have
not been Identified.
A middle-aged man seen evidently
attempting to board a train bound
north at the Reform School just after
the crime has disappeared as If swal
lowed by the earth.
Two of five men seized from a train
at Albany the night of the crime es
caped and thus lr have eluded recap
ture. Investigators Are Stalled.
With these five clews unsolved In
vestigators say they are stalled and
may not be able to make any progress
until an administrator of the murder
victim's estate la appointed. Then evi
dence may be brought to light showing
the exact amount of mot-ey borne by
Roberts when killed, a will may be
found and renewed search for letters
might shatter or confirm beliefs that
the aged man was decoyed to his death.
In slem business circles some pre
dict that Inventory of Roberts' cash,
land and effects will show him to have
been on "his last legs" financially.
Others say his riches will not exceed
1 10.000.
-A year ago," said O. W. Davis.
"Mr. Roberts had almost $10,000. He.
1 and two others contemplated leasing
a placer mine at Port Orford and he
showed his bankbook, drawing our at
tention to the total. Later, though, ha
told me he had . a large sum to a
brother-in-law In the East and asked
me to Inform Ms sons of that trans
action if anything happened to him.
At the same time he told roe that 'In
case anything happened' I was to tell
Ms sons that his papers could be found
In the United States National Bank of
Salem."
Warning Given on Jmt Day.
On the day of his death Roberts
Srnve to the home of Iavts here at 1110
Lee street, and displayed about $300 In
gold, Iavla cautioned him that exhibi
tion of his coin was unwise. Thereupon
Roberta drew a revolver from his
pocket and satd:
"I am all right with 01d Trusty with
me."
Then Roberts returned home. and.
finding his daughter absent waited un
til her return before starting on his
fatal trtp to Jefferson, where he told
Davis he was to lend an unnamed sum
on a mortgage after collecting 1S0
to add to the amount he already car
ried. His daughter was late in return-1
Ing and the old man. in a flurry to be
well on the road before dark, left his
revolver behind. His family Is satis
fled that he did not have more than
S1000 and his money bag could not
have held more than 15000.
Knife Strangely Missing.'
Roberts was accustomed to carry a
povket knife. It Is thought the mur
derer used this to slash the grip and
In his hurry carried It away. The
knife was not- found In the pocket
where Roberts carried It constantly,
and search of the old man's room did
not reveal the blade.
Word was received by a local hard
warefirm today that the pistol with
which Koberts was killed was manu
factured two years ago and that Its
number wss not recorded In shipping
bills. Sheriff Mlnto has telegraphed to
a San Francisco firm, which handles
pistols of the type which dealt death
to Koberts. In hope that the weapon
may be traced to Its original buyer
and from him to the muiderer or mur
derers of the Ralem realty dealer.
It is expected that Frank B. Koberts.
eldest son of the man slain, will be
appointed administrator of the estate
tomorrow at the request of his sister
and Ave brothers. Mrs. Roberts died
here April 11. 109.
Body Burled WlUi Bullet.
Teeming with peculiar features the
Roberts murder case produced another
today when It was learned that the
murdered victim had been burled with
the mortal bullet still in his brain.
Sheriff Mlnto drew attention of the
Coroner and the family to the circum
stance that the bullet was not re
moved to be held as evidence In case
the murderer la captured. Now, If
the murderer Is brought to trial. Rob
erts' body must be exhumed and the
bullet extracted to complete the state's
case.
G. A. Davis, in giving all the Infor
mation at his command to aid In cap
turing the murderer, tells of a visit he
made to Portland last March with Rob
erts. At that time, says Davis. Rob
erts carried about $300 In gold and
purchased a money belt near the Ore
gon Electric Depot, placing the coin
in as they ate In a restaurant. This
Incident has been deemed too remote
to be of use In the search for bis murderer.
HERRICK LEADS RIVALS
AUTOIST LEADS IX RACE TO
COLORADO RIVER.
Al Berry, la Abbot-Detroit Car,
Thrown and Hurt in Wild
Dash Through Night,
EHRENBCRO. Aria.. Nov. . The
Kissel Kar, driven by Harvey Herrlck.
outstripped all Its 11 rivals to Ehren
burg on the Colorado River. The
Franklin was second and the Apper
son third. The running time of the
Kissel Kar over the 250 miles of moun
tain and desert was t hours SI minutes.
At a late hour tonight but nine of
the 14 cars had arrived here.
All of the machines are held at the
river tonight under control and will be
started tomorrow morning at S o'clock
on the second lap of the dash for
Phoenix.
The finishing point is at the fair
grounds at Phoenix, nearly 200 miles
from here.
The order and running time of the
arrival of the cars at the river tonight
Is as follows:
Kissel Kar. :S2: Franklin. 10:05: Ap
person, 10:45; Pope-Hartford. 11:14;
Mercer. 11:60: Velio. 11:52; Ohio. 12:14;
Durocar. 12:32; Parry 12:67; Rambler,
14:82; Abbott-Detroit. 18:20; Ford.
20:i0.
At midnight the Ford. Knox and
Maxwell cars had not arrived. It was
learned that the Knox had lost four
hours at Dea Plnos and had turned
back.
The Maxwell stopped with carbu
retter trouble at Mica and was out of
the race. The crsw of the Abbot-Detroit
was the only one to meet with
serious mishap in the wild night ride.
Four miles before reaching Beaumont,
ISO miles from Los Angeles, the car
skidded on a stretch of bad road at a
turn and Al Barry, the mechanician,
was thrown out. and. striking on his
head, was rendered unconscious. Driver
Max Spelgel stopped his car. loaded In
the Injured man and took him on to
Beaumont. After two hours In the
hospital at Beaumont Barry recovered
sufficiently to take a train for Phoe
nix. Spelgel got another mechanician
and went on.
BRADY LEADS IN IDAHO
Party Lines Dimmed by Injection of
Liquor Issue.
BOISIX Idhn. Nov. . The Idaho
campaign will close Monday night. The
general opinion is thst Governor Brady,
Republican, will be elected to succeed
himself by about 25.000. or a reduction
of his former majority of 2000.
His opponent. James H. Hawley,
Democrat. Is running on what Is re
garded as a "wet" ticket, while Brady
Is running on a "dry" ticket to the
extent of a promise to the people 'to
submit a constitutional amendment for
statewide prohibition.
On arconut of this Issue, party lines
are aomewhst dim.
HEAD
OF
CHEMiGA
L
CONCERN
CAUGHT
Dr. Stewart, Wanted in Van
couver, Wash., Is Arrested
in Vancouver, B. C.
COMPANY NOW BANKRUPT
Brief Career in Washington Town
Marked by Lavish Expenditures
and by Bills Unpaid Extra
dition Is Resisted.
VANCOUVER. Wash., Nov. . (Spe
cial.) Dr. Francis Stewart, who orgsn
ized the K. & 3. Chemical Company In
this city last year, with a capital stock
of $75,000. who three months ago left
hastily and who Is wanted here on
charges of grand larceny and embezzle
ment of $1600 from the firm, has been
apprehended In Vancouver, B. C. ac
cording to a telegram received today
from R. . O. Chamberlain, Chief Con
stable, by Sheriff Sapplngton.
Dr. Stewart will resist extradition.
Sheriff Sapplngton left tonight for
Olympla, Wash., to secure extradition
papers from Governor Hay. From
Olvmpla he will go to Vancouver, B. C.
When arrested In Vancouver, Dr.
Stewart was endeavoring to organize
another chemical company. Sheriff
Sapplngton had been in communication
with Chief Constable Chamberlain and
had Informed him that he suspected
that Dr. Stewart would try to organize
another company.
The K. & 8. Chemical Company, which
took commodious quarters In a large
business house at Fourth and Main
streets, here, apparently did a good
business for a time. Demonstrators of
the face lotions and toilet articles were
sent Into Washington, Oregon and
Idaho. Dr. Stewart persuaded several
Vancouver Investors to furnish money
to put the business on a paying basis,
taking $4000 In stock himself. For this
he is said never to have paid. He drew
a salary of $250 a month, and his wife,
"Madame Stewart." is said to have
drawn $150 a month.
They bought a house at Twentieth
and Main streets, and furnished It lav
ishly. The paper on the walls, which
was not paid for, cost $2 a roll.
The company was forced Into bank
ruptcy recently and E. M. Scanlon was
appointed receiver. An auction sale of
the stock of the Insolvent firm will be
held Thursday at the store and factory.
Mrs. Stewart has lived In Portland
since the disappearance of her husband.
She was arrested last Monday and
placed In the Portland Jail on the
charge of carrying away a trunk con
taining $150 worth of Indian laces and
silks, the property of a Hindu. He
had placed the trunk In the building
for safe keeping and had left the city.
When he returned and demanded his
property. It was found that the trunk
had been removed to Dr. Stewart's
home. She restored the ' trunk, the
Hindu received his laces and Madame
Stewart was released from Jail.
CITY IMPROVES RAPIDLY
Dayton, Wash., Has Banner Year
for Civic Betterments.
DAYTON, Wash., Nov. . (Special.)
In point of municipal Improvements this
la to be a banner year for Dayton. Esti
mates of the Council place the cost of
street improvements now under way and
completed at from $15,000 to $20,000. These
figures do not Include fiSOO expended In
improving the new city park and $3000
for routine Improvements.
This amount haa been expended chiefly
In regradlng, laying of hard-surface slde
.waika, sewer extensions, drainage and
park building. More than two miles of
new cvnent sidewalks are being com
pleted on First and Second streets. Work
on the new city park will be completed
next ar.
Apple Crop Doubles Estimate.
WHITE SALMON. Wash., Nov. .
(Special.) Where several orchardlsts
looked for one apple they have found
two. so productive were their young
trees. Superintendent Pyatt, of the
Glavls ranches looked for about 2500
boxes of Spits,' Newtowns, Oanos and
Ben Davis, but Is marketing over 4000
boxes. Mclnnes Bragg and Mr. Klng
stad. other large growers, report pro
duction exceeding estimate. As sgalnst
one lone car load of apples last year
out of the local station, three carloads
have already gone, and nine more will
be loaded. At Underwood nine cars
have been shipped so far.
Tax Collections Large.
OREGON CITT. Nov. 6. (Special.)
Tsxes have come Into the coffers of
Clackamas County more freely this
year than any time In the history of
the county. The total amount of the
assessment roll was $428,396.48, and
there has been turned over to the Coun
ty Tressurer $435,801.46. leaving 17.
404.98 delinquent. The Sheriff's office
haa more than $7000 on band, which
will be given to the Treasurer in a
few days, and the amount of the de-
Portland's Leading Furniture
and
Complete Homefurnishing Store
Tull
MORRISON AT SEVENTH
is, Inc. EASY PAYoENT TERMS
HOMEFURNISHERS
Raynier, Fownes and Dent Gloves Revillon Freres' Furs Kayser's Italian SilK Undergarments
A Special Offering of Beaofcif ul Gowns, Dresses and Flo
- Piece and 3 - Piece Tailored Suits Commences Today
IT'S THE PREMIER EVENT OF THE YEAR ANNO UNCED IN YESTERDAY'S PAPERS
The - Special Demonstration
By Mrs. L. C. Redding, Corset Expert, of New
York City, a announced yesterday, will continue
this week.
dart
ill? fc:fv
. Corsets
T J
; g(L:. "ine improveu
i"d&lsSsW Front Laced"
Are the standard of ex
cellence by which other
corsets "are judged. The
long, graceful, symmet
rical ' lines appeal to
women "who know how
to dress becomingly.
The best makers of
gowns and tailored
suits specify this Front
Laced Corset, as it's
beautiful habit back,
round bust, and perfect
hip lines insure smooth
fitting, correct style
gowns and suits.
Whether you are of
slender build or inclined
to stoutness, there is a
Modart model
for your figure. Ask our special corsetiere about it.
The Modart supports the entire .figure without com-
stino-msimisr features not
uitoaiuii uAiu --"-v ' n
found in any other corset.
mm m
i
Thanlksigiving Sale" of
DiningRoom Fornitore
Begins today in the Furniture Store.
Timely for those who contemplate furnish
ing or adding to the furnishings of the dining
room.
Prices lowered considerably on seven
patterns 'in buffets, in the golden oak and
fumed oak,
Seven patterns in china cabinets in the
golden oak and fumed oak,
Six patterns in dining tables in the golden
oak and fumed oak,
Several patterns
in dining chairs.
Convenient
Payments
SM1LV
e
er
Sets, Cot Glass, Silverware
in the Basement Store today and tomorrow.
Three patterns in English, semi-porcelain
sets of fifty pieces.
- Three in Austrian china 100 pieces.
In Erench Limoges china 100 pieces.
9 feet by
12 feet
Forty Fine Wilton Rogs
The most wonderful values in high-grade
Wilton rugs ever offered.
At $37, $50, $44, $50, $49, and $50.
Free Wall Paper This Un
paralleled Offer of Last
Week Continued for a Few Days More
Although the stock of 2000 rolls has been greatly re
duced, the variety remains unchanged.
And we wish to impress upon you the fact that these
are all high-class effects for sleeping-rooms and living
rooms worth from 50c to $1.50 per 8-yard roll.
All We Are Asking: Is Our Regular Charge for Hanging;.
This means that it will be done at a reasonable price--and
done right.
Bring in your room measurements height, breadth and
length, and select your paper.
I : i
llnquent tax Is only a few hundred
dollars.
Thanksgiving Services Planned.
VANCOUVER, Wash.. Nov. 6. (Spe
cial.) Union Thanksgiving services
will be held this year In St. Paul s Eng
lish Lutheran Church. . This was De
cided by a recenc meeting of the Evan
gelical ministers of Vancouver. The
pastor. Rev. Walter I. Eck. of the Lu
theran Church. Is seriously 111 In a hos
pital in Portland, so It is likely that
he will not be able to attend the union
services In his own church. Rev. J. T.
Merrill, of the United Brethren Church.
Is to preach the sermon. A union meet
ing is also planned to be held in the'
Presbyterian Church. December 8,
when Dr. Spencer S. Sulllger, superin
tendent of the Vancouver district of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, will
deliver a lecture on the World Mission
ary Conference, to which he was a dele
gate In Edinburg last June, 14-23.
Electricity to Operate Dairy.
WHITE .SALMON. Wash. Nov. 6.
(Special.) An electrically equipped
dairy farm 30 miles from the nearest
railway station is what the Trout Lake
district up at the base of Mount Adams
Is boasting. D. Witt, who owns 200 acres
in this section, and 30 head of cattle.
Is putting in a plant to operate his
cream separator, light the barns and
run a milking machine. All. his other
buildings will be lighted by the same
power.
Grants Pass Request Heard.
SALEM. Or., Nov. t. (Special.)
Representative Hawley has received
word from the Postoflce Department
that his request to establish a postal
savings depository at Grants Pass will
recel ire consideration by the department
board of trustees ss soon as possible.
m
PHOTOGRAPH OP REAL ESTATE DEALER MURDERED AND ROBBED AT SALEM, HIS WIPE, SIX SONS AND DAUGHTER.
-
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.
:
.ctnixr. rHo ieft to right, ipfxr bow-fraxk Roberts, er.et Roberts, mbs. r. s. LOWER
ROW TLA REME ROBERTS THE LATE MRS. J. R. ROBERTS. J. E. ROBERTS, MAW KILLED, A.1D WILLIAM ROBERTS.
y
John Ditchburn
Republican Nominee for
CIRCUIT JUDGE
DEPARTMENT NO. 5. ,
No. 58 on Ballot
Came to Oregon a sailor; mem
ber of Volunteer Life Boat Crew
at Ft. Canby; assisted in building
Tillamook Rock lighthouse; fish
erman and longshoreman ;
worked for Vincent Cook and
Louis Nicolai, and many others;
admitted to practice law in the
year 1888 ; practices in all the
courts of the States of Oregon
and Washington, and in the Uni
ted States courts.
Stands judicially for Speedy
Trials, Prompt Decisions, Equal
Rights of All before the Court.
Stands Politically for Direct
Primary, Statement No. 1, Com
plete Elimination of Boss Rule
from Politics, Opposed to Assem
blies. (PAID ADVERTISEMENT.)
Who Are
Kohler&Cfiase?
SEE PAGE 5.
What the Home Rule Bill
, (328) Really Is
It rives cities and towns the right to have saloons or no
saloons. It gives the people who live In cities the right to vote
on and decide this question themselves. It puts the control of
the liquor traffic Into the hands of the voters of each precinct,
so that every residential district in a city or town is protected.
It means real local option. All state criminal laws are main
tained. Under It the farmer has the same protection he now
enjoys. It Is a law fitted to local conditions as they actually
exist In every section of the state. It gives absolute control of
the liquor traffic, particularly In towns and cities, where It Is
most needed. It will prevent "the county from wiping; out the
city vote on city measures. It is a law which makes prohibi
tion possible where wanted, and Impossible where not wanted.
It means regulation which regulates.
It Means tnat the City Council Can NOT License
a Saloon in a District that Votes DRY
HERE IS ATTOnKEY-GEXERAL CRAWFORD'S OPIJtlONl
"This amendment would not exempt cities or towns from tha
operation of the constitution and criminal laws of Oregon. It
gives the people of the municipality the right to vote local op
tion within the municipality at any time they please, and when
the legal voters of the incorporation shall vote local option,
then the power ot the City Council o grant licenses Is sus
pended during the time that prohibition Is In force within the
CU(si'gned) "A. M. CRAWFORD.
"Attorney-General for Oregon."
Paid Advertisement.
THE NORTH COAST LIMITED
J Leaves Portland 7 P. M.
Via "The North Bank Road" (S. P. & S. Ry.) and Northern Pacific.
NO CHANGE NO DISCOMFORT NO DELAY
Local travel and local stops eliminated in the interest of time and
' comfort of through passengers.
Standard Sleeping Cars; Observation-Library-Buffet Car
Most Inviting Dining Car
Carries Standard Sleeping Car passengers for Spokane, Missoula,
Butte, Bozeman, Billings, Miles City, Fargo, East
ern Terminals and Beyond.
THE
THROUGH
SERVICE
or
SOLID
COMFORT
A CHRISTMAS EXCURSION TO EUROPEAN POINTS
Via "White Star Line from New York City and Portland, Me.
Throngh Tonrist Sleeping Cars From Coast to Coast
Starts November 26. No change of cars.
NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY
Ticket Office 255 Morrison Street, Portland.
A. D. Charlton, Asst. Gen. Pass. Agent,
Portland, Or.
r ii
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