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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. 7 f
