Morning Oregonian., October 08, 1920, Image 1

VOL. LIX NO. 18,G81
Entered at Portland (Oregon!
Ponoff'ce a Second-C!as Matter
PORTLAND, OREGON, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1920
28 PAGES
PRICE FIVE CENTS
PARTY LINE-UP IN
' MISSOURI PUZZLE
5 KILLED; 5 MISSING
IN BLAST ON TANKER
COX FUND DECLARED
HIDDEN BY DUMMIES
SOURCE OF $37,000 LAST ELEC
TION HELD MYSTERY.
4 AUTOS CRASH AT
CURVE; CHILD HURT
ACCIDENT NEAR . CASCADE
LOCKS WRECKS CARS.
1920 POPULATION
WAR WAIFS MAY BE
KEPT FROM AMERICA
61 POLISH CHILDREN LIKELY
TO MEET CLOSED DOOR.
SCORE M
OF U.S.-105.
SCORE INJURED WHEX EXPLOSION-
WRECKS VESSEL..
BHOOKLYN
AGAIN
PRISONER
ADM TS
WNS
683
State Believed to Lean
Toward Republicans.
PARTIES WELL ORGANIZED
Designs of James H. Reed
problem of Democrats.
SENATOR HAS FOLLOWING
Spencer-Long Senate Contest One
in Which State and National
Interest Now Centers.
ET MARK SULLIVAN.
Copvright 1y the New Tork Evening Post,
Inc. Published by Arrangement.)
KANSAS CITi Mo., Oct. 7. (Spe
cial.) Harding will bo in Missouri
tomorrow and wi41 return before elec
tion. Cox already haa spoken in three
f vestern cities of the state and is
expected to make one more speech
In St. Louis later In the campaign.
Until after these visits Missouri will
continue to be a doubtful state. As
things stand today it probably leans
a little towards the republicans. There
is no evidence here of the country
wide landslide condition which the
republicans claim and which un
doubtedly docs exist in several parts
of the country.
Conditions in Missouri do not vary
greatly from normal. But "normal"
for Missouri has come to be almost
as often republican as democratic.
Chnngre In Missouri Noted.
Changes have been taking place in
Missouri's population. An ex-governor
who undoubtedly knows the
state well tells me there are more
native Missourians in Oklahoma and
Texas than in Missouri itself. And
In proportlf s the native Missourlan
moves out, . .re is an Influx, espe
cially in the southeastern part of the
state,- of farmers and others from Illi
nois, mostly republicans. Moreover,
here as elsewhere, with the war de
mand for city labor, the country negro
of the south has been coming Into
the cities and solidifying- the repub
lican city vote.
The republicans here are well or
ganized and will be able to register
their maiimum vote and get it to the
polls. The democrats are well or
ganized too, much better than in most
states. In fact, the democratic or
ganization in Missouri has been able
to send some funds on to the na
tional committee in New Tork, an ex
perience which must have been agree
ably surprising" to the New York
headquarters.
Reed Missouri's Problem.
The democrats here will be able to
accomplish all that the organization
can fairly be expected to accomplish,
but the thing that no organization
can accomplish or change, or even
find out, is the disposition and inten
tions of the Honorable James H. Reed.
Reed is a law unto himself at alQmisuse of government permits. Gov-
times, and 'just now . a little more so
than usual. Reed knows well that
there Isn't any chance of his return
ing to the senate or even getting any
other henor or emolument from his
party.
Even so, Reed Is not subject to dis
cipline. He cannot be forced into
line and the only question remaining
is whether persuasion can do what
intimidation can not.
Senator Off Reservation.
J or the present Reed Is off the
reservation, conspicuously and no
toriously off. When Cox was here
Saturday Reed didn't greet him.
Heed's friends said he had gone on a
duck-hunting expedition which had
been imperatively demanding his at
tention for a long time. Then some
one looked up the statutes and Is
said to have discovered that the law
Isn't off ducks until November 1.
Thereupon Reed's failure to appear
w as put on the wider and more easily
maintained excuse .of "a previous
engagement."
Undoubtedly many democrats who
follow Reed's leadership are with him
against the league of nations and
against Wilson and Cox because of the
league Many of them are of the
group that politicians speak of as the
Irish vote. Nobody dreams that Reed
will recant, either publicly or pri
vately. But some democratic1 leaders
entertain the hope that some time be
fore election Reed can be persuaded
to pass the word quietly around
among his followers that even in spite
or tne league it is best to stay with
the party.
Spencer Gains Prestige.
The republicans have here the task
of defending a senatorship. Senator
Spencer has in his favor all the pres
tige that a sitting senator acquired
by minute devotion to his constitu
ents' affairs at Washington. The
democrat who Is trying to take the
seat from Spencer is Breckenridge
Long, formerly an assistant secretary
of state.
Long's personality Is not especially
outstanding and. except for the league
of nations, there are no outstanding
issues. The democrats have In their
favor the fact that the present demo
cratic governor and the rest of the
democratic state administration have
made a very good record.
ly All in all, the Missouri result would
not seem at mis moment likely to
va,ry much from normal. So far. If
there is any variation, it is In favor
ef the republicans.
Disaster Believed Due to Ignition
of Gases in an Empty Oil
Tank by Blow Torch'.
NEW TORK, Oct. 7. Five men
were killed, five others are missing
and believed to be dead and more
than a score injured today in an ex
plosion which wrecked a forward
compartment of the British tanker
G. R. Crowe of Toronto, undergoing
repairs at a. Brooklyn shipyard.
The blast, which endangered the
lives of more than 200 workmen em
ployed In the ship's deck, is believed
to have been caused when gases from
an empty oil tank were ignited by a
blow torch. Authorities, however, be
gan an immediate investigation. One
man was thrown more than -a hun
dred feet in the air, clashing to death
through a nearby 1on roof.
The majority of the wounded were
burned and lacerated by the explo
sion. The oil compartments were empty,
the ship having discharged a Mexican
crude oil cargo last week.
PEACE RECORDS MISSING
Wilson Has no Copy of Report in
Which He Pledged V. S. Forces.
"WASHINGTON, Oct, 7. Today's
contribution from the White House in
the controversy between President
Wilson and Senator Spencer of Mis
souri, who charged the president with
having definitely promised the aid
of the .American army and navy to
Roumania and Serbia at the peace
conference, was a statement by Secre
tary Tumulty that the president has
no stenographic report of the eighth
plenary session, at which the promise
is alleged to have been made.
"President Wilson tells me there Is
no stenographic record of the pro
ceedings of the conference in his pos
session," Mr. Tumulty said, "and so
far as the president knows there is
none in this country."
BIG HOP DEALS CLOSED
Salem Firm Buys Several Crops at
3D and 4 0 Cents.
SALEM, Or., Oct. 7. (Special.)
Several crops in 1920 hops were sold
here today to Bishop Brothers at
prices ranging from 39 to 40 cents a
pound, the top market quotation at
present.
Among the hops purchased by
Bishop Brothers were the Middletown
crop at Rickreall, the- Michaels crop
at Wheatland, the John Hackett crop
at McMinnville, the Dr. Cook crop at
Yamhill, the Mangus crop at McMinn
ville, and several crops in Washing
ton and Marion counties.
The sales aggregate about 700 bales.
and the product was said to be of
high quality.
LIQUOR PROBE IS STARTED
Jury Running Down Hint of Illegal
Withdrawal From Warehouses.
SAN FRANCISCO, Cat., Oct. 7. The
federal grand jury today began an
Investigation into alleged unlawful
withdrawals of liquor from bonded
warehouses in San Francisco through
eminent agents have been preparing
evidence for several days.
Former wholesale liquor dca'ers
and prohibition enforcement depones
are expected to be among those called
as witnesses.
Liquor brokers and others were
charged In complaints made to the
United States attorney's office with
having -withdrawn illegally large
stocks of liquors.
807 SHEEP SENT CHICAGO
Hood River Man Has 2 000 Lambs
to Ship.
HOOD RIVER, Or., Oct. 7. (Spe
cial.) Ray Becklejt loaded three
double decked carloads of lambs for
the .Chicago market today. The sheep,
pastured on national forest ranges
around Mount Adams In Klickitat
county, Washington, were driven to
White Salmon and brought across the
Columbia In three ferry loads. The
drove numbered 807.
Mr. Beckley says he will bring In
2000 more lambs within the next few
weeks.
LUMBER PRICES SLASHED
Qnotations Are Below Those Before
Freight Was Boosted.
SPOKANE. Wash.. Oct. 7. Read
justments now under way by the
Weyerhauser Lumber company, con
trolling the output of 11 mills of the
Weyerhauser lumber Interests in the
northwest have brought the price of
lumber below that prcfeding recent
freight advances, it was declared here
today by I. X. Tate, assistant manager
of the sales company.
He said that he was unable to
state the percentage of decrease.
WIFE KILLER CONVICTED
Jury Recommends Against Capital
Punshment for R. E. Bergstrom.
LARAMIE. Wye, Oct. 7. Roy E.
Bergstrom. charged with killing his
wife, Gladys McArthur Bergstrom,
last April 3 was adjudged guilty of
murder in the first degree by a Jury
here today.
A recommendation against capital
punishment was Included In the ver
dict. The defense pleaded temporary
insanity.
Cleveland's Desperate
Attack Is Futile.
SERIES TWO GAMES TO ONE
Dodgers Chisel New Names in
Heroes' Hall of Fame.
SCENE OF PLAYING SHIFTS
Teams Depart for Home Park of
Indians to Renew Struggle in
at Four-Day Stand.
BY GRANTLAND RICE.
Baseball Editor of the New York
Tribune.
NEW YORK. Oct. 7. Day by day
Brooklyn Is chiseling the names of
new heroes upon her hall of fame in
burfMshed letters or purple and gold.
Today she inscribed the monickers of
Sherrod Smith, Pete Kilduff and Ivy
VDlson side by side with the records of
Burleigh Grimes, Tommy Griffith and
Zach Wheat.
More important still, while beating
Cleveland 2 to 1 in the third canto of
the post-season epic, .the astonishing
Dodgers lifted the big crowd put of
Its early trance and started an old
fashioned hurly-burly of wild and
woolly noises by the spectacular merit
of their defensive play.
Smith Well Supported.
It was Sherrod Smith, the massive
left-hander, who let Cleveland down
with three scattered blows, but out
side of his pitching Smith had no
chance to lose with a supporting cast
that swarmed all over the field for
everything l sight:
The Dodger infield alone ran down
37 chances without an error. On
three chance occasions the Cleveland
attack launched desperate drives,
only to find Kilduff, Olson or John
ston in the way with a fancy line of
stops and throws.. TKe sole Cleveland
run resulted fiom a double by Tris
Speaker in the fourth Inning which
bounded through Wheat's open-faced
lege and rolled on to the fence.
But the industrious Zach more than
atoned for this one misplay by rap
ping out three singles, the first of
which played an Important part In
Brooklyn's winning rally through the
first round.
Brooklyn Wins by Roab.
Brooklyn won the game with a rush
by breaking through the two sectors
defended by Ray Caldwell and Joe
Sewell. They drove Caldwell from
(Concluded on Page 1ft, Column 3.)
NON-PARTISAN LEAGUE AGENT: "GIVE US YOUR MONEY AND WE'LL GIVE YOU
OUR PLAN."
- . ' 1 1 i. v
X -
Investigation of $5000 Note Leads
to Revelation Concerning Gu
bernatorial Race.
DAYTON, Ohio. Oct. 7. Use of dum
mies to conceal the scource of con
tributions to a $37,000 campaign fund
used in the gubernatorial election of
Governor Cox, democratic presiden
tial candidate in 1916, was charged
in testimony today before a senate
sub-committee composed of Sena
tors Pomerene, democrat, Ohio, and
Senator Edge, requblican. New Jer
sey. Though the Inquiry primarily was
to ascertain disposition of proceeds of
a $5000 note alleged to have been
given by Governor Cox, August 16,
1917, to the City National bank of
Dayton, and paid by the Dayton Metal
Products c'ompany June 29, 1919, as
well as why the Dayton Metal Prod
ucts company paid the note, the com
mittee tonight had proceeded no
further in that direction than to
establish the existence of the note and
the check given In payment. They
were introduced in the evidence and
identified by Walter Davidson, vice
president of the bank.
Through Adam Schantz, a member
of the Dayton flood prevention com
mittee, and also through testimony
of Marvyn Sciidder, New York ac
countant, it was brought out Jthat.
though Colonel E. A. Deeds, H. E.
Talbot, C. K. Kettering, Mr. Schantz
and Walter Kidder, who each gave
$7000. and F. M. Tait, who gave $2000,
a. $37,000 fund had been subscribed
to help re-elect Governor Cox, as Mr.
Schantz expressed it, "for the purpose
of preserving the law (conservancy
law) through Governor Cox." This
money, they testified, had been
turned over to Mr. Schantz, who said
that he had given $31,000 to three as
sociations to oe used In furthering
protection of the conservancy law
enacted as a flood prevention meas
ure for the great Miami valley. In
which Dayton is situated. These as
sociations, he said, were the Forward
Looking association, the Independent
Voters' league and the League for
Protection and Preservation of the
Workmen's Compensation law.
Certified copies of expense state
ments filed with the secretary of
state under the corrupt practices act,
which were Introduced in evidence,
showed the first to have received a
total of $12,600 and spent $12,663.73;
the second to have received a total of
$3200 and to have spent $8191.60; and
tha latter to have received -fv tot.sl
of $10,800 and to have spent $10,780.38
Mr. Schantz, however, did not appear
as a contributor to any of the three
funds, the contributions being listed
as coming from numerous persons, in
cluding local county democratic lead
ers. On February 3, 1916, Ms. Schantz
testified, the Dayton flood prevention
committee, of which he. was a mem
ber, held a meeting and voted unani
mously to pay $26,242.60 to a number
of "dummy" employes, who in turn
paid the money back to him person
ally and he In turn reimbursed the
original donors. Deeds, Talbot, Ket
tering, Kidder, Tait and himself, in
proportion fo what they had given to
the campaign fund.
Infant, 8 -Year-Old Daughter of ex-
Resident of Cottage Grove,
Is Injured.
HOOD RIVER, Or.. Oct. 7. (Spe
cial.) Four automobiles were
wrecked in collisions on Columbia
river highway near Cascade locks
last night. Steve Howlett and two
companions, en route from Ronan,
Mont., .collided on a sharp curve with
R. A. Ward, former Cottage Grove
resident, motoring with his family to
Spokane where they will reside. Both
cars were badly wrecked. Gertrude,
eight year old daughter of Mr. and
Mra. Ward, the only passenger thrown
to the pavement, sustained slight
bruises.
Within a few hours and only a
short d'.stance from the other wreck
Lewis Manie, of The Dalles, collided
with a car driven by J. Moreland of
Portland, who "had stopped. It Is said
in the road because of motor trouble.
THREE BOATS FROZEN IN
Vessels Carrying Mail and Passen
gers Are Caught.
JUNEAU. Alaska, Oct. 7. Three
Yukon river boats, the last of the
season from Fairbanks, Alaska, to
Dawson, Y. T., and carrying capac
ity lists of passengers and mail, are
reported frozen in below Eagle. Alas
ka, in advices reaching here today.
- According to the report, the pas
senger steamer Seattle Three isTrozen
in at Rampart and the steamers Kes
trel and Washburn somewhere- be
tween Eagle and Circle. Ice condi
tions are said to be worse than last
year.
MAKING STILLS CHARGED
First Arrest of Its Kind at Tacoma
Made by Dry Agents.
TACOMA, Wash., Oct. 7. Federal
prohibition agents today made the
first arrest in this district on a
charge of manufacturing stills for
liquor making. M. P. Myers, a tin
smith, was arrested and charged with
a felony.
Federal officers said they found
Myers at work on one still and that
the copper stills were discovered In
his shop nearly completed. The stills
were seized to be held as evidence.
LAB0R: LEADER IS FREED
Charges of Transporting Liquor
Held to Bo Inconclusive.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 7. Andrew
J., Gallagher, scaler of weights and
measuies and prominent as a labor
leader and politician, was freed of a
charge of transporting liquor without
a permit by United States Commis
sioner Krull '. "iy.
United States District Attorney Sll
va told the commissioner that he
doubted the evidence against Galla
gher was strong enough to effect a
convlcMon.
Census of Possessions Is
Put at 12,250,000.
OUTSIDE FIGURES LACKING
Growth of 13,710,842 Is
Shown for Continent.
TREND IS TO CITIES
Gain of 1.5 Per Cent on Farms
Compared to 10.9 Per Cent
for Previous Decade.
"WASHINGTON. Oct. 7 The 1920
population of continental United
States was announced today by the
census bureau as 105.683,108. This
was an Increase of 13,710,842 or 14.9
per cent since 1910.
Today's total did not Include the
population of outlying possessions
which will be announced as soon as
the figures for Alaska and the mili
tary and naval services abroad are
tabulated It was estimated, however,
that these possessions have 12,250,000
inhabitants, so the total number of
people living under the American flag
is in round numbers 118,000,000.
The figures for continental United
States compare with 91,972,266 10
years ago and 76,994.675 20 years ago.
The increase for the last decade, how
ever, fell 2,266,849 or 6.1 per cent be
low that of the preceding decade.
Immigration Decrease Blamed.
Director Rogers of the census bu
reau, in a formal statement attributed
this reduction to the almost complete
stopping of immigration, during the
war, an increase in emigration dur
ing the same period, deaths in the
influenza epidemic of 1917-18 and war
casualties.
The statement noted that the trend
of population from the country to the
city had been accentuated greatly
since 1910.
This situation was clearly reflected
in the figures as to farms In the
country which also were made pub
lic today. These placed the total
of farms at 6,459,998, an increase of
only 98,496, or 1.5 per cent in ten
years as against an increase of 624,
130. or 10.9 per" cent during the decade
ended in 1910.
Mr. Rogers stated that while to
day's figures were preliminary and
subject to revision, the final official
population as transmitted to congress
in December for apportionment pur
poses was not likely to be greatly
different.
Revised figures for a number of
cities and counties are yet to be an
nounced but the main work of the
1920 census Is completed after nine
months of labor.
Births and Deaths Compared.
The results of the census of popu
lation in 1920 at first glance may
seem somewnat disappointing and
possibly open to question. The sub
stantial accuracy of the enumeration
n January is fully borne out by com
parison with estimates based upon
the probable excess of births over
deaths throughout the decade and the
excess of immigration over emi
gration. ,
From all available data It may be
rougly estimated that the annual ex
cess of births over deaths throughout
the United States is approximately 1
per cent.
"This rate compounded would indi
cate an increase of approximately 10.5
per cent during the decade. Thus the'
nearly 92,000,000 persons present In
the United States in 1910 might be
expected to Increase to about 101,700,
000 In 1920.
"In addition, '.he excess of Immi
gration over emigration during the
decade, was approximately 3,373,000.
Hence the bulk of these foreign-born
persons came to the country during
the first four years of the decade.
It may be roughly estimated that the
Increase due to excess of births over
deaths in their families was about
10 per cent. Thus the population
of the country may be assumed to
have been augmented by about 4,100,
000 during the decade through excess
of immigration over emigration.
Eallmalt Is Close to Rrlnrn.
"The two estimates together would
indicate, therefore, a probable popu
lation of 105,800,000. or only a small
fraction of 1 per cent more than the
total shown by the returns of the
14th census.
"The figures of the present census
also show that the trend 'of popula
tion from the country to the city
has become greatly accentuated since
1910 and that for the first time in
the country's history more than half
'the entire population is living in
urban territory as defined by the
census bureau. That is to say, of
the 105.683,108 persons enumerated
in the 14th census, preliminary
tabulations show that 54,816,209, or
51.9 per cent are living in incorpo
rated placed of 2500 inhabitants
or more and 50,866,899 In rural terri
tory. At the census of 1910, the cor
responding percentages were 46.3
and 53.7. respectively, showing a loss
of 5.6 per cent in the proportion of
the population living In rural terri
tory. - Two Decade Compared.
"To show more clearly the change
In the proportion of the population
living in rural territory, compared
(.Concluded 90 rage 3, Column 3.)
5000-Mile Journey From ITorrors
to Lire in Rural Washington
Slay Prove Futile.
SEATTLE, Wash.. Oct. 7. (Spe
cial.) Sixty-one Polish children made
homeless as a result of the world war,
who are making & 6000-mile journey
to seek a refuge in America will find
the Joor barred by immigration au
thorities when they arrive in Seattle
from across the Pacific on the steam
ship Fushiml Maru, unless the depart
ment of labor at Washington takes
action In their case before that time.
The children' are coming to be
cared for on a farm on Balnbridge
Island, where, in the midst of rural
peace and plenty, the horrors of war
and their past sufferings will be
erased from their memories. As soon
as stable conditions return In Poland
they will be returned to their home
land. The waifs are being brought
to Seattle from Vladivostok by the
American Red. Cross, which took the
youngsters ranging from 2 to 16
years of age. under their protection
when Japanese troops took possession
of the Pacific Siberian port.
Since the departure of the little
travelers from. Japan a Seattle Polish
committee, in co-operation with the
national Polish committee, has been
negotiating with Washington for the
admission of the youngsters by the
waiving of the immigration rules.
The authority to admit the children
had not been received up to a late
hour by Seattle immigration officials.
FRUIT FRAUD CHARGED
Proprietor of Stand Is Accused of
False Advertising.
Nick Jarvis, proprietor of a fruit
stand at Second and Alder streets,
was arrested last night by Patrolman
Atkinson and charged with false ad
vertising. Jarvis was alleged, to have
put a card on a pile of large canta
loupes advertising them for sale at
the rate of two for 23 cents and to
have tried to substitute smaller ones
after making a sale.
The complaint was P. N. Forsyth, an
ex-policeman. Forsyth said he took
two of the caateloupes and gave Jar
vis a quarter. Jarvis was said to have
called the policeman to arrest For
syth when the latter refused to ac
cept smaller canteloupes. The police
man took Jarvis to jail after hearing
the complaint.
VOTE LAW RULED VOID
Seattle Scotsman lo Register and
Not Show Naturalization Papers.
SEATTLE, Oct. 7. The Washington
state law requiring a naturalized cit
izen to present his naturalization pa
pers when applyinr for registration
as a voter was held unconstitutional
by the King county superior court to
day in an order granting an alterna
tive writ of mandamus to compel the
city -comptroller of Seattle to allow
W. J. Brown to register for the No
vember election.
Brown, a native of Scotland, was re
fused registration because he could
not show his naturalization papers,
although he had voted for many years
in the United States.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather. ,
TESTE RD AT' S Highest temperature, 64 3
degrees; lowest, 51.1 degrees; part
cloudy.
TODAY'S Rain, easterly winds.
Foreign.
Split of Sinn Ftia organization denied.
Page 7.
National.
Marked Increase In number of farms In
northwest shown by 1020 census. Page 3.
Population of continental United States is
103,083,108. . Page 1.
Polities.
Senators Investigate payment nuda on
Cox's J .",000 notv. Page 1.
Missouri still doubtful state, but believed
to lean toward republicans. Page 1.
Harding announces he would discard
league covenant altogether. Page 2.
Cox-Roosevelt club condemns Chamber
lain. Page 8.
Use of dummies In fund to elect Cox gov
ernor of Ohio ia charged. Page 1.
Secretary Colby notes tendency of voters
to change administration. Page 4.
Domestic.
Man In San Francisco Jail confesses he
killed Denton. Page 1.
Five men killed by explosion on oil tank
er. Page 1.
Pacific Northwest.
Columbia fishermen saved from sea by
timely arrival 01 tug. f age ,
Passage of birx reruge bill would mean
$300,000 loss to . Oregon, says state en
gineer. Page 5.
Sixty-one Polish war waifs likely to be
rejected at Seattle. Page 1.
U. S. Engineers on tour of northwest wa
ters discuss Idaho project at Moscow.
Page IS.
William W. West, republican nominee for
Snohomish sheriff, quits race. Page 6.
Sports.
Brooklyn wins third game of world's
series, 2 to 1. Page 1.
Sherrod Smith scalps Indians in third
world's series game. Page 16.
Coast league results: Oakland 4, Portland
3; Salt I.ake 8, Vernon 10 (10 innings);
Sacramento 4, San Francisco 2; Los An
geles 0, Seattle 2. Page 17.
geles u, Seattle 24. Page 15.
Joe Gorman gets draw with Morgan Jones
1 of Tacoma. Page 10.
Commercial and Alarlne.
Loss of export trade cause, of canned milk
slump. Page 10.
Wheat closes lower at Chicago. Page 19.
Rails in lead in Wall street stock market.
Page 1.
Wawatonia. arrives in port after adven
turous voyage to orient. Page 18.
Portland and Vicinity.
Foster road paving plan revived at meet
ing of city and county commissioners.
Page 12.
School board sets hearing on teachers' sal
ary and tenure questions for next Tues
day night. Page 21.
Council passes fire ordinance unanimously.
Page 28.
Races and weather man draw 5000 to
fair. Page 14.
Speakers on ballot measures put under
cross-fire . at labor council meeting.
Page 0.
Banker backs up Bafde bid on fleet sur
plus. Page 15.
HE KILLED OEM
Confession of Joseph
Rodriguez; Doubted.
FIYE OTHERS IMPLICATED
Capitalist Was Strangled,
Says Jail Inmate.
MONEY, STOCKS STOLEN
Alleged Kid nape" Tells Police He
and Accomplice Discussed Mur
der Prior to June 2 6.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 7. Joseph
Rodriguez, under arrest here on an
other charge, today "confessed" to
the murder of J. C. Denton, wealthy
Los Angeles mining promoter, ac
cording to a statement by John
O'Meara. captain of police, but when
the alleged "confession" was made
public doubt began to be cast upon it.
Rodriguez, according to ' Captain
O'Meara, purported to show Denton
was killed In bia home by Rodriguez
and another man, with five persons
involved in knowledge of the death,
a resulting robbery and burial of the
body in Denton's cellar.
Rodriguez in his questioned "con
fession," Captain O'Meara said, told
of assisting another man to strangle
Denton with a rope, following which
the alleged participants robbed the
oil man's home of money and etocks
of large value. Afterward the body
was buried, the confession said.
Itodtigiiei Helping; Detective.
Rodriguez, according to the police,
came here several days ago from Los
Angeles, professedly to assist a Los
Angeles detective who accompanied
him to investigate the case locally.
He professed knowledge of the per
petrators, it was said.
Then came his arreyt In connection
with the alleged abduction of an 1S-year-oldi
San Francisco girl. For
two days local police questioned him
concerning the Denton case at tiiAi
jail. Today during the questioning he
called for a priest. The priest came
and later the "confession" was given
Captain O'Meara, the latter said.
This purported confession sought to
show the five persons named by Rod
riguez had, previous to Denton's
death, talked of robbing and killing
the promoter.
June 2B neath Day.
The five, he said, according to Cap
tain O'Meara, had gone to the Denton
home following a "joy ride" and were
engaged In a "party" when Denton
came home. The confession set June
Z6 as the date of Denton's death.
Denton, Rodriguez was quoted as
saying, went o his room, but about
"10 or 10:30, Mr. Denton came down
from his room and wanted to know
what was the matter that we were
in the former Mrs. Denton's room."
Another man gave Rodriguez a gun
and asked him to keep watch over
Denton, according to the alleged con
fession. "Denton came after me," Rodri
guez said, "but I kept shoving him
back, not wanting to use the gun.
He started to kick and punch me,
but as soon as he kicked me and near
ly put me out 1 started after him and
gave him a couple of punches. I
started choking him. While I was do
ing that tthe other man) had
his gun on me. Afterward my
strength nearly gave out and he was
not dead yet. He hollered and
said 'croak the ".
Accomplice Threatens With Gan.
"When he told me that he handed
me a rope, a piece that looked like
a rope used on a truck and put his
gun in my ribs. I kind oT knocked
the old man down and put the rope
around his neck and as I did not hive
strength enough left, pulled one
way aiyl I pulled the other, whii
we had old man Denton pinned doTi.
We waited around for an hour mor
or less. When we were sure he wa
dead we went out and walked sev
eral blocks and" took a streetcar
The confession made public by the
police named two other persons as
having taken the body, while Rodri
guez and the other man were out.
and burying it in 'the cellar.'
Rodriguez was described by Detec
tive Frank Cummings as appearing
to be about 23 years old.
Rodriguez, the detective said, pos
sessed no gold teeth, as Wis Intimat
ed from Los Angeles as appearing in
the mouth of a man of similar name
held in jail there at the time It was
believed Denton's death took place.
Police who received1 the "confes
sion" tonight express-id doubt as to
Its truth.
LOS ANGELES IS SKEPTICAL
Police Believe Rodriguez Is Pro
fessional Confessor.
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 7. Harvey
Davis, lie'utenant of police detectives,
said tonight that he was inclined to
disbelieve the confession reported to
have been made in Sa:. Francisco by
Joseph Rodriguez that he killed Jacob
C. Denton, mining promoter. He said
a man of that name, whori he believed
to be the same person under arrest In
(Concluded on Page 4, Column 4.
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