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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 4, 1915)
VOL. LIT. SO. 16,883. PORTLAND, OREGON, MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 1915. PRICE FIVE CENTS. REAL SLAYER CLEARS PEiER Asylum Inmate Admits Wehrman Murders. LOCK OF HAIR IS CLEW John G. H. Sierks Confesses Killing Near Scappoose September 4, 1911. THACHER FINDS CRIMINAL Murderer Breaks Down When Closeted With Chaplain and Tells Story in Detail. SALEM, Or., Jan. 3. (Special.) A lock of his own hair, taken from the hand of one of Lis victims, who had fought desperately for her life, nd that of her child, held before his eyes, caused John G. H. Sierks, feeble-minded inmate of the State Insane Asylum, to confess tonight to the killing of Mrs. Daisy Wehrnian nd her little boy in their cabin, near Scappoose, the night of September 4, 1911. Thus, the authorities say, is John Arthur Pender, convicted of the crime and sentenced to bo hanged. proved guiltless. He will, it is be lieved, be freed by executive order iu a few days. Mr. Thacher Solves Case. Credit for solving this most heinous and most mysterious &f Oregon crimes belongs to George A. Thacher, criminologist of Portland. Once convinced that Pender was innocent he worked almost unceasingly in put' ting the threads of his evidence to gether. Finding in the insane asylum a man, who answered the mental description of the one he believed capable of committing the crime, he had little difficulty in bringing about its complete solution. There seems to be no doubt of the truth of Sierks' confession. While feeble-minded, he is capable of rea soning and seemed to understand thoroughly what was meant when he was asked to stand and take an oath to what he said. He signed the con fession with a bold hand and seemed much relieved thereafter. Chaplain Gets Confession. The first confession was wrung from the man, who is 25 years old, by Rev. VT. G. MarLaren, chaplain of the State Penitentiary, who had been working with Mr. Thacher and Superintendent Steiner, of the Asylum, upon the young man for several days. With a cunning developed highly in most criminals, Sierks evaded answers. Sometimes he appeared upon the verge of confessing and a second later would declare li had nothing to do with the crime. Mr. MacLaren, at the request of Mr. Thacher, had an interview with the man last Wednesday, lie partially admitted his guilt and then, to some extent, retracted "what he had said. The minister, however, was certain lie was on the right track and an other interview was arranged for to night. Sight of Hair Startles. Sierks was taken to the office of Superintendent Steiner. There were present besides Dr. Steiner, Mr. Thacher, Mr. MacLaren and Dr. L. F. Griffith, of the hospital staff. Asked about the crime Sierks refused to talk. Then it was decided that all leave the room but the minister and the suspect. What occurred between the two is told as follows by Mr. MacLaren. "I told John it wa? not right for him to keep silent when the freedom of another man was at stftvke. I ex plained that he had been the cause of another man's life almost being forfeited. He was cunning; he said be did not do it. I told him it would be better to tell all for it would come out before his maker some day. iCoadudd oa Fsj DRAFT DECLARED NEAR IN BRITAIN ELIGIBLE MEX XOT TO EXJOY EASE, SAYS XAVAL 3IA Rash to Colors Follows Addresses Delivered in Public by Wound ed Soldiers From Front. LONDON. Jan. 3. A hint that the British government contemplated the Introduction of conscription for. in creasins: the armr and navy was dropped by Thomas J. McNamara, Par liamentary Secretary of the Admiralty, while speaking at the Browning- Set tlement today. Referring to the fact that there were many thousands or young men in the United Kingdom without dependents who had not answered the call to the colors, Mr. McNamara said: "If they think they are going to en Joy a life of freedom at the other fel low's expense, they won't enjoy it much longer." The recruiting boom which began after the holidays continues. As the result of six open-air meetings at Car dlff. addressed by wounded soldiers, there was an extraordinary rush to the recruiting offices last night, and the recruiting officers were kept busy until an early hour this morning. At one meeting alone 6000 men bared the! heads when the national anthems of the allies were played. FOE MAKES FRIENDLY VISI Instead of Bombs, German Drops Greetings and Captives' Letters. DUNKIRK, France, Dec 26. A Ger man airman paid a visit to Dunkirk during Christmas week, but he dropped no bombs, only peaceful Christmas greetings. The hazardous trip from the German lines was undertaken at the request of a Prussian colonel, wh wanted to know where his son, killed at HoiBsons, was buried and the parcel of letters and cards which the aviator dropped Into the principal square of the city contained a letter asking for this information, together with letters from Beveral French airmen, prisoners n the hands of the Germans. The cards were signed by the aviator himself and bore the conventional greetings of the season, together with a message that he had been led to under take the mission by bis admiration for the gallantry of the captured French airmen. GET BUSY, EDISON SAYS Inventor Says It Is Time for United States to Go Ahead. WEST ORANGE, N. J., Jan. 3. (Spe cial.) Thomas A. Edison, the invent or. predicted today that 1915 will be i most prosperous year. He said: "Now is the time for the United States to go ahead. We can manufac ture cheaper today than in many years to come. However, many of our best business men seem to be penny wise and pound foolish. I am surprised that commercial and Industrial America has been affected with a form of par alysis. evidently as the result of the war In Europe. This is all due, how ever, to unnecessary alarm." Speaking of the European war, Edl son said: "If the Germans went into this war in- the belief that the French and Eng lish were decadent people they have made) a serious mistake." ENGLISH PRAY FOR VICTORY Irish, However, Take "o Part British Sen-ices in Rome. In ROME, Jan. 8 Special prayers were said today in all the English churches n Italy for the ultimate victory of the Triple Entente nations. In the chapel of the English college, Cardinal Uasquet and the new British Minister to the Vatican Sir Henry Howard were among those who par ticipated in the communion service. Their action was in striking contrast to that of the members of the British Embassy to the Qulrlnal. none of whom is present at any service. It also was remarked that the rector and the vice-rector of the Insn college did not participate in the service or attend the reception given by Cardinal Gaaquet in honor of Sir Henry Howard. NEW BOOK BY HOFER OUT 'Jesus and the Unemployed" Is Title Taken by Salem Writer. SALEM, Or, Jan. . (Special.) 'Jesus and the Unemployed" is the subject of a booklet by Colonel E. Hofer. of this city, which has Just been published. The writer forsees revolution of the unemployed if something is not done to avert it and suggests, as a remedy, adherence to the teachings of the Savior. Calling attention to the work of Jesus among the poor. Colonel Hoter says he reread the New Testament in order that he might be better pre pared to present the only remedy for the revolution that threatened. The booklet is dedicated to "All ye that labor and are heavy laden." AUSTRIA EXECUTES EDITOR Seditious Speech Leads to Condem nation, Says Report. LONDON, Jan. 4. Reuter's Amster dam correspondent transmitted a dis patch received there from Vienna, which says that a newspaper editor, Joseph. YoteU of Prossnitz, Moravia, was condemned to death by court martial for a seditious speech. He was executed two hours after sentence was passed. , GERMANS WILL WIN SAYS CHANCELLOR Nation'sConfidenceDe dared Unabated. SORROW FELT FOR BELGIANS British Policy Held. Chiefly to ; Hamper Neutrals. FATHERLAND IS PREPARED Von Bethmann-Hollweg Tells Cor respondent His People Cherish No Hatred for France Brit ain Blamed lor War. BERLIN,, Dec 14. (Correspondence of the Associated Press.) The Imperial chancellor Herr Von Bethmann-Holl weg, received a correspondent of the Associated Press today and discussed the Belgian relief situation, the ques tion of contraband, the way In wfyich Industrial Germany has adapted her self to war conditions, the sentiment of Germany toward her enemies and toward America, and the responsibility for the war, which he attributed to Great Britain. Hatred of French Denied. . 'I did not want this war. was one of his phrases, given with striking emphasis. "We Germans do not cherish hate." was another,' occurring in discussion of the attitude of the Ger mans toward the French soldiers and people. Four months and a half of war have not passed lightly over the chancellor. In his uniform of Lieutenant-General, with grizzled, close-cropped beard, and Iron crosses of the first and second class, he seemed much older than the scholarly, frock coated statesman of relchstag debates. Face and eyes showed signs of the strain of the past few months. Confidence in Victory Felt, He spoke with confidence of ultimate German victory, although a weary, ex pressive shrug of the shoulders was his answer to a query as to the possible duration of the war. The Chancellor had only that day received word that his son, a young cavalry lieutenant, had been badly wounded and captured n Poland by the Russians, but of this he made no mention when declaring that the situation on' the eastern front appeared to be favorable. The Interview took place In the re ception room of the historic Chancellor mansion in the Wilhelmstrasse, around which cluster memories of Bismarck, Caprivi, Hobenlohe and Buelow. Full Reports to Be Issued. The conversation turned first to news conditions and the dlffieulties of pre senting the German Bide of the situa- (Concluded on Page 2.) WHEN IT COMES r , zr n - V TASK I " I ' " . INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 45 degrees; minimum. 39 degrees. TODAY'S Light rain; winds mostly south westerly. War. Von Bethmann-Hollweg says Germany is confident of winning. Page 1. Germans again fall with heavy losses on Bxura In Russia. Page 1. Early conscription in Great Britain hinted by Admiralty official. Page 1. Polish forest burned by daring volunteers to aid Germans In dnvlns Russians out. Faxa a. Henry James makes appeal for Sid for American Motor Ambulance Corps In France. Page 2. General von Buelow consented massacre of Belgian citizens, says investigators. Pace a. Allies' offensive movement stayed by .in cessant rains. Page '2. National. Amorlrnn nnsltion toward contraband Slml' lar to that of Great Britain In Russo- Japanese war. Page 3. Domestic. nerimenta with MycholOffT of death in commitUne suicide. Pare 2. Secretary McAdoo ays unexampled era of commercial prosperity la aawmu. Page 1. Sport. Fielder Jones predicts failure of Salt Lake Coast League ujud in year, race o. Je&s Willard Is listed as-only real white hope with chance te defeat Johnson. rg Coast League heads will olve problems to day. Page 8. Portland bowlers defeat Corvallls team, Page 8. y PaeLfle Northwest. Four votes deadlock Idaho .Republican caucus on Speakership. Page o. Insane Asylum Inmate confesses murder of Mrs. Wehrman and cnua, or. wnicn aer was convicted. Page 1. Miss Birdie Moser. Vancouver nurse, praises supposed leader of auto thieves killed in San Francisco. Page 4. Woman selected for Senate vacancy by Gov ernor West. Page &. Portland and Vicinity. Mrs. A. C. Cook blames temporary derange ment for husband's suicide at oru street bridge. Page 16. Glee abounds In new films at moving-pic ture theaters. Page 10. Demand for vessels brisk and business profit able. Page v. Symphony orchestra concert wins plaudits of music-lovers, page 7. "The Blindness of Virtue" proves to be sen sation at Baker Theater. Page 10. Company plans big warehouse to handle Pacific Northwest wool cup. page o. fleore-e A. Thacher analyzes Sierks, con leased murderer or Mrs. uaisy nearmiui and child. Page 4. Bishop Cooke's order prevents announced sermon by ur. Clarence xrue wuson. Page 0. Touthful automobile robbers hold up girl and escape with purse. Page 1. New county officials In office today name deputies. Page 4. Weather report, data and forecast. Page 10. GOLTZ PRAISES OTTOMANS German Commander Confident of Turkish Empire's Future. BERLIN, Jan. 3. (By wireless to Sayville, N. T.) The Official Press Bu reau says that the Taninf, a Constanti nople newspaper; publlshesr aa -Inter view with the German field marshal, Kolmar von der Goltz, military com mandant of Constantinople and acting Turkish Minister of War, who expresses confidence over the outlook for Turkey. In the Interview Field Marshal von der Goltz declares the Turkish army has made great progress since his last visit to Constantinople. Raiders Hit, Say Germans. BERLIN. Jan. 8. (By Wireless to Sayville, N. Y.) The newspapers here profess to have received information that the English In their recent raid on Cuxhaven did absolutely no dam age. It is believed that four of the English aeroplanes were lost; that the cruser Arethusa was badly damaged and another cruiser somewhat dam aged by German bombs. TO WATER WA30NS, THE RUSSIANS CAN GO SOME. ,1100 SAYS GOOD TIES HOE AT POOR Money Situation Best Since 1907. ENHANCED CAPITAL WAITING Secretary Says Financial In dependence Is Assured. NEW EXPANSION PROBABLE Greatest Commercial Prosperity Nation Ever Has Known De clared to Be Imminent as Commence Is Restored. SAN FKAJsCISCO, Jan. 3. (Special.) Secretary M'Adoo, who arrived here tonight from San Diego, declared that money conditions throughout the coun - tr w.r nnn f.nr. thn thev had been at any time since 1907, The Secretary said he saw H obstacle to the further expansion or the Nation's ' industrial and commer cial interests this year and In the years following the European war. He expressed the conviction that the near future would witness the great est commercial prosperity the country had ever known. He believed, he said, that the tendency that had been noted on the part of business men generally to economize and act with extreme prudence in new ventures was rapidly passing. Insurance Given Against Panic. In this greater confidence of bus iness the Secretary sees the immedi ate effect "of the Federal reserve banks and the new currency system. He expressed the view that entirely aside from the function of the new reserve banks in rediscounting commercial paper, they had already accomplished a fundamental change for the better in the assurance they had brought to business confidence, which he con slderea -an--InsTfrance' J against the possiblity of recurring panics. The freedom of commerce from such periods of financial alarm the Secre tary said he considered the most Ira portant result of the new banking system. Gold Reserves Liberated. While he deprecated the Idea that the Federal reserve banss were to ac complish great constructive develop ment immediately, such as the sudden transformation of arid land into bear ing orchards, and similar develop ment along Industrial lines, and while he insisted that the chief function of the new system had been rather to remove the artificial restrictions and give freedom for the continued normal expansion of trade, he said be con- sidered that the Nation was entering (Concluded on Pago 5.) BOY AUTO ROBBERS TAKE GIRL'S PURSE VICTIM HELD IT AT TWENTY SECOND AND OVERTON. Youth Jumps From Car, Snatches Bag Holding $10, Gets Aboard Again and Car Races Off. Two youthful automobile robbers held up Miss Rose Paukner last night near Twenty-second and Overton streets and escaped with a silveV mesh purse containing $10. The robbery took place just after Miss Paukner had left a streetcar to go to her home at Twenty-first and Overton streets. Miss Paukner got off a Twenty-talrd street car at Overton street about 11 o'clock and walked along Overton street to Twenty-second street. As she neared the corner, a small automobile approached in Twenty-second street. It stopped at the curb. A well-dressed boy was driving the ma chine and another, about 18 years old. Jumped from it and accosted Miss Paukner. "I'll shoot if you scream," he said, Miss Paukner screamed, anyway. The boy snatched her purse and jumped back into the car, which sped off down Twenty-second street. Miss Paukner ran to a nearby house. From here she telephoned the police. Detectives Hellyer and Tackaberry short time later arrested two boys rid' ing i a email car after an exciting chase for several miles, but Miss Pauk- ner failed to identify them, and they 1 expiaineo. meir nignt satisiactoriiy. 1 ney were released 700 MEN TO RESUME WORK Sawmills Keopen at Everett to Fill Foreign Orders. EVERETT, Wash., Jan. 3. Two lum ber mills, employing a total of TOO men, will resume work tomorrow, and a third, employing- 200 more, will start up January 15, it was announced to day. Liarge foreign orders and improve ment in the Eastern market are given as the reason. Sunday's War Moves ROM Petrograd it is announced that the Russians have successfully re pulsed the Germans on the Bzilra and Rawka rivers, while military experts sav the Invaders have definitely failed in the campaign against Warsaw and consider that the prolonged battle of the four rivers (Bzura, Rawka, Nida and Pilica) has ended with the Russian lines intact, necessitating a complete change in the plans of Field Marshal von Hindenburg. The Germans have captuied th important Russian position of Bor Jimow. but elsewhere they have been unable to make headway against the Russians, who as defenders of well fortified positions, are aided by the we weather and muddy roads, which bin der the German movements. The Austrians say they have checked the Russian advance near Gorllce, on the South Galician Railway, west of Jaslo, but apparently the battle here has not yet been concluded. The Russians, on the other hand have taken the Austrian positions nea Uzsok Pass, which should open anothe entrance for them through the Car pathians into Hungary, while the Aus trian retreat in Bukowina is described by the Russians as a rout. The Turks have crossed the Russian border in the Caucassus, and according to their own account have defeated the Russian garrison at Ardahaa. They are however, displaying anxiety for their remaining possessions in Europe by feverishly fortifying the whole coast line. What they fear is not disclosed, for it is considered hardly possible for the allies to land a sufficient force to prove a menace to them. It is possible that they anticipate an invasion from another source. Indications point to the possibility that the Balkan states, which are now neutral, may take a hand in the war. The Greek Minister of Finance has declared that Greece is making prep arations to maintain the new terrl tories which she gained in the Balkan wars from Turkey and Bulgaria, but that she has more to fear from Bui garia than from Turkey. It is not thought that Roumanla can look on calmly while the Russians are advanc ing toward Transylvania, and It la ex pected that she will Join with Russia and try to secure the much coveted eastern province of Austria-Hungary. The extremely rainy Winter, the worst Europe has experienced in years, causing floods in the rivers and valleys of the Continent, as well those of England, haa prevented any operations on a large scale on the western battle front and has seriously interfered with those in the east. There have been heavy artillery en' gagements from the sea to the Swiss border and occasional attacks by the infantry of the opposing armies, which. when not repulsed, have added a few yards to the territory in the possession of the attacking force but have al ways proved costly adventures. The French have gained a little ground between Albert and Roye, Just north of the point where the line turns eastward, and to the east of Rheims and southwest of Verdun, where the attempts to make the German positions at St. Mihiel, on the Meuse, untenable, are proceeding slowly. Throughout the British Empire and in the English churches In foreign countries intercession services were held yesterday for the success of the lilies' arms. Many of the sermons em bodied exhortations to the young men to join the army. King George attended services In the village church at Sand- ringham. GERMANS AGAIN FAIL WITH HEAVY LOSSES Long. Battle of Rivers Is Believed Ended. CZAR'S LINES ARE UNBROKEN Austrians Evacuate Bukowina and Inhabitants Flee. BERLIN PLANS ALL UPSET. New Movements fnder Way Are B Ileved Designed to Tako Ivan gorod and Xouo Goorglc vesk, and Not Warsaw. LONDON, Jan. 4 Complete failure f the German campaign of the Four Rivers which has constituted a long series of battles on the Bxura, Rawka, Pilica and Nida, with heavy looses. Is reported in dispatches received late Sunday night irom Petrograd. They contradict the Berlin contention, re ceived early Sunday, that th German advance Is progressing. Austrian reports of a repulse of th Russians in Gallcia are also contra dicted by the Petrograd dispatches. Ha tile Believed Ended. A Tetrograd dispatch to Reuters Telegram Company says: "In the opinion of experts here, the battle ot the four rivers, as the long series of engagements on the Bzura. Rawka, Pilica and Nida is popularly known, may be considered ended. "Not only have the Germans and Austrians failed to advance on the Russian north and south line, roughly lying from the VlBtula to Warsaw, Kiulce and rincsow, but everywhere have been repulsed with heavy losses and the attacks now proceeding may be construed as an effort to gain tlmj pending new operations. "By the occupation of Krcmens. Ze tcten, Screth and Kadmits, In Buko wina on the Roumanlun frontier, Rus sia not only holds th strategical rail way line concctlng Bukowina with WeBtern Gallcia and Hungary, but Is within 100 mllca of Hungary over easy passes of th wooded Carpathians. 30,000 Inhabitant rice. "The Bourse Gaxette Moscow corre spondent asserts that the Austrians ar evacuating Bukowina and that mor than 30.000 panic-stricken Inhabitant of Bukowina and Transylvania hav fled Into Roumanla. "Three Austrian aeroplanes droDDed ten bombs on Klelc. hav Th damage is not known." The Petrograd War Office announced last night that the attempted sur prise attacks of the Germans failed completely. Their Infantry enarge were for the first tim accompanied ojr a shower of bombs, but th Russian stood their ground unshaken in in trenches. A strong Austro-German force had made an even more furious attack on the Russians holding th rod to Keilce. They succeeded in noioing some of the Russian trenches for a few hours, but in the afternoon Russian In fantry rushed at them with the bayonet and the enemy was driven far back along th southwost road. Nln gun (Concluded on l'sg .) reopexiku of cars hoi's is tangible: kviokkce ok 1'KOGRKSS In accordance with general or ders to reopen all of the large Southern Paolflo shops In th western division, between 00 and 400 men, who were laid off at the Brooklyn carsliopa In Southeast Portland December 7. when general retrenchment or ders went Into effect, will return to work this morning. By resson of the orders approximately 8000 men will be given employment again, beginning today. The employes affected in th local shops Include carpenters, repairmen, machinists, mechanics, bollermakers and all others en gaged in the general repair of locomotives and cars, which has not been attempted since th re trenchment Most of them ar men of families who need steady employment, and the schedule of five days a week of eight hours each will glv them practically full pay. The shops at Han Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Tucson, Dunsmulr, Bakersfietd. Sparks and Ogden will also be re opened today. "The order to put th men t work tomorrow Is encouraging," said Frank L. Burckhalter, divi sion superintendent of th South ern Pacific Company, last night. "I certainly hope th company will be, Justified In continuing the operation of all shops. "The employment of 100 men In a single duy by on company is one of the signs of Improv ing times and should help to dls-. pel the spirit of pessimism that has been afloat.' - X im io7.o