Morning Oregonian., October 18, 1917, Page 7, Image 7

THE MORXIXG OREGONIAX, THURSDAY. OCTOBER , 18, 1917.
NEW CLEWS DEEPEN
MYSTERY OF DEATH
Man Who Befriended Ballard
Girl Located, but Police
Exonerate Him.
GHASTLY EVIDENCE FOUND
Mushroomed Bullet With Piece of
Rone Imbedded in Tip Strength
ens Relief of Authorities
AVoman Was Murdered.
SEATTLE, Wash., Oct. 17. (Special.)
Interrogation of a friend who had
advanced money to the girl out of kind
ness, the discovery of a mushroomed
bullet in the clothing- around the corpse
and other details discovered by officers
nt work on the case Wednesday, only
served to make more complex the mys
tery surrounding the death of Ruby
De Merrill, whose body was found last
Sunday in a remote spot north of Bai
lard. Patrick Mct-iinn. witK whom the girl
was last seen, following a dance Sun
day morn in sr. September 2, and his
friend. Charles F. Comfort, with whom
McGinn says he spent the day Sunday,
are still in custody.
"Mystfrloun Friend" Found.
Every effort is beins made by the
city and county officers to locate the
woman who was proprietor of the
Iouisa rooming-bouse in Ballard, at
which McGinn resided at the time of
the girl's -disappearance, and who. dur
ing the month of September, sold it
1o the present proprietor and left for
British Columbia. The police desire to
interrogate her on details of the story
tnld by McOinn of what occurred dur
ing the Sunday after the dance, fol
lowing which Ruby was slain.
Ba 1 la rd people who were acquainted
"with the girl talked so much about a
"mysterious friend near Bothell," of
whom the girl was afraid, that Sheriff
Stringer made a trip to that vicinity
yesterday. He found the party men
tioned to be William Turner, aged 29.
a friend who aided the girl financially,
but who could not in any way be con
nected with her death. He mailed her
a check for $10 the day that she was
murdered, which never reached her, and
had befriended her on other occasions.
Roue Imbedded In Bullet.
"Discovery of the bullet in the cloth
ing of the dead girl came at an exam
ination of the body by rr. C. C. Tifflin,
Coroner, and Frank Koepfli, deputy
Coroner, at which Captain Charles Ten
nant and Deputy Sheriff Stuart Camp
bell were present.
The bullet was discolored and had a
portion of bone imbedded in the mush
roomed tip.
Possibility that the bullet was
"'planted for some ulterior motive was
denied by Captain Tennant, who de
clared that it was very apparent that
the bullet had been in the body.
At the same examination it was noted
that the girl's left shoe had been un
laced while the right shoe string was
tied in a hard knot and remained intact.
Suicide Theory Presented.
Drl J.' Tate Mason, superintendent of
the County Hospital, who operated on
the girl there last June, presented the
theory this afternoon that the girl had
committed suicide in the room of some
friend under circumstances which led
the "friend' to have the body removed
secretly for fear of scandal.
ir. Mason reviewed the medical his
tory of the case, the girl having been
operated on twice. He said that Ruby
called on him on August 15, two weeks
before her death, and at that time he
had suggested a third minor operation
in an effort to reduce "a welt scar"
resulting from the former operation,
which caused the girl considerable in
convenience. t.lrl Very Depressed.
"She seemed very depressed and said
nhe would see lr. Christensen about it
flrt-t" said .Dr. Mason.
Captain Tennant and the Sheriff scout
the theory of suicide, however, and are
continuing their efforts on the theory
that the girl was murdered and her
body taken to the place where it was
found after the murder.
Discovery' yesterday of automobile
tracks where a machine had been
turned around on the road leading to
the scene where the body was found
are disregared by the police, as there
have been several cars in that vicinity
since the discovery of the body, and
jtny track made early in September
would have been obliterated by rain.
STRIKERS ARE ARRESTED
(rontinucfl From First Page.)
was placed under arrest. lie proudly
displayed the red button of tha ship
yard striker on the outside of his coat,
while a Deputy Sheriff kad?e was
found on the inside of the coat lapel.
He is not a Deputy Sheriff.
Man Armed With Gas Pipe.
Orje of the strikers, whose identity
was not learned, carried a two-foot
piece, of gas pipe About his clothingr
He was one of those arrested, but man
ased to slip the pipe from his clothing
while beins taken to the police sta
tion. It was found !yins on the floor
of tlie patrol wagon when the men
were unloaded.
Several laughable incidents occurred
during and after the arrest of the bie
crowd of men. One fellow who wore n.
liberty bond button was mistaken for
a striker because of the similarity be
tween the strikers- and bond buttons,
but after he had been in jail for a
short time he succeeded in convincing
the authorities that he was not only a
peaceable citizen, but a patriotic one,
ajid was given his release.
Another innocent bystander to pet a
taete of jail life was n. H. Knipht, an
eaiploye of the city water department,
lie was at work near the plant, but
during the wholesale arrest of strikers
he was arrested by an alert patrolman
&nd taken to headquarters. He was
forced to stay in jail until another
city official recognized him and had
him released. Mayor Baker, who was
standing in the lobby at police head
quarters when Knisht was given his
freedom, had a good laugh at the ex
pense of the unfortunate individual.
Womty Vlnlt Police Court.
From 5 o'clock until late at nipht a
stream of women filed into police head
quarters looking for their missing hus
bands, brothers, sons or fathers. Some
of the women put up the money to bail
tlf-ir relatives out.
All men who are known to be etrlk
trs cm picket duty will be charged with
violating the anti-conspiracy ordinance,
it was stated later, while charges of
failing to move on at the command of
an officer probably will be filed against
those bystanders arrested in the vicinity
of the plant.
Oroups of strikers were gathered
about South Portland from directly in
front of the Northwest Steel plant
down to Third and Madison streets. For
the most part the men did not attempt
to make any demonstration, while at
others they were in a surly mood and
jered policemen and employes from the
shipyards alike.
Record Crowd la Jail.
Because of the great length of the
picket line it was necessary to have
policemen strung out for nearly a score
of tdocks. The patrolmen worked under
the direction of Captains Moore.
Inskeep. Harms. Circle and Jenkins,
each of whom directed the work from
various points of vantage.
After the men had been taken to the
City Jail a large crowd of strikers be
gan congregating about police head
quarters, but were ordered away by
Captain Inskeep. Union officials, how
ever, were allowed to confer with the
men under arrest.
Except for the youngster, Tim
O'Keefe, the men were all ordered re
leased on S10 bail. O'Keefe's bail was
fixed at $250, which had n, been given
late last night. s
What is believed to be the largest
crowd of men ever fed at the City Jail
was served last night when 124 persons
received their supper behind the jail
bars They were for the most part
strikers who had not yet been bailed
out.
All shipyards strikers who go on the
picket line from today on will do so
at the risk of spending several days
in jail unless they can arrange to
secure cash bail of $500 each.
IS. J. Stack, secretary of the Oregon
State Federation of Labor, said last
night that he had agreed with Mayor
Baker that the bail of each man ar
rested hereafter in connection with the
strike shall be made $500 instead of
the small bail of $10 required of the
13S strikers arrested yesterday after
noon. "I want to advise all union men that
those who go on picket duty will do
so with the knowledge that this $500
bail will be required of them in case
they are arrested," said Mr. Stack. "I
want them to know of the status of
the strike situation before they lay
themselves liable to arrest."
In effect, this notice to strikers as
issued by Mr. Stack is taken to mean
that the men as a body cannot expect
the unions to furnish bail for every
man who might be arrested.
Asked if his statement meant to con
vey that information to the strikers,
Mr. Stack replied:
"You can draw your own conclusions."
STRIKE 1ST STOP
Coal Miners and Operators
Warned by Government.
MINES MAY BE TAKEN OVER
5 3 GO TO ASTORIA YARDS
330 Men Declared to Be at Work at
McKachern Plant.
ASTORIA. Or.. Oct. 17. (Special.)
Over 350 men are said to be at work
in the McKachern shipyards on Youngs
Bay, an addition of 53 employes who
came to Astoria yesterday to fill po
sitions in various parts of the industry
and 14 local laborers who returned to
work.
BLANK HAS NEW STORE
Popula r Women's A ppa rcl House
Business Grows.
The constant increase in business
during the lat two years has made it
necessary for Mr. Blank, proprietor of
Blank's Sample Shop, to secure new
quarters. The store building at Park
and Morrison street?, formerly occu
pied by the Canton Bazaar, was leased
and i. now open with a lare stock of
moderately priced women's coats, suits,
dieses and ready-to-wear apparel. The
policy pursued by Mr. Blank in estab
lishing: himself in business in Portland
is "courteous treatment, reliable mer
chandise and money refunded without
question in case of dissatisfaction."
In addition to women's apparel, Mr.
Blank has installed a children's ready-to-wear
department. Adv.
German Waiters Ousted.
BOSTON". Oct. 17. All German wait
ers and servants employed at the Bos
ton City Club, numbering: about 1'0,
have been discharged because of al
lesred "breaches of discipline."
One-Third of Big Shipping Plants
in Illinois Are Idle, Despite
Warning of Fuel Administra.
to Others May Close.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 1 7. Whatever
powers are necessary will be used by
the Federal Government to stop the
strikes of coal miners in the Middle
West and prevent interruption of the
Nation's fuel production.
This warning was pi ven today by
Fuel Administrator Garfield in a sharp
telegram to miners and operators in
the field involved, reminding them of
their pledge not to allow the output of
coal to be diminished, and declaring
that any attempt to bring pressure to
bear upon him to force a revision of
coal prices would result in postpone
ment of a decision on that question.
Or. Garfield was in conference dur
ing the day with John P. White, presi
dent of the United Mine Workers of
America, who reported that so far the
strikes in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and
Pennsylvania were local in character,
though they were threatening to spread.
He expressed the hope that the men
could be induced to return to work,
(iovrnnnrnt Operation Possible.
The fuel administrator did not com
ment upon his warning or go into de
tail about the steps he proposes to
take if it is not heeded, further than 1
to say that while the country is at war
no interference with fuel production is
tolerated. Congress has empowered the
President to take over mines and oper
ate them if he deems it ncessary.
Mr. White reported that a consider
able number of men were out in Illi
nois. In Indiana, he said, six mines
were idle because the men demand
wa ge increases, and in the Bergholz
district of Ohio several mines have
shut down.
Under the recent agreement reached
at a conference here between the oper
ators and men a new wage scale, grant
ing substa ntial increases, was agreed
upon. The operators first entered
into the agreement conditional upon
an advance in prices being allowed by
the Government. The fuel administra
tion refused to consent to such an
agreement, 'and the operators, nccord
ing to the administration, finally agreed
without stipulation. The question of
allowing an increase In prices for coal
produced is in the hands of a committee
of the administration.
Higher Wa(tf Wanted at Once.
Fuel administration officials say the
men now striking want the increased
wages to take effect Immediately in
stead of at the next pay period,' about
November 1.
In a statement tonight Xr. Garfield
said the fuel administration and the
railroads are energetically working on
the problem of getting more cars to
the mines, add that there is every hope
that the coal shortage will be gradu
ally remedied.
SPRTNGFI KLT. III.. Oct. 17. With 106
of the 324 big shipping mines in Illinois
idle and several hundred smaller shafts
and "gopher holes" closed, the high tide
of the coal miners strike to force imme
diate increases In wages, operators be
lieved, had not been reached tonight.
All miners officials were at Joliet
attending the Federation of Labor con
vention, and it was expected here that
many more mines would be shut down
tomorrow, despite the warning of Mr.
Garfield. -
Warm Weather Fine for Poor.
Manufacturing" concerns" and private
individuals appealed to Governor Low-den.-who
referred them to the Federal
authorities. 1
Warm weather fortunately inter
venes to prevent suffering among per
sons whose coal supplies are low.
PITTSBURG, Kan.. Oct. 17. A meet
ing of Alexander Howat, president of
District 14, United" Mine Workers of
America; John Wilkinson, president of
District 21, and D. A. Framton, presi
dent of the -Missouri- JHners, will be
held at Kansas City. Mo., tomorrow
morning. - . - .
CHICAGO. Oct. 17. Unless the coal
strike is settled within 10 days, busi
ness in Chicago will be paralyzed, says
Fred W. Upham, president of the larg
est coal company in the city.
"Commercial life in Chicago will be
wrecked by next week unless Fuel Ad
ministrator Garfield moves quickly. Be
fore the strike the situation was bad.
This is the climax."
WILSON IS INTERESTED
SUFFRAGE .CAMPAIGN IX XEW
YORK CLOSELY WATCHED,
President Hopra Voters Will 9ot Be
- Influenced by Aetlon of tae
Picket at Capital.
NEW YORK, Oct. 17. President
Wilson: in a letter to Mr?. Carrie
Chapman Catt, presid-cnt of the Na
tional Woman Suffrage Association,
made public here toniKht, expressed
the hope that voters would not be
influenced by the actions of the so
called pickets in Washington. The let
ter, dated October 13. follows:
"My Dear Mrs. Catt: May I not ex
press to you my very deep interest in
the campaign, in New York, for the
adoption of woman suffrage, and may
I not. say that I hope no voter will
be influenced in his decision with re
gard to the err eat matter by anything
the so-called pickets may have done
here in Washington? However justly
they may have laid themselves open
to serious criticism, their action rep
resents, I am sure, so small a frac
tion of the women of the country who
are urging- the adoption of woman suf
frage that it would be most unfair and
argue a narrow view to allow their ac
tions to prejudice the cause itself. I
am very anxious to see the great state
of New York set a great example in
this matter. Cordially and sincerely
yours. WOODROW WILSON."
INSURANCE HEAD WARNS
State Commissioner Says "London
Lloyds" Is Xot Licensed.
SALEM, Or.. Oct. 17. (Special.)
Citizens of Astoria, Coos Bay, Portland
and other shipping points in Oregon
arc warned in a circular letter issued
bv Insurance Commissioner Harvey
Wells today that his department can
offer no assistance to them in making
collection of insurance from organiza
tions known as "London Lloyds,' as he
states they have no legal standing in
Oregon.
Reports have reached the department
that a number of representatives of
the organizations mentioned have been
getting insurance in the state at less
cost than it can be secured irom com
panies regularly authorized to transact
business.
Governor's Xcw Secretary Arrives.
SALKM, Or., Oct. 17. Special.)-
Anyone With $5 Can
Buy a Liberty Bond
Liberty Bond subscriptions will be accepted by all
Portland Clearing House Banks, up to a 1000 sub
scription from each individual, on the basis of 10 per
cent down and 10 per cent a month, charging 5 per cent
interest on deferred payments, and applying the 4 per
cent bond interest on the 5 per cent.
This makes it possible for every patriotic citizen hav
ing $5 to buy a $50 Liberty Loan Bond by paying $5
down and $5 a month, with the additional 1 per cent
interest, the only extra expense. $10 down and $10 a
month, plus the 1 per cent interest, will buy a $100
Liberty Loan Bond, and so on up to $100 down and $100
a month, plus the extra interest, for a $1000 bond.
Apply to any Clearing House Bank.
PORTLAND CLEARING HOUSE ASSOCIATION.
William A. MacRae, President.
NOTE Anyone desiring to purchase bonds on a simi
lar installment basis in larger amounts may make spe
cial arrangements with any Clearing House Bank.
I
Chester A. Moores arrived from Port
land today to familiarize himself -with
his new duties as private secretary
to Governor Withycombe. which will
start November 1. . His wife will join
him later.
ARTILLERY FIRE INTENSE
German Aviators Bomb Dunkirk and
Nancy; Fires Result
BERLIN." Oct. 17, via London. The
artillery fire on the Flanders front
grained in Intensity in certain sectors
yesterday and last evening-, while this
morning: it increased in violence along
the whole front, army headquarters an
nounced today. The Infantry was In
active except for reconnoiterins en
gagements. Regarding- air activities, the an
nouncement says:
"Ten enemy Airplanes and one captive
balloon were shot down yesterday.
"Dunkirk again has been attacked by
our aviators, who observed conflagra
tions caused by their bombs.
In reprisal for the dropping- of
bombs by enemy aviators on open Oer
man towns, bombs have been dropped
by us on the town of Nancy, lyint;
within the region of the French oper
ations. Large fires resulted."
PARIS, Oct. 17. Ten persons were
killed and 40 wounded in a -bombardment
of Nancy last niprht by German
aviators, the War Office announced.
Monday and Tuesday 25 German air
planes were destroyed by the French
or compelled to land In damaged con
dition. French airplanes have bombed sev
eral military establishments behind th
lines.
Penitentiary Life Bcguu. '
JOLIliT, 111.. Oct. 17. J. Marion Mil.
lcr. Chicago attorney and his sister
Mis.s Lucinda Miller, who were con
victed in Chicago for fleecing- "senti
mental Tommy" Fouikes, of Iowa, out
of a farm and several thousand dollars,
bean ser-ins a sentence of from I to
14 years -in the state penitentiary her
today.
Mexico Confers Witli Argentina.
BUKNOS A1RF.S. Oct. 17. Antonio
Manero. confidential envoy of President
Carranza of Mexico, had a private au
dience with President lrotroyen today
at which it is understood economic
M'Testions were discussed.
J
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