Morning Oregonian., December 30, 1920, Page 2, Image 2

THE MORNIN? OREGofflASl. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1920
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WIFE OF ETHER1DGE
STAPJDS BY FUGITIVE
'Broker Husband Victim
Lies; Says Woman.
of
.CHARGES BRANDED FALSE
i Graphic Story Is Told of Struggle
of ex-ConTlct to "Go Straight"
Against Terrific Odds.
, MINNEAPOLIS. Minn., Dec !9.
f. (Special.) John L Etheridge, quon-
dam bond magnate of the Pacific
' coast, continued to deny himself to
all Visitors while enjoying the best
accommodations that could be ac
corded at the city Jail, today. Every
- consideration was being shown him.
". according to understanding about po
" lice headquarters.
Jailers were instructed to give out
no Information about him, his mail
ias being specially handled and a
suDiie aisiincuon icemen 10 ue uiau
between him and other prisoners.
The story of the wife of a reformed
ex-convict, who will stand by her
J husband In another time of trouble,
whether he appears right or wrong,
. because she loves him and believes in
his honesty, was told by Mrs. John L.
Etheridge, wife of the Portland bond
;' broker.
" FaHk of Wife 1'nshakea,
Her husband was released from the
New Jersey penitentiary 14 years ago
and Is awaiting deputy sheriffs from
Portland to take him back to the
- Rose City in connection with alleged
discrepancies in the books of Morris
Brothers, bond dealers in Portland,
- Seattle and Tacoma. But this does
" not shake her faith.
She brands many of the accusations
: against Mm as lies and declares that
" he has lived'an honest and useful life.
- She says he is a big man public
spirited and generous who has strlv-
en for years to live down a mistake
t. made in his earlier life. 1
Her story tells jf a man's hard, up
' hill fight after he has trespassed upon
'Z the law, even though he has once paid
his full debt to society for his wrong
doing. It is a plea for a more fair-
minded public and a more honest and
less condemning public press.
Woman Fears Newspapers.
The story was told by Mrs. Ethe
ridge In her apartments at Hotel
Radisson. where she is waiting to re-
turn with her husband to Portland.
! She feared to be quoted, for she
. blames Portland newspaper men for
t much of the trouble that has befallen
;. her," but she finally consented after
. being assured that she would receive
fair treatment.
"I want to say that my husband has
; .worked hard, many days slaving both
' day and night to make up for his mis
. take, and he has lived an honest and
energetic life since his trouble," said
" Mrs. Etheridge, in a voice that car
ried much of bitterness in it.
'I only wish people would not be
eager to turn on a man before he
has had a chance to present his side
" of the case.
"What good are our methods of re
form if a man is not to get an equal
4 chance with others after he has paid
- me price oncer
; Price la Paid Many Times.
.'. "Paid the . price once how weak
that sounds. Why, I can never tell
. you how many, many times we both
have paid it.
' "I cannot speak of the trouble in
Portland for I do not know the facts.
- nor does anyone know them, although
t others talk much. But we will get
back there and learn them and I am
confident it is Just the old trouble
J coming up again.
"Mr. Etheridge and I left Portland
on a vacation, and as soon as we left
the story of Mr. Etheridge's earlier
trouble was published by a paper that
has constantly hated and attacked
. him. What I think Is that this story
; cut off the company's credit with the
bond house and it was unable to con
, tinue business.
"We were not running away from
Portland, as some have tried to make
- It appear. Oh! how false that is.
t On Six Mont as' Vacation.
"We were on a six months' vaca-
- tlon for Mr. Etheridge's health, which
had broken down after months of
hard work with the company, the
state and the government Liberty
; loan campaigns.
"Mr. Etheridge was prominent in
all public affairs in Portland, and
was in charge of the Liberty loan
i drive In Oregon outside of Portland.
; Oregon led the nation in proportion
ate subscriptions.
, "We would willingly have returned
l to Portland at any time If notified,
and we are glad to return there now.
t Naturally, I will return with my hus-
band. Why, I could not think of
1 permitting him to return and make
'. his fight alone.
"Oh! I am so sorry we left Port
land. But then, I am not sure it is
our fault, for we were advised to go
and Mr. Etheridge needed the rest. I
only wish we had been there to fight
when the trouble started.
All Effort Seem Wanted.
"I tell you an experience like this
J hardens one. I don't feel that I can
, ever . try to do another thing for
humanity. How we worked toward
helping to win the war. and now how
wasted our efforts all seem. Tet. 1
suppose it isn't wasted, for I am sure
cooned nn In ntiA room. Sha declined
an invitation to dinner, saying that I
people knew who she was and would
stare at her. '
"They already know who I am."
she said, "and I would rathr be
alone than be stared at by curious
people."
She was Interested tn the results
announced of the audit of the Morris
Brothers books, but thought it fool
lah to publish them until the audit
had been completed.
"They mean nothing unless com
plete," she said.
CRASH HITS SAX FBAXCISCO
Morris Bortbers Branch Is Closed
and Banks Are Heaviest Losers.
SAN FRANCISCO, Cat. Dec. 29.
(Special.) Individual Investors In
the San Francisco bay region of bonds
marketed by Morris Brothers will
lose about 20,000 by the failure of
the big bonding house, according to
K. H. Eaton, local manager, who to
day left for Portland with records of
the San Francisco business of the con
cern to turn over to W. D. Whitcomb,
receiver in Portland.
Norman McLaren of the accounting
MORRIS
DINGS
WILL
BE
DEMANDED
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
FOR INTERIM I1UI.DKH9
IN MORRIS BROS,
INC., CASK.
It is officially announced that
all creditors concerned in the
Morris Bros., Inc., case should
file soon their statements of
claims with the referee in bank
ruptcy, A. M. Cannon, office in
the old postoffice building.
Unless they file their claims,
creditors are not considered,
and, should dividends be paid
later, they will receive none, no
matter how meritorious their
claims may be.
Statements must be sworn to
before a notary public. For de
tails or further guidance, cred
itors may consult their head
quarters, the office of Dr. J. D.
Duback, 171 Broadway.
Bond House Receiver Is
Take Action Today.
to
FRED1 S. MORRIS IS HELD
Aid to Etheridge in Obtaining Cit
izenship When Xot Entitled .
to It Is Charged.
(Continued From First Page.)
may have saved some American lives.
"You can't realize how such trouble
upsets me. I have been unable to eat
all day and I do not feel like eating
now. Ana, 10 ininK tnat l know bet
ter than anyone what Mr. Etheridge
has done since his- early trouble, and
I know that he has lived right. Yet.
look at the lies that are being told
about him,
"But our time is coming when we
arrive In Portland. Such lies as they
nave told why. Mr. Etheridge had
nothing to do with the books of the
company, although, of course, he was
president.
Caarirea Are Branded Ltrs.
"And the money and bonds they say
he took just more lies. If he had
any such sums of money as they
claim he had I would have known it
and I know he did not. What, then,
could he have done with it? Does it
- seem logical?
"I certainly have had but little. I
have always lived economically, much
of the time not having a single maid.
But we cannot go on with this now.
We will have our chance later.
"One thing Is sure, I know how
Mr. Etheridge has lived, what he has
done for the church, his lodge, the
state and the federal Liberty loan
drives, and I know that he has meant
to do right but right or wrong, I'll
stand by him through It all.
"It seems that when one wrong
deed becomes known, others are
added. Just on suspicion and without
'. any basis of fact. Why must there
be such, people people who really
seem to derive pleasure from passing
lies and scandal about their fellow
citizens? I cannot understand It."
Impatient of Delay.
Mrs. Etheridge was impatient at
the delay of the deputy sheriffs from
Portland and' complained, of being
.
firm of McLaren, Goode & Co, today
was auditing the books of the San
Francisco offices in the Merchants
Bank building, preparatory to turn
ing them over to the receiver in bank
ruptcy.
Eaton said the volume of business
done by the San Francisco branch
which had been ordered closed, was
not large because the offices her
were only established last Aprih He
said that all transactions were com
pleted in the head office in Portland
and for that reason the exact amount
of losses to Investors in San Fran
Cisco and vicinity could not be deter
mined until further check with the
Portland office.
"The banks will be the principal
losers here," said Eaton. "The losses
to individual investors should no
total more than $20,000. The banks.
however, which in some cases made
partial payments before bonds were
delivered, will be caught by the fall
ure of the company.
"Most of the bond losses were of
the city of Edmonton, Can., issue,
which Morris Brothers bought De
posits for the purchase of these bnods
were taken, but the bonds have not
been delievered In all cases.
"Some of the banks have received
their bonds direct from the city of
Edmonton and will suffer no losses.
Others, however, will be out money
advanced.
"The affairs of the company are In
a state of chaos, and I have not been
informed of developments. Until I
reach Portland and we check up local
accounts I will not be in a position to
determine the effect the collapse of
the bond house will have on San
Francisco patrons of the company."
W. D. Whitcomb Bros, receiver in
bankruptcy, in ordering the closing
of the San Francisco office of Morris,
sent the following telegram which
has been posted on the doors of the
concern:
"The undersigned this day has been
appointed receiver in bankruptcy to
Morris Bros, Inc. You are instructed
to discontinue all business at the San
Francisco office of Morris Bros, Inc.,
and to take all precautions possible
to preserve existing assets. You are
also requested to continue to act as
manager of the San Francisco office
pending further notice. It Is sug
gested that you retain your staf In
tact until it is possible to have a per
sonal conference with you in Sa
Francisco or Portland."
M
BRAXCH BODY FORMED
SEATTLE MEETING.
AT
War Cripples of Three Xorthwest
ern States Represented; Offi
cers Are Elected.
SEATTLE, Wash, Dec 29. A. C.
Miller of Seattle was elected presi
dent of the Washington branch of the
Disabled American Veterans of the
World War, organized here today at
the close of a conference of delegates
representing 3000 disabled vetvins
of Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
Other officers elected were: F. L.
Qulnn, Tacoma, first vice-president
J. E. Shaw, Pullman, second vice-
president; F. W. Woodbridge, Seattle,
secretary; H. R. Langtry, Seattle,
treasurer; board of trustees: E. J.
Messenger and C. D. Johnson, Ta
coma: F. F. Fountain and S. C. Hodg
son, fullman; K. BKnapp, Seattle.
ne
general conference adopted
we contributed to the victory and M"tsolutions favoring affiliation with
the national organisation; payment
by the government of war risk in
surance premiums during the train
ing period of disabled veterans; pay
ment by the government of expenses
incurred through sickness not origi
nating in the line of disability res
toration of the privileges of pur
chasing quartermaster supplies and
repeal of the Warren amendment to
the Darrow bill, which makes in
creased compensations to veterans
contingent upon local living costs.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN RALLIES
Second Operation Upon Senator
Deferred Owing to Relapse.
THE OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU,
Washington, Dec. 29. Senator Cham
berlain showed considerable improve
ment today over bis condition last
night, when he suffered a serious
relapse, according to emergency hos
pital authorities. It was said that the
high temperature which caused alarm
reappeared only In a mild form today.
It was necessary to defer the opera
tion, which had been set for this
morning at 9 o'clock, and at the hos
pital tonight doubt was expressed as
to when this operation may be possible.
Spokane Crime on Increase.
SPOKANE, Wash, Dec 29. Crime
In Spokane Is on the Increase, accord
ing to police records, and authorities
are considering the employment of
additional force. .The present force
is unable to cope with the situation,
police assert. Drug addicts, the
police say, make up the majority of
persona arrested for petty crimes.
and learned tbat they were in no
way connected with any bond com
panies in this city. They have taken
full charge of the legal work, suc
ceeding the firm of TealMinor and
Winfree. Mr. Minor, it was said, had
been the personal attorney for Fred
& Morris, while the law firm had
been employed to examine the valid
ity of many bond Issues purchased
by Morris Bros, Inc
Mr. Whitcomb asked that all
persons holding Interim certificates
and other creditors of the firm to
address letters to him explaining any
feature of their relations with the
defunct firm, but not to attempt to
obtain Information by means of the
telephone.
No Property to Be Removed.
He said that under no consideration
will any person be permitted to re
move any bit of property from the
building except upon order of court.
The sole exception is when persons
appear to procure personal property
from safety deposit boxes.
Earlier press reports that Ether
idge had $75,000 in bonds in his pos
session when taken Into custody at
Minneapolis were found to be incor
rect. It was said yesterday by Dis
trict Attorney Evans. In a telegram
from John F. Walker, superintendent
of police of Minneapolis, the district
attorney Was informed that In addi
tion to the 111,500 in currency,
Etheridge had an American Railway
Express receipt for the $75,000 in
bonds which he shipped from Tacoma
or. the night of his departure, and
coupons from these bonds of a value
of $2187.50. This sets to rest all
former theories that Etheridge had
mtde away with bonds either from
the Portland or Tacoma offices of
the company.
''Mystery Suit" Falls Through.
The "mystery suit" which Dr. J. D.
Duback announced' at a mass meet
ing of creditors Tuesday night, failed
to materialize when Barge E. Leon
ard, attorney for Dr. Duback, found
that information on which the -suit
was to be based was insufficient. Dr.
Duback had been given to under
stand that Morris Brothers, Inc, were
agents for the city of Edmonton in
the sale of more than $2,000,000 In
bonds to the local bond concern. If
investigation i yesterday had dis
closed that the defunct bond house
bad acted as agent for the Canadian
city, attachment proceedings against
the bonds, now being held In escrow,
would have been started. This would
have had the effect of making the
city of Edmonton a general creditor
cl the wrecked firm along with the
r.iore than 2000 other creditors. Mr.
Leonard, however, announced last
night that no suit of this nature is
to be filed.
Judge William McCamant, request
ed by John L. Etheridge to serve as
chief counsel for the defense, could
give no Intimation of his probable
reply when he returned to the city
last night on being asked if he would
accept, beyond declaring that his
mind is open and that he prefers to
talk with Etheridge before making a
decision.
Kindly Feeling- Expressed.
At any rate," said Judge McCam
ant, "I'm not going to join the hue
and cry against Etheridge, whatever
happens. I know him very slightly.
having talked with him but two or
three times. But I have a kindly
feeling toward him, for I recognize
the excellent public service that he
rendered during the war drives. And
am not going to assume that all
the things said about him are true.
When he returns to Portland, I
shall talk with him. Personally, I
am inclined to believe that his at
torney should be one who could de
vote his entire-time to the case. And
my desk is piled high with respons
ible work, that must be attended to.
If it develops that he must have an
attorney who can give individual and
entire attention to the case, then.
In any event, I shall be unable to
serve him.
But until Etheridge returns, I for
one will witbold my judgment as I
withold my decision concerning his
request."
Morris has been cited to appear be
fore united btates Comm'ssioner Fra-
zer at 2 o'clock Friday, January 7, for
his preliminary hearing, it was an
nouncea yesterday at the iederai
building. The federal grand jury will
be called for early next month by
United States Attorney Humphreys.
men that he would wait no longer as
he had an engagement.
Secretary Tumulty after dinner ar
rived at the executive offices about
9 o'clock and within half an hour
Senator Ashurst stopped in. It Was
then that the Arizona senator was
Informed that no action had as yet
been taken by the president on th
bill.
Explanation was made at the ex
ecutive offices during one of the In
tervals between the Arizona senator'!
visits that the president had until
midnight January 4 to sign or veto
the bill, which would extend for six
months the provisions of the law re
quiring $100 worth of work on min
tng claims before midnight. Decern
ber 31.
Waiting Said to Be Rnlnona.
Senator Ashurst on one of his visits
declared that for the president to
sign the, measure after December SI
would be like pardoning a man after
he was hanged, since hundreds o
western mine owners would be dis
possessed by claim jumpers, who he
Said were "waiting like blackbirds
on a fence" to file claims to the
mines.
"To say the least," he added, "pro
tracted and very extensive litigation
would ensue should the president fail
to sign the bill before January 1.
In addition to Senator Ashurst, Sena
tors Smoot (rep.) Utah, Nugent (dem.)
ddaho. and PIttman. Nev. (dem.)
and other western senators and rep
resentatives called to see Secretary
Tumulty during the day to press for
action on the bill.
White House policemen, bewildered
by the unconventional entrance of
Senator Ashurst into the White House
today, sought information tonight
from headquarters as to how far
their Jurisdiction extended over
United States senator, or whether the
constitutional immunity of a mem
ber of congress from arrest would
protect a senator from being forcibly
refused admission to the residence of
the president of the United States.
E
SHOT IX THROAT DAX GEROTJS ,
SAY PRISOX DOCTORS.
ASHURST WANTS .ACTION
(Continued From First Page.)
Forster, assistant secretary, was out
of the city. No one authorized to get
the senator In touch with the presi
dent was In the White House.
After attacking all possible open
ings. Senator Ashurst decided to take
the White House by storm.
T am an American citizen," he ex
claimed angrily, "and I have a right
to seek the president In a matter of
such Importance to thousands of in
nocent men who are 'in danger-of be
ing robbed of everything they have
worked for."
With this announcement the Ari
zona senator made a direct frontal
attack on the main entrance of the
White House.
Here he war met by the suave door
keeper, Hoover. Having denied ad
mission to many In his day, one sen
ator more or less made little differ
ence to the (filter guard. Senatbr
Ashurst was repulsed.
Finding storming attacks useless,
Senator Ashurst returned to Secre
tary Tumulty's office for a long siege.
He announced he would stay there if
it took .all winter.
In the meantime Secretary Tumulty
was found and endeavored to soothe
the ruffled feelings of the Arizona
senator. It was no easy task.
Mr. Tumulty explained that the bill
was on his desk, but John Barton
Payne, secretary of the interior, is in
Pinehurst, N. C, and until Mr. Payne
could be reached the president could
not be approached. Mr. Tumulty ex
plained to the angry senator that
without the recommendation of the
secretary of the interior, the presi
dent would probably veto the bill it
ah attempt were made to rush him.
While the president's secretary at
tached himself to the long distance
eUDbone in his effort to reach Mr
Payne, Senator Ashurst decided to
abandon the siege temporarily.
No Word at Ti30.
Senator Ashurst at 7:30 o'clock had
received no word from the executive
offices and. announced to . newspaper
Man Hurt In Attempt to Break Out
of Walla Walla Penitentiary
Is in Serious Condition.
WALLA WALLA. Wash, Dec 29.
(Special.) Joe Smith, a guard injured
in the break at the prison last night,
was reported in good condition tonight.
P. D. Williams, convict, who was shot
while trying to escape, was worse
tonight than this afternoon. His fever
was higher and his throat, penetrated
by a bullet, was bothering him. He
will not be out of danger for several
days.
Williams' Injuries were due prln
elpally to a steel bullet striking an
iron bar or plate, and fracturing
splinters entered his body. He also
was wounded In two places by rifle
bullets. He was one of the leaders
in the attempted break.
The men involved in the break
were: P. D. Williams, 22, committed
from Chelan county for burglary, five
to 15 years, ex-convict from San
Quenfin; Thomas O. Young, 29, Pierce
county, grand larceny, one to 15 years,
ex-convict from San Quentin; Frank
Holmes, 26, King county, robbery, 10
to 20 years, ex-convict from San
Quentin; George Kines, 23, King
county, robbery, 10 to 20 years; W. T.
Coles, King county, assault in first
degree, 10 to 20 years; Arthur Woods,
34, King county, habitual criminal,
10 years to life. With the exception
of Williams, who is in the hospital,
the men were locked in the dungeon.
FOR-HIRE AUTOS TARGET
Drivers Reported to Be Taking Up
Too Much Parking Space.
A proposed ordinance to regulate
the number of automobiles occupying
stands issued to for-hire drivers by
the city in the business section of the
city will be presented to the council
next week, and a pubic meeting will
be held before the council next
Thursday afternoon, it was announced
yesterday by Mayor Baker.
Complaints that automobile drivers
who have received permits for stands
for one automobile In the downtown
section are placing from two to four
machines there have been made to
the city council. It is charged that
business men are unable to keep
parking space In front of their estab
lishments because of the constant
presence of for-hire machines.
MOTOR BUS HEARING SET
Council May Grant Portlanl-Llnn
ton Line Franchise.
A special hearing on the question
of granting a franchise for an auto
mobile bus line from Portland to
Linntou will be held by the clty-coun
cM next Wednesday afternoon at 2
o'clock. Commissioner Mann an
nounced yesterday.
Residents of the LInnton district
wiil be requested to appear before
the council at this hearing. Several
companies have applied for the fran
chise and the council probably will
grant the privilege to one of the ap
plicants. At present a number of
companies are operating busses be
tween Linnton and the'City.
CARUSO HAS PLEURISY
Physicians Declare Condition of
Sanger to Be Serious.
NEW YORK, Dec 29. Enricho Ca
ruso, tenor, who has been seriously
ill in his apartment here for more
than a week, has developed suppur
ative pleurisy, attending physicians
said tonight.
Physicians announced that al
though the tenor had improved
slightly during the day, his condition
still was serious.
ECONOMY CRUSADE BEGUN
(Continued From First Page.)
was due principally to the $10,000,000
increase in the pay of .city letter car
riers, the $36,000,000 increase allowed
the railroads for -mail transportation
and the $12,500,000 increase in pay of
clerks and employes.
Sure
Relief
6 Beu-ans
Hot water .
Sure Relief
EZ LOANS
FOR INDIGESTION
l READJUSTMENT SALE!
j We purpose taking our losses quickly and have it over with.
m It is our plan to sell every dollar's worth of our. present merchandise
H in the shortest possible time and thus be able to restock with goods of
1921 manufacture.
I ' AMAZING RED UCTIONS!
EE . Clothing Floor.
I Every Winter Overcoat in Our Stock x2 Price
jH ' Every Business Suit in Our Stock as Follows:
I All Suits Up to S65, Nozv $38
. A 11 Suits from $75 to $90, Now $58
H v ' All Evening Garments, Vests, Pantaloons, Sport Garments and Raincoats at Off!
Street Floor
All Furnishing Goods 30 Off!
A 11 Hats and Caps . . . 30 Off! .
A 11 Bags and Suitcases 30 Off!
At these stupendous reductions all purchases must be for CASH. This sale will, of
necessity, continue for a few days only. Never in our business history have such
drastic price reductions been made on high-class wearing apparel.
Winthrop Hammond Co.
Correct Apparel for Men
127 Sixth Street, Between Washington and Alder Sts.
Formerly)
Buffum & Pendleton
Established 1884
Have
Faith in Portland
The status of Honest Endeavor, of Honest Enterprises and
of Honest Men is never changed by the exposure of that which
is crooked.
There is a city full of honest men and honest enterprises in
Portland worthy of your confidence.
All business is based upon Credit and Credit is based upon
Faith.
Have Faith in Portland, in Portland's Honest Business Men
and in Portland's Honest Manufacturing Enterprises.
Show your Faith by investing your funds in legitimate home
enterprises which build up Portland and benefit all in this com
munity. We have been urging this for several weeks past in our
advertising campaign offering the stock of the Portland Vegeta
ble Oil Mills Company direct from company to investor.
Do not chase the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
There are just as good opportunities for investment to be
had in Portland as anywhere in the United States or Canada.
The continuance and further development of the vegetable
oil industry in Portland is one of these good opportunities.
. Write direct to our office for full information regarding this
particular industry and company.
Portland Vegetable Oil Mills Co.
Phone Main 821
805-6-7 Wilcox Building
H. H. Ward, Director in Charge ok Financing
Portland, Oregon
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