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