the morjctng oregojtcan "fkxdat, jaxttary s, iois.
13
i i -. . - - .. i . ;
mi,
LAWYERS DISAGREE
OVER SIERKS CASE
Columbia Prosecutor Does Not
Believe Confession, but Oth
ers Say It Is True.
THIRD DEGREE NOT USED
District Attorney Willard Say All
Acted In Good Faith in Getting
Half-Wit's Admission In
vestigation to Proceed.
Declaring that the confession of John
G. II. Sierks is untrue, but was made
without undue pressure and announcing
himself as confident of the entire good
faith of all who had a part in obtain
ing the confession. W. B. Dlllard. Dis
trict Attorney of Columbia County,
passed through Portland yesterday on
bla return from Salem. The father of
young Sierks also returned from his
visit to his son at the Insane asylum
and passed some time in Portland on
his way to his home in Scappoose.
Roscoe P. Hurst, attorney for the
Prisoners" Aid Society, cited his rea
sons for his belief that the confession
f Sierks la. in the main, true and pre
dicted that the young man will again
Tow his gul!t-
Slcrka Meatallty Sorprlaea.
"Sierks is of a higher degree men
tally than I thought." said Mr. Hurst
'and he is also more vicious than I
expected to find him. He recalls dates
well and in a few subjects is appar
ently quite keen. He remembers the
time he worked at various places and
In many things seems as keen as any
one. "The story he told of the Wehrman
murders Indicates that he must hav(
participated tn them to know the de
tails as he does.- Ha did not attend
either the Coroner's Inquest or the
trials of Pender and had no means of
learning some of the facts he recounts
in any other way. because they were
not printed. In retracting his confes
sion he said he made up the story as
he went along and the impulse cam
to him about two seconds before h
told the tale. I do not believe he has
Intellect enough to have done that,
t'oafesaioa Ia Believed.
"When asked why he made the con
fession. he told me his conscience hurt
him. I asked him why. if it were not
true that he did it. he should feel any
remorse. But be was unable to reason
any further and could give no satisfac
lory answer.
"I have come to the conclusion tha
Clerks, in the essential part of hi;
story, told the 'truth, but as to detaili
he is as far off as one might expect
him to be. The things that were Ira
pressed upon him most forcibly, natur
ally, were those that took place lnsid
the cabin and in these particulars his
story tallies exactly with the evidence
in the case. I questioned him closely
'on one detail and he said he read it in a
newspaper, the Ht. Helens Allst. I very
much doubt it. but will have it looked
up. If this incident was not printed
It will show that he ha a guilty knowl
edge of the circumstance.
Farmer Deeaard Mistakes.
-My belief Is that he left the Schmidt
farm near Hillsboro. where he was em
ployed at the time of the murder, much
earlier in the day than he said In his
confession, and possibly was away all
night. Mr. Jchmldt says Sierks was
at the farm, both In the evening of
Monday. September 4. 1911. and the next
morning, but I am Inclined to believe
he may be mistaken in this. There
was nothing, probably, to fix the sub
ject in his mind as to that particular
date".
District Attorney Plllard does not be
lieve the Sierks confession, although he
has not the slightest fault to find with
those who obtained It and says he is
confident no third-degree methods were
mnloved. Mr. Dlllard has a fixed con
vl.tlon that Pender is guilty of the
erltne.
Attorney Keynelle H. G. Cornish will
ask Governor Went today for an oppor
tunity to present a petition for the par
don of John A. Pender, who is serving
life sentence In the penitentiary for
the Wenrman murders. If the Gover
nor will hear him he will go to Salem
wiihm the next few days and make
howtng on behalf of the convicted
man. should the request for a par
don for Pender fail, one recourse is
left, to brliur a habeas corpus proceed
In alleetnir that because the anti-
cAttital Duniihment amendment con
tains no saving clause for persons al
ready under conviction. Pender Is held
In prison without legal authority.
Peader Uiita Vindication.
Tcnder.lt I ' bdWwd. would refuse
tih advantage of such a writ. It
Is understood from those who know his
ttitu.l that he does not want to
ecape prison on a technicality, but will
Insist upon a complete Tiimirnuun.
-I mm more and more convinced from
ih. iiiLmirnl of SU:tks" father as to
the vicious and criminal acts of his son
that tne youns ni w p'j.
iii..rnn Cornish, 'So far as known,
tiuinc Sierks was the only one In the
neighborhood who was capable of hav
ing commuted such an atrocious crime.
"Our Investigation of the Sierks story
will go on. The case will not be al
lowed to drop. We will go as far as
wr are abie with It. It seems
,! reasonable explanation of
Vehrman murders that has
advanced."
Pender's house Instead of his tent
bis confession."
This is said to tend to clear one of
the points that seemed to stamp the
Sierks confession as false, as it was
thought Incredible that Sierks would
have thrown the hammer into the Pen
der tent, which was lighted, according
to the testimony of Pender at the trial.
"There were several speeders at
Scappoose." said Mr. Farrls. "There was
always one alongside the Northern
Pacific tracks at the crossing of the
Chapman Timber Company's road, and
this one I used at any time I wished.
No doubt others could have used it
and did use it also.
"After the murder I made the Sierks
family an early visit and I noticed
that the elder Elerks became nervous
at once. I tried to speak with the
mother alone, but her husband insist
ed that he assist me, explaining that
she was partly deaf. He did the talk-
PORTLAD GIRL I STAR Of
flL,X DRAMA SOW AT SIX
SET THEATER.
' , ,5 J " J J
it
Miss Rhea Mitchell.
Miss Rhea Mitchell, a Portland
girl, now a motion-picture star,
is appearing in a two-reel drama
at the Sunset Theater. The film
will be at the Sunset for the rest
of the week.
Miss Mitchell formerly was
with the Baker Players.
the
the
yet been
SIEKKS SUSPECTED KAIU.Y
v.,rmi-r rinkerton netcvtlve Says
l'art of Confcwlon Sustained.
Grave suspicion against John G. H.
Plerk for the YVehrman murders was
felt at the time of the double killing,
declares L. K. Farrls, of Bridal Veil,
formerly a Plnkerton detective, who
worked for some time on the case. He
was employed by James K. Pender,
father of the convicted man. In October.
111. The murders were committed in
September.
Mr. Karris substantiated parts ef
SlerkV confession yesterday, notably
th detail of the hammer with one
claw, which Sierks says he used to pry
open the trunk In Kiley and Hanson's
rsl.in. thus obtaining the revolver with
which he said he did the shooting.
Jatrr. he said, he threw this hammer
Intn the tent where Pender lay asleep.
"There was a hammer with a broken
claw, in fact there were two hammers
at and near the place where the re
volver was purported to have been
stolen." said Mr. Karris. "One was
Introduced as evidence and was ruled
out by Judge Campbell at the tlrst trial
and was admitted In the second trial.
This was found, or planted, on the table
In Rtley and Hanson's cabin.
"The hammer with the broken .claw,
the one John Sierks admitted In his
confession he had used, was found In
the new house that Pender was buiUl
Ing for George Sclinitxer. The new
house is Jut across the road from the
Kiley ar.d Hanson cabin and about half
way between that and the Pender tent.
"The new house was generally known
aa Pender's house and there Is no doubt
In my mind that John Sierks meant
Ing for her and she. only talked when
he told her what to say. I at that
time suspected that he thought or
knew his son had murdered the Wehr-
mans and was trying to lay the blame
n Pender, as Fender had been ar
rested and Sierks did not like him
anywav because of the shooting of the
dog and other Incidents that have been
brought out."
Mr. Farris said he confided his sus
picion of vounar Sierks to James r.
Pender and that Mr. Pender told him
ho would wait until after the trial
and then investigate it. Following the
end of the case Mr. Farris too a long
trip away from Oregon and on his re
turn the elder renaer nan men. n.
Farrls left the Plnkerton employ and
an Investigation of the young mans
movements at the time of the murders
was not made.
STORY TO BE INVESTIGATED
Prison Superintendent to Probe
Case at Murder Scene.
S.VLEM. Or.. Jan. 7. (Special.) Su
perintendent Lawson. of tne -ennen-tlary.
said today tnat he would go to
Columbia County In a few days to
make an investigation of John G. H.
Sierks" confession of the killing of Mrs.
Daisy Wehrman and child near Scap
poose September 4. 1911. Although the
young man. an inmate of the Insane
. nniiiitAd the confession, the
authorities are not convinced that he Is
innocent of the crime, mu
Lawson will so if he can learn any
thing in substantiation of the story.
He will not be accompanieu uj
when he goes to Columbia County and
so far as is known will make the in
quiry alone.
Trt has announced that
he will have nothing further to do with
the case and will leave it to Dr. VI ithy
combe, his successor, to determine
whether John A. renaer. tunn-i.u
the crime, should be pardoned.
HO CLUB TALENT IS OUT
REHEARSALS FOR 1913 SATIRE" AT
BAKER THURSDAY BEGUN.
Conception of Peculiarities of Well-
Kaowa Musical Director to Be
by W. D. Wkltcemb.
Six different riot alarms were turned
n from the vicinity of the Commercial
Club building last night, but after the
first had called Chief Clark ana a crew
of guardians of the peace to the scene.
the desk sergeant at neaaquaners was
nstructed to advise all residents of
the ncighborhod that there was no real
danger to be encountered.
It was only the seven acts lor tne
Ad Club "1915 Satire" rehearsing.
Everv fellow in attendance had dis
covered some Idlosyncracy of some
:
W. U. Wkitromb. Who Will Lead Or-
rkeetra tu "Getting an the ttrewJt,"
Doesn't Kaow Thins About Music.
conception of the peculiarities of ar
rominent citiien ana was ciamjriijK
have it lampooned at the old tsaKer
Theater next Thursday night.
No professional talent win De se
cured for this performance, except the
cknowledged tnespian aDinty oi
George L. Baker. The entire bill will
be made up or men wno are especially
well-known In Portland. Tne -reci
tation" by G. A. Benedict, and tne
well-known musical director, as It will
be rendered by W. D. Whitcomb. are
nnvrh to start a leak in a rain bar
rel thnt has been dry for 10 years. Mr.
Benedict is "some reciter.
Your Purchase Is Not Complete Until You Receive Your Green Stamps Always Ask for Them!
Stamps Wilt Be Given on All Charge Accounts if Paid in Full On or Before the 10th of Each Month
Principal
Portland Agents for
Nemo, Eien Jolie,
Gossard Lace-Front,
Bon Ton and Royal
Worcester Corsets.
Monarch and Derby
Kid Gloves.
OldSyWortman & King
Reliable Merchandise Reliable Methods
Pacific Phone Marshall 4800
Home Phone A 6231
Bst Booms,
Public Telephones,
Reading Room,
Retiring Rooms,
Emergency HotpiUl,
Etc. on 2d Floor.
Shoe Shining la
the Basement.
3 7mA nnualClearanceSale
Special Price Reductions Throughout All Departments Groceries Only Excepted
Women's $40 Suits
$998
An Extraordinary
x Offering
Second Floor To effect a speedy
clearance of 188 Suits we have priced
them far below cost of production.
Splendid assortment of the season's
best stylea, including many with short
box coats, also belted and Norfolk
models. Yoke or tnnio skirts. Ma
terials include cheviots, serges, diag
onals, Bedford cords, matelasse, etc.
CLEARANCE 1ZZ4- W 7 A lists
ni? WOMEN'S Jt..f &fti- J M llitZM IVtUI
Bargain Circle Main Floor
Dependable makes in Women's Knit Underwear de
cidedly underpneed. supply your needs now.
Women's $1.00 Black Swiss Ribbed Tights, pr,
Women's $1.50 Blk Swiss Ribbed Union Suits
Women's $1.00 Lisle Vests and Pants, now at
Women's $1.00 Ribbed Union Suits, now at
Women's $2.00 Ribbed Union Suits, now at.S
Women's $2.25 Ontsize Union Suits, now at. 5
654
654
794
1.39
1.19
Clearance Sale
Umbrellas
Main Floor Our entire line of
women's Umbrellas in the Clear
ance at greatly reduced prioea now.
Women's $2.50 Umbrellas 91.95
Women's $3.50 Umbrellas JP2.95
Women's $5.00 Umbrellas $3.95
$5.50 and $6.00 Umbrellas $-1.95
$8.50 to $19.50 Umbrellas 1-3 Off
Black and good range of colors. Suits
worth np to $40.00
Clearance price only
$9.98
$18.50 Coats
Second Floor Clearance of women's and
misses' Coats only one or two of a kind
selected from onr regular stock. Smart
Winter models in and lengths. Some
in long waist line cuts, others in flare skirt
and belted effects. Plain colors, plaids and
mixtures. Coats in this lot
worth to $18.50. Clearance
$7.49
Boys9 $5 Suits
$3.95
Main Floor Strictly main-tailored
from the very newest woolen fab
rics.1 Smart Norfolks and fancy
plaits. All sizes for boys 6 to 17
years of age. , Beautiful patterns.
$ 5.00 Right-Posture Suits $3.95
$ 7.50 Right-Posture Suits $5.65
$ 8.50 Right-Posture Suits $6.35
$10.00 Eight-Posture Suits $7.45
$12.50 Right-Posture Suits $9.35
$15 Right-Posture Suits $11.25
FREE Pair of Indian Clubs with
each Boy's Right-Posture Suit sold.
Boys' Mackinaw s
Reduced
Beautiful new patterns and very
latest stvles. Good range sizes.
Boys' $ 5'.00 Mackinaws at $3.95
Boys' $ 6.50 Mackinaws at 84.87
Boys' $ 7.50 Mackinaws at $5.65
Boys' $ 8.50 Mackinaws at $6.37
Boys' $10.00 Mackinaws at $7.45
Boys' Hats V2 Price
This includes all children's hats,
selling heretofore at $1.00 up to
$5.00. Very latest styles in the lot.
Clearance of Men's Shirts
$1.50 Shirts $1.15
$2.50 Shirts $1.85
Main Floor Hundreds of men wait
for our Annual Clearance and buy
Shirts enough to last them throughout
the season. Not only are the prices
extremely low, but, ' more important
still, the sale includes our best reg
ular stock lines (and. not odd lots)
such as many stores put forward dur
ing January Clearance. Every wanted
style and material in plain or plaited
effects, with soft or starched cuffs.
White Shirts are not included in
the Clearance Sale. Supply your needs.
Mens $1.50 Shirts at $1.15
Men's $2.00 Shirts at $1.35
Mens $2.50 Shirts at $1.85
m ft)
T??ce Men's Underwear
$5 Shoes
$2.95
Main Floor Broken lines in Wom
en's Fine Shoes, in patent, vici.
dull calf and other leathers. All
up-to-date lasts. Standard $4.00
and $5.00 grades. 2JO QtT
Special, the pair, at P
$5 and $6 Shoes
At $3.85
Main Floor Regular lines in all
sizes and widths. Latest shapes,
heels and toppings, in all wanted
leathers. Reg. $4.50, Of
$5 and $6 Shoes, pair P
$5 Evening Slippers
$3.59
Main Floor Women's dainty
Evening Slippers in Colonials,
Pumps and "Countess" strap ef
fects. Standard $4 CO CZQ
and $5 grades. Pair
Menfs $5 Shoes $3.85
Main Floor Large assortment of
styles in patent, dull calf, vici kid
and tan calf $4.50 fiJO OT
and $5 Shoes. Pair
1 000 Drapery Remnants
Pieces Worth Up
ZfZZZZZ 19c Each
Bargain Circle, Main Floor Odds and ends and remnant pieces of
Cretonnes, Scrims, Voiles, Marquisettes, Swisses, etc., suitable for all
kinds of draperies and fancywork. Worth up to 50c. Clearance, 194
$1.75 Fancy Pillows Choice 98c
Bargain Circle, Main Floor Clearance of Fancy Pillows in scores of
shapes and sizes. Covered with fine quality silkolines, in beautiful
?atterns and colorings. Fancy Pillows worth up to $1.75. 0
'riced for quick' disposal at your choice for only
$1.50 Stuttgarter Shirts, Drawers $1.19
$6.00 Stuttgarter Union Suits $3.95
Main Floor Our entire stock of Men's "Stuttgarter" Natural Sani-,
tary Wool underwear raaicany reaucea ior quick oiposai. inn it
a remarkable bargain don't fail to take advantage of it.
$1.50 Shirts and Drawers, $1.19 II $5 and $6 Union Suits at $3.95
$3.00 Shirts and Drawers, $1.95 It Ask for "S. & H." Green Stampt
Men's $1.50 Fancy Caps, Choice 98c
Mens Velour HatsJfr Price
Main Floor Men's and yonng
men's fancy imported and do
mestic Caps. Choice oiQUm
Main Floor Men's Velour IlaU,
in grays, black and browns.
Mostly all sizes. O-vir s?
5 models. $1.50 grades - $o-$7.50 grades
Men's $2.00 and $3.00 Soft Hats, mostly in colors, Clearance, $1.00
Men's 25c Cashmere Hose, 3 Pair 50c
Men's 35c Cashmere Hose 25c
Main Floor 1000 pairs Men's
Cashmere Hose in good range of
colors, 25c grade, 194 CZflf
pair; three pairs for -"-''
Main Floor Men's fine quality
Black Cashmere Hose in full as
sortment of size". Reg. OCT
35o quality. The pair"-"-''
Home Journal Patterns
for February Now Ready at
the Pattern Counter.
Ask for a Free Copy of "Good
Dressing" Magazine for February.
70c OWK Butter
60c Sq.
F6urth Floor Received fresh
daily. No deliveries except
with other purchases made in
the grocery department. Two-
pound square univ f
tnr - v
Riif.ter t o d a V
Queen Lil Sliced Haw- l
Annual Clearance Sale
Cut Glass, Dinnerware
Third Floor Splendid reductions are now in force, affording econo
mies thrifty buyers should not overlook. Cut Glass reduced Dinner
ware reduced Fancy China reduced Nickel-Plated and Copper
Ware reduced Silverware reduced Electric Portables reduced
Andirons reduced Kitchen needs reduced Clocks, Statuary reduced.
Complete Line Mazda Electric Lamps
40-watt Mazda Electric Lamps, clear globe, priced, each, only 304
60-watt Mazda Electric Lamps, clear globe, priced, each, only 404
100-watt Mazda Electric Lamps, clear globe, priced, each, only 704
A complete assortment of alj sizes, with plain or frosted globes.
Basement fttfAvnQ. 'fflii1armiMs1ilQ
A Big Sale for Little People Wonderful Bargains
Basement Children's and Misses' Dainty
Undermuslins, cut full and .correctly sized.
Made in sanitary factories, insuring clean,
honest merchandise. Five thousand pieces
divided into five lots for easy choosing.
LOT 1, 74 Waists in sizes 1, 2, 3 4 and 5.
Combinations, skirt and waist, sizes 1, 2, 3.
Drawers in sizes 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 12. Skirts
in sizes 3, 4 and 5. Very dainty 7c
garments. Your choice today at
LOT 2, 134 Waists in sizes 1, 2, 3, 4 and
5. Combinations in sizes 1, 2 and 3. Knick
erbocker drawers in sizes 1, 2 and 3. Plain
drawers, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12, in 3 1 Ofi
styles. Beautifully trimmed. Special -'
LOT 3, 194 Waists in sizes 1, 2 3, 4 and
5. Combinations in sizes 2, 3 4, 5 and 6.
Two styles in drawers, sizes 2 to 12.' Made
of fine materials and beautifully T Qf
trimmed. Your choice today at
LOT 4, 334 Knickerbocker Drawers in
sizes 1, 2, 3 and 4. Gowns in sizes 4, 6, 8
and 10. Drawers in sizes 13, 15 and 17.
Drawers in sizes 2 to 12. Skirts in sizes
4 to 14. Beautifully made. On O O
special sale today, your choice
LOT 5, 594 Drawers in sizes 13, 15 and
17. Princess slips in sizes 4, b, o, IU, 1J
and 14. Skirts in sizes 30, 32, 34 and 36.
Gowns in sizes 4 to 14. Combinations in
sizes 1 to 6. Skirts in sizes 4 to f Q
12. On special sale now at only-',fc
i 1 - I
- I
week for the pst year at the Ad Club
luncheons he has recited his troubles
!U getting the Auditorium constructed
on the Market block.
The satire will be run off in divi
sions, the intermissions being utilized
m consuming a lunch. No standing
room will be sold. People In the aisles
might interfere with the waiters.
Fifteen hundred seats will be sold and
then the lid will be railed down.
A RabMt-Grarryard.
Atlanta (Ga.) Constitution.
"I done wore out three foots of a
graveyard rabbit in de hopes of good
luck comin' my way." said Brother
Williams, "an' I des 'bout come tsr de
conclusion dat de only way ter git dar
Every other jis tex Ko ter work fer yo' livin.
MAGICAL SOCIETY FORMED
Xine Adepts With Other Means of
Livelihood Are in Club.
The Magical Society of Portland was
organized by nine local magicianaat
a meeting heldlyesteraaT afternoon In
the Hazelwood. The members are men
who are adepts in magic, but who have
other means of livlhood.
It was decided that anybody resid
ing in Oregon who can prove by dem
onstration that he is a magician Is
eligible to Join and there are no dues.
The meetings will be held the first
Monday of each month.
William Pangle, manager of the Hei-
llg Theater, invited all the members
to attend the magicians' performance
at his theater last night and they at
tended in a body. It is said that there
are about 20 persons in Portland who
are eligible to join.
The following officers were elected:
President, Paul A. Cowgill; vice-president,
Fred Spoeri; treasurer, Lynn
Coovert; secretary, H. W. Peterson.
GIRL FIGHTERS SENTENCED
Two Central! Disturbers Will
Committed t State School.
Be
CENTRALIA. Wash.,- Jan. 7. (Spe
cial.) Lizzie Averill, one of four Cen-
tralla elrls arrested for engaging in
free-for-all fight in Oak View Orange
Hall, north of Centralia, was fined 150
and costs today by Justice Charles
Ross. Sentence was suspended for 80
days pending good behavior.
Myrtle Owens and Bonnie Curtis, two
of the other girls, were bound over for
commitment to the girls' school at
Grand Mound. Gladys Hershey failed
to appear, but it is probable the case
against her will be dismissed.
Archie Curtis and William McNulty,
two of 10 boys for whom warrants were
Issued, were also bound over for com
mitment to the state training school.
In Japan private Individuals own only
the surface of the land end Its products,
all mineral depolt beneath the surlats
being the property of the government.
DRINK HOT TEA
FOR A BAD COLO
Get a small package of Hamburg
Breast Tea, or. as the German folks call
it, "Hamburger Krust Thee." at any
pharmacy. Take a tahlespoonful of thi
tea. put a cup of boiling water upon It.
pour through a sieve and drink a tea
cup full at any time. It Is the tnnut
effective way to break a cold and enra
grip, as it opens the pores, relieving
congestion. Also looncns the bowels,
thus breaking a cold at once.
It is Inexpensive and entirely vege
table, therefore harmless. Adv.
7