THE MORNING OREGOMAX, FRIDAY, DECE3II5ER o, 1919. 7 E it CONFESSOR MOVED TO ASYLUM William Riggin Is Transferred From Penitentiary. BOOTH PROBE FRUITLESS Investigators Say Man Is Xot Con nected With WHIamina or Ar Ucnwald Murders. ff fthe Fifteenth-street terminal to the P. M. I. outfitting yard. I Drydoekingr of the Diablo will not be necessary as the repairs to be made are all to her machinery. Upon the completion of the repairs, -which are expected to take several weeks, the big freighter will load flour for the food administration. She has been as Signed by C. D. Kennedy, agent of the operations divisions of the fleet cor poration, to the Pacific Steamship com pany for operation. She was formerly operated by the Pacific Mail Steam ship company in the trade between San Francisco, where she was built. and the Hawaiian islands. The title of "mystery ship" was given to her on the San Francisco waterfront when she arrived there from Honolulu in tow of a tug be cause she had run out of fuel oil at sea after being amply supplied at Honolulu for the voyage. No satisfac tory explanation of the loss of the oil was ever developed, though it was believed that it had been pumped into the Pacific ocean by accident. mam i CLUBHOUSE Seattle Officers Attend Opening and Seize Liquor. NEIGHBORS ARE BLAMED SALEM. Or.. Dec. 4. (Special.) The transfer here today of William Riggin, who has been serving a term of from one to four years in the Oregon state" penitentiary for larceny, to the hospital for the insane, has more than ever convinced the offi cials that the confessions made by him In the year 1917 that he mur dered William Booth of Willamina, and the Hill family at Ardenwald, were myths and without the least foundation. Because of the persistent demands made by Mrs. William Branson, whose husband is now serving a life term in prison for the Booth murder, the late Governor Withycombe ordered a complete investigation of the con fession made by Riggin to George A. Thacher. until his recent death in Portland a criminologist of state wide prominence, and Attorney-General George M. Brown. His statements were ' inconsistent, according to the officials, and it was soon determined by the officers that he had nothing to do with the murder of the Hill family, and probably had gained his information from accounts of the homicide in the newspapers. It was open to all suggestions, and prob ably would confess to any number of homicides should the investigators so desire. Joe Keller Investigates. A little later the Investigation of Ttiggin's confession relative to the Booth murder was taken up by Joe Keller, then in the employ of - the state, but he found nothing to indi cate that the prisoner was implicated in the crime. A report to this end was filed by Mr. Keller with Gov ernor Withycombe. Afterward, how ever, Riggin was taken to Hillsboro by the sheriff of Washington county, where he described accurately the position of Booth's body when found, the place where the gun had been hidden and other information. This story on the part of Riggin did not surprise the officers, however, for the reason that these details of the murder had previously been given wide publicity In the press. Judge Belt, who tried the case re sulting in Riggin being sentenced to the penitentiary, in commenting on the conviction said: "There are no extenuating circumstances in this ac tion, except that the prisoner is very weak mentally and perhaps should be confined in the asylum instead of the penitentiary." Riggin Three Times Committed. Riggin got into trouble as a boy and was an inmate of the state train ing school. He was first received at the penitentiary in May, 105, at the age of 23 years, for burglary com mitted in Josephine county. In No vember, 1915, Riggin was received at the prison for the second time. His latter offense was that of larceny committed in Yamhill county. Bransoji has always maintained his innocence of the Booth murder. Facts that lead the officers to believe there can be no mistake in Branson's guilt of the Booth murder is the fact that Mrs. Booth, upon being arraigned as an accomplice in the afair pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a term in the penitentiary. Riggin is said to have been de lusional at the prison for several months, and today was ordered trans ferred to the asylum by Governor Olcott upon recommendation of War den Steiner. Attorney-General Brown, who also assisted to some extent in investigat ing Riggin's confession of the Booth killing said today: "While I did not complete my investigation, my in terrogation of the prisoner, as far as it went, convinced me that he was of weak mind, and was in .no way connected with the crimes to which he confessed." That the "confession" of William Riggin to the murder of William Booth could not be considered seri ously was the assertion yesterday of John A. Collier, former chief deputy district attorney for Multnomah coun ty, who, with Attorney-General Brown, the late George Thacher and the war den of the penitentiary, spent a day with Riggin at the -scene of the mur der, where he was given every op portunity to prove his assertions. Riggin had said that he knew ex actly where the clothes and other missing articles were buried and of- l'ered to lead the investigators to the spot. He led and dug with pick and fchovel for hours without result. All the investigators came to the conclu sion after a thorough probe that there was nothing to his claims and pre dicted that, though he would go b.ick to the penitentiary, eventually he would go to the asylum. REHIRE CHENEY, IS PLEA SERVICES OF PLAXMXG EX PERT DECLARED SEEDED. Commissioner Pier Opposes Plan to Pay Consultant at Rate of $14,400 a Year. Re-employment of Charles Henry Cheney as consultant to the city planning commission at $300 a month for one week's work in each month, or the employment of some planning expert who possesses equal ability, was urged before the city council yesterday by members of the com mission. The employment of Mr. Cheney or any other person by the city on part time was vigorously opposed by City Commissioner Pier, who contended that it was criminal for the city to pay any man at the rate of $14,400 a year for this service. That the present members of the city planning commission would re sign and the work of the commission would die a natural death unless Mr. Cheney is retained or some other planning expert engaged was inti mated by A. E. Doyle, one of the members of the commission. Mr. Doyle said that it would be .useless for the commission to attempt to ob tain results without a competent head. "There are few men sufficiently versed in city planning," said Mr. Doyle, "to enable them to handle this work. Sir. Cheney is capable of hand ling the work of the commission and with a comprehensive programme outlined for next year, the members of this commission feel that it is economy to re-engage Mr. Cheney, who is well versed in the needs of this city. Unleess we can keep Mr. Cheney or engage an expert equally capable, the city planning commission might as well resign." Members of the city council in at tendance at the meeting compli mented the commission on its accom plishments during the past year and expressed confidence in the individual members of the commission. Commissioner Pier said that he felt the city should hire some person who could work each day of the week and eight hours each day. He said that he had in mind such a man who lived in Portland. Members of the plan ning commission expressed doubt as to the discovery of any Portland man who is qualified to handle the work. The city council appropriated $6000 for the use of the city planning com mission during 1920. The commission sought approximately $11,000. Yes terday J. C. .Newell, president of the commission requested an additional appropriation of $1500 for the employ ment of a draftsman. This request was taken under advisement by the council. Mayor Baker was the only member of the city council absent from the meeting yesterday. It is probable that the entire matter will again be aired before the council at the next meeting. Xote Bearing Proprietor's Same Tells Sherirr or "Wine, Women and Song" Programme. SEATTLE, Wash., Dec. 4. (Special.) "Sheriff John Stringer Dear Sir: You are cordially invited to attend l"c fe'f'iu uMeiiing or me new ciuo house at 1703 California avenue, on November 29. There will be plenty of wine, women are song 'Red' siacK, proprietor. Sheriff Stringer batted both his eyes, wiped his i.iectacles and re read the note. The mail from West Seattle was, as usual, late too late to permit his attendance at the social function referred to in the invitation. Under the circumstances there was nothing the sheriff could do but send his sincere regrets. This he did. via Julius von Gerst and Earl Ramage, two not so courteous, though able bodied deputies. They called at the clubhouse. Rudely thev walked into the nlace. Fortunately for the nerves of the ladies, there were no women present, neither was there song. But of wine i was different. Five gallons of fine red vintage in a glass container were confiscated by the deputies, as well as 28 eallons of beer. A pint flask of whiskv led them to a larger quantity, a suitcase full of bourbon. Stack was taken to Justice of the Peace Brinker's court, where he ad mitted having had the liquor in his possession, and paid a fine of $100. While the booze was beiner diverted into mop buckets by disgruntled jani tors, Stack explained to von Gerst: I never wrote that invention. Must have been some 6f my interested neighbors." "DIABLO" CONTRACT LET $17,000 REPAIR JOB GOES TO PACIFIC MARINE IRON WORKS. Drvdocking Will Not Be Necessary. Name of "Mystery Ship" Comes From Loss of Fuel Oil. A contract for repairs amounting to about $17,000 to the "mystery ship" Diablo was awarded yesterday, upon the opening of competitive bids, to the Pacific Marine Iron works of this city, and the 9600-ton freighter will be moved at 7 o"clock this morning from HORRORS OF BAD BLOOD "All maladies of radking torture qualms, joint racking rheums, fierce catarrhs, intestine stone and ulcer nolle pangs, marasmus, dropsies. asthmas, pining atrophy, mophig mel ancholia, moonstruck madness, what miseries r Milton. This is the state of man or woma suffering from poisoned blood. Read what the U. S. Dispensatory and other authoritative books say in regard to the ingredients entering into "Num ber 40 For the Blood": "Employed in diseases or the glandular system, ii blood poison, mercurial and lead poi soning, rneumatism, catarrh, consti pation, diseased liver, kidneys and spleen, unaer its use nodes, tumors sores, ulcers, mucous patches, copper coiorea bpois ana acromions enlarge ments disapear as if by magic." In sist on -.Mimtier 40." made bv J C Mendenhall, Evansville, Indiana, 40 years a druggist. Sold by Laue-Davis Drug Co., Third and Yamhill. Adv. Do your Christmas Shopping at Stores Displaying this sign. WOOLEN MILLS IS HOST BROWNSVILLE PLANT INSPECT ED BY BUSINESS MEN GOLD HILL HOMES TAKEN Opening of Cement Plant Causes Demand for Residences. GOLD HILL, Or.. Dec. 4. (Special.) With the coming of winter and the resumption of operations at the ce ment plant at Gold Hill, there is scarcity of dwellings to accommodate newcomers. The capacity of the plant is 1000 barrels, or 4000 sacks of cement daily, and a crew of nearly a hundred men is required to operate the plant and two quarries. Many changes in the ownership of homes have taken place in the city the past few weeks. and many properties that have been vacant for several years are being repaired for occupancy. The suspension of highway work for the winter in the Gold Hill dis trict has been the cause of diverting labor from that work to the cement plant and the Rock Point highway bridge across Rogue river, two miles below Gold Hill, thus relieving the labor shortage. The bridge is about 60 per cent completed and the work will be continued this winter with large crew of men. PAROLE RECORD UPHELD November Report Shows N'o Pris oners Returned for Violation. SALEM. Or.. Dec. 4. (Special.) In an effort to refute published state- ents of Portland police officers that the "loose parole system now in operation in Oregon is, in a measure. responsible for the wave of crime that is sweeping Oregon, figures were given out here today showing that not one paroled convict was re turned to the penitentiary during the month of November because of com mitting a crime. The full report of the state parole officer for November follows: On parole, reporting, 187; on parole released from reporting, 84; viola tions since passage of law in 1911. 416; discharged since passage of law in 1911, 573; total paroled, 1262: per centage of violations since passage of law in 1911, 33.07: percentage of vio lations from May 26, 1911, to March 1. 1915, 35.91; paroled during month, 13; violated by commitment of crime during month. 0. , Process of Transforming Bolt of Oregon Material Into Suits Is Observed by Visitors. The Brownsville Woolen Mills, one of Portland's rapidly-growing home industries, and the only plant in this section of the country now engaged in the manufacture of boys' clothing, held open house yesterday afternoon for a group of about 25 business men and newspaper folk of the city, who had been invited to inspect the plant by J L. Bowman, head of the concern. And O. C. Leiter, advertising manager. under the guidance of the two men. the party went completely over the plant, following the various steps by which a bolt of Oregon woolen cloth is transformed into a suit or an over coat. The company has been engaged in the manufacture of men's suits and coats for some years, but only a month ago launched into the making of boys' suits and overcoats. The plant is located at the corner of Third and Morrison streets, and the company operates five retail stores in Oregon, cne in this city on the first floor of the building occu pied by the factory, and others at North Bend, Astoria, Marshfield and Eugene. Thus far the production at the factory, which averages about 40 suits and coats a day. has not kept up with the demands of the five stores. Between 75 and 100 operatives are employed at the plant and the payroll reaches about $100,000 a year, while the value of the finished prod uct amounts to $300,000 a year. Ore gon and Washington materials are used exclusively in the manufacture of suits and overcoats. L. FAGEN IS CONVICTED Hood River Youth Also on Way to Serve Time In Salem. HOOD RIVER, Or.. Dec 4. (Spe cial.) Deputy Sheriff Paul R. Hughes and Constable E. S. Olinger left today for Salem with Luther Fagen, found guilty by a jury yester day on a charge of assault and "Happy" Harris, a 17-year-old boy, indicted by the grand jury for the theft of clothing from fellow workers at a Columbia River highway camp east of the city. - Fagen, who came here from south ern California, is an ex-soldier, who claims to have sustained wounds in France. The complaining witness was Mrs. Louis Watkins, a young nurse. Fagen's sentence, pronounced today by Judge Fred W. Wilson, is for period of not to exceed ten years. iXV-urtsrv-n I I iff?! K iS 1 I r 1 . i&tSf '! 1 i'Vl Exceptionally Good OVERCOATS at $50 These Overcoats are all Hart,Schaffner&Marx Fine all-wool fabrics in the latest models for fall and winter. Every model represented in this lot. Big, roomy ulsters, plain or with belt all around, strap backs, waist seams, Chesterfield models, and conserva tives. All the new heather mixtures and plain cloths. Especially Priced at $50 gouvilcht 1919 Hart Schaffner & Marx Useful Gifts that men appreciate. Merchandise of merit only. Manhrvttan and Arrow shirts, Interwoven hose, Vassar union suits, high grade neckwear, Stet son and Trimble hats, lounging robes and house coats. Neckwear Especially Priced At$l and $1.50 Choicest of Men's Neckwear in the newest patterns. Big, flowing shapes. Thousands to choose from. It will pay you to investigate these. Exceptional values at $1.00 to $1.50. Make This Store Your Store for Gifts That Men Prefer Sam'l Rosenblatt & Co. The Men's Store for Quality and Service Gasco Bldg. Fifth and Alder Underwriters Meet Today. The regular monthly meeting of the Underwriters' association will be held in the rose room of the Benson hotel at 12:15 P. M. today. John F. Daly, president of the Hibernia Savings bank, will give a talk on a savings bank's attitude toward life insurance. ACT EXEMPTS OFFICIALS State Wardens Not Included in Workingmen's Compensation. SALEM. Or., Dec. 4. (Special.) Because they are recognized as state officials and exercise state power to the extent designated by the state game and fish laws. Carl D. Shoe maker, state game warden, and R. E. Clanton, master fish warden, are not eligible ta accept the protection af forded by the workmen's compensa tion act, according to a legal opinion given by Assistant Attorney-General Benjamin today. William L. Finley, state biologist, is an employe of the commission, and is considered a workman, in the opinion. The opinion was asked by the state industrial accident commission. E LANK5 Sample Shop 360 Morrison Street "LOOK FOR THE BIG BLUE SIGN ON THE CORNER Selling - Out Sale BIG ROAD RIND AVAILABLE $2,000,000 MAX BE tSED OX MARKET HIGHWAYS. Many Oregon Counties Levy Tax of One Mill to Be Matched by State Money. SALEM, Or.. Dec. 4. (Special.) Approximately 12,000.000 will be available for the construction of so called market roads In Oregon during the year 1920 under a bill introduced by Walter Pierce of Union county and passed at the last session of the state legislature. Under the Pierce bill the several counties, at their discretion, may levy a tax of 1 mill for market-road pur poses, and this money will be matched by a similar levy by the state. Based on the present valuations of all as sessable property in Oregon, the lat ter levy will raise approximately $1,000,000. All the money thus de rived will be expended on the roads in the counties levying the tax. Reports received at the offices of the highway commission here indi cate that most of the counties have taken advantage of he levy in their budgets for the year 1920, and that actual work on the market roads will start not later than next April. Un der the law all surveying in connec tion with the market roads in the sev- ml rnintif will ha rinnA iinHur thu direction of the state highway de-'j partment. Marshfield Case Postponed. MAJtSH FIELD, Or., Dec. 4. (Spe cial.) Edward Neal, a youth brought here from Portland by Sheriff Gage for passing a worthless check for $185 on Joe Megnle. asked for a post ponement of his preliminary hearing until tomorrow that he might consid er whether or not to engage an at torney. Neal has hopes of rescue by relative residing In Bandon. Remember There's One Safe Place to Buy Your Christmas Piano or Phonogrraph TERMS SupnwiffiQoiSe & (?o. e nercnanaisc ot l ictii R E F L E 5cTT. ! ; SUCHEgSgj I is the wet weatherV)0 i service uniform for fa Vt I the regular men who make every a V f day count. j Af look for tho ctPi f r Reflex Edg-e-&-c,cs A.J. Tower Co. I Bosun Mass Established 136 J pjg' i i ..... - - Ounces for is placed on every package by the manufacturers. It is the same now as before the war. The H. C. L. does not need to worry you when you purchase TO? suk n mi Powdloir KG IIP Www.. . i Oar Government bought millions of pounds for overseas. Fall and Winter Stock and Samples to be old out by end of this month. Hundreds of Suits, hundreds of Coats, hundreds of Dresses, Waists, Skirts, hundreds of Odds and Ends to be sacrificed at most ridicu lous prices ever yet in the history of Blank's Sample Shop one of the most beautiful Ladies' Apparel Sample Shops and one of the largest stocks in the state of Oregon. Our same honest policy: Your money back if not satisfied within three days of purchase. 0 VO MATTER WHAT SALE YOU MAY ATTEND. WE SELL FOR LESS COATS Values to $30.00 Selling Out Price ' or: We Sell for Less SUITS Values to $40.00 Selling Out Price Fur Trimmed Coats Val. to 565.00. Selling Out Price $ 18 .95 and $90.95 u Novelty Suits Fur Trimmed Val. to $85.00. Selling Out Price $26-95 d 36 .95 Tricotine Dresses, Silk Dresses and Serge Dresses VaL to $45.00 $!4-95 16'95 $18-95 AH Sixes Hundred of Crese de Chine and Georgette Crere j Waists. Values to $10.00. Selling Out Price 2'95 and $3'95 SWEATER SLIPOVER LESS THAN HALF PRICE $1.95