VOL, T..X 0 1 8 80 Entered t Portland (Oregon)
JU. LiA -U. JO,(5U Poetofflc. an 8eond-Cla Matter.
PORTLAND, OREGON, THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1921
PRICE FIVE CENTS
.WALLACE FAVORS
BOSTON MAYOR PLAYS
ROLE OF AL RASCHID
DE VIM SCORES
PORTLAND TO GET
BIG WOOL MARKET
STORM DAMAGE HIGH
AROUND WALLA WALLA
EFENSE
FRIENDS OF IRELAND
HECKLE PHILIP GIBBS
E
WILL NOT ARGUE
TO FOUR
EXECUTIVE, DISGUISED, CHOPS
WOOD FOR BREAKFAST.
WESTERX OREGOX SHEBPMES
TO POOL PRODUCT. ,
STREAMS ' OVERFLOW AXD
WASH OUT WHEAT FIELDS.
BEDLAM IS TURNED LOOSE AT
CHICAGO LECTURE.
IN 0
FRENZIED FINE
CHARGED
10
EMBARGOES
BFilTISH
POLCIES
i
1
i
Harding to Be Asked to
Exclude Wool, Wheat.
, POWERS HELD SUFFICIENT
Congressional Action Is Not
Believed to Be Necessary.
IDAHO MAN SUPPORTED
'Western Senators Combine to Got
I'. J. Hagenbarth on Interstate
Commerce Commission.
I " THE OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU.
"Washington, D. C March 16. An a
result of a conference with eeveral
1 Western senators late this afternoon.
" ' It ia expected that Secretary of Agri
culture Wallace will submit to the
president tomorrw a report favoring
an embargo on imports of eeveral of
the leadig agricultural products. At
the same time it is believed he will
advise that there is ample authority
in existing law for such action by
the president without any further
' legislation from congress.
Wool and wheat are the two prin
cipal products included in the secre
tary of agriculture's recommendation,
it is understood. When the confer
ence ended it waa thought that Sec
retary Wallace might be able to. sub
mit his recommendations tonight, but,
answering the telephone in person
two hours after everyone else had
gone home, the secretary said that he
could not complete his recommenda
tions before tomorrow.
HardlnaT Expresses Sympathy.
The conference at the department
' ef agriculture this afternoon, at
tended by Senators Stanficld of Ore
gon and Gooding of Idaho and Frank
J. Uagenbarth, president of the Na
tional Woolgrowers' association, was
the result of a meeting at the White
House earlier In the day, at which,
In addition to the two senators al
ready mentioned," were
Senators
Emoot, Utah; Poindexter, Washing
ton; Borah, Idaho; Oddie, Nevada, and
Cameron, Arizona.
At the White House conference two
propositions were presented. One
urged that the president recommend
legislation placing an embargo on
wool imports and the other appealed
to him to appoint a man from the inter-mountain
states to the interstate
commerce commission. The president
listened sympathetically to the em
bargo suggestion, but asked the sen
ators to see the secretary of agricul
ture and work out with him some
tentative legislative plan.
Real Farmer Wanted.
With reference to the interstate
commerce commission appointment
the senators were told by the pres
ident that he had promised the ag
ricultural interests during the cam
paign that he would give them rep
resentation on the commission. He
asked that they select some man no
strongly identified with agriculture
as to be a true representative of that
class and submit his name. This
name, he said, would be considered
along with others in the process of
filling the place promised to the
farmers.
The president's statement caused
aome of the senators to hold an in
formal conference later, at which a
letter was drafted urging the appoint-'
ment of Frank J. Hagenbarth of Spen
cer, Idaho, president of the National
Wool Growers' association, who, the
letter said, has devoted his life to
agricualtural pursuits. Tonight this
letter had the signatures of Senators
Bmooth, Borah, Stanfield, Cameron
and Gooding. Representatives French
and Smith of Idaho will sign it before
it goes to the president, and Senator
Gooding, who was responsible for pro
posing Mr. Hagenbarth, said that oth
er senators are expected to attach
their names.
rolndexter for Spokane Man.
Senator Poindexter will approve of
Mr. Hagenbarth's qualification, but
will stick to his support of J. B.
Campbell of Spokane, as also will
Senator Oddio of Nevada, it is under
stood. It was disclosed this afternoon
that the answer of Campbell's sup
porters will bo that Mrt Campbell
also is somewhat of an agriculturist,
the showing being made that he oper
ates two farms.
Both the Idaho senators had been
supporting John Graham of Twin
Falls for the interstate commerce
commission, but according to Senator
Gooding, their support of Mr. Graham
or any one else not fitting exactly
in the president's specifications for
an agricultural appointee, rendered
further efforts in Mr. Graham's be
half useless.
Western senators have been ex
ceedingly active in the 24-hour period
ending tonight. Last night they met
with representatives of the Western
States Reclamation association and
discussed to almost midnight a recla
mation policy which will be laid be
fore the extra session , of congress
. convening on April 11. y
- Wet to Go Alone.
It was agreed that the west shall go
11 alone as in other Years, havina- ac
cumulated In the period since Theo
dore Roosevelt established a real rec
lamatlon policy several valuabls aS
ICoaUuUed ou I'asa 2, Celuma
Official Who Spends Xlght In Mu
nicipal "Flop" Expresses His
Sympathetic Concern.
BOSTON, Mass., March 16.. It was
a weary and a tattered mayxr of Bos
ton who came to the city hall today.
Mayor Andrew J. Peters, seeking to
learn at first, hand unemployment
conditions and how the city is meet
ing them, spent the night incognito at
Wayfarers' lodge, where the city
shelters the homeless and .feeds them
in the morning.
In a room with 40 nnfortunates he
lay on a municipal bed and said he
slept fairly well. He was routed out
at 5 o'clock and sent to the woodpile.
After four hours there it was decided
he had earned his breakfast and, with
the oatmeal, bread and coffee eaten,
he went to the city hall.
The figure with frayed coat and
faded hat was halted at the 'door of
the mayor's office, and it was not
until his secretary saw him that he
was recognized and admitted.
Mussed-up raincoat, muddy boots,
old brown suit and faded flannel shirt
with a faded handkerchief as a neck
piece had effectually disguised the
mayor.
He dropped into an armchair and
remarked that it was the first really
comfortable minute he had had since
10 o'clock last night.
"Chopping wood is certainly an ex
cellent way to get up an appetite,"
he added. "It seemed a long time be
fore we could stop work and go in
for breakfast The men I saw at the
lodge were strong, able-bodied, able
to work and, I assume, willing to
work.
"I saw no signs of drink or dissi
pation. I am most anxious to- help
get employment for these men.
"I went up to the superintendent
of the lodge and asked him if he
didn't know a good many of the peo
ple who came there. He gave me a
cold eye and said: "I don't have to
know anyone; I don't want to."
MURDER SUSPECT FREED
Harry Staben Released "When His
Alibi Is Proved.
SALEM, Or., March 16. tSpecial.)
Harry Staben, who was irrested in
connection with the recent murder
of Simon Yoder, Woodburn garage
operator, was released from the
county jail here tonight. It was
proved to the satisfaction of the
officers, according: to Sheriff Bower
tiat Staben was in Portland on the
lght of the murder and was not in
Woodburn as reported by persons
immediately following the tragedy.
Staben left for Portland tonight.
Sheriff Bower said that several
clews with relation to the murder
were being investigated, but that as
yet there was nothing to indicate
the identity of the person respon
sible for the crime.
OLD STRUCTURE FALLS
Barricade Put Around Buildin
at
4 11 Glisan Street.
When Patrolman Turley paced his
beat to a point in front of 441 Glisan
street last night, the sidewalk shook
beneath him and the building at that
address-, with much creaking and
groaning, began slowly to settle be
neath the level of the street, until
it rested in a drunken, rowdy atti
tude. The structure is an ancient, two
story frame building, recently occu
pied by a coffee house. The under
pinning had given way, letting the
building sink. The police erected
barricades to protect pedestrians
should it collapse into the street.
DINING CAR PRICES CUT
AH Western Railroads Announce
Reduced Charges.
SAX FRANCISCO, March 16. All
western railroads have agreed to a
general reduction in dining car men
us, ranging from 15 to 25 per cent, it
was announced here today by the
Southern Pacific company.'
The following specific Instances of
lowered prices were cited:
Kggs, 35 to 30 cents; ham and eggs,
TO to 65 cents; grape fruit, 30 to 25
cents; fruits, 3u to 30 cents; steak.
$1.40 to $1.25; chops, 45 to. 40 cents;
certain styles of potatoes, 20 to 45
cents.
M. J. CLOHESSY- IS DEAD
Real Instate Dealer, Succumbs to
Heart Disease Suddenly.
M. J. Clohessy, 53, real estate dealer
and a resident of Portland for 25
years, dropped dead of heart disease
while walking up the stairway in his
home at 10:15 o'clock last night. He
had just returned home from his
office in the Ablngton building.
Mr. Clohessy was very well known
in the city. He at one time wasi:hief
of police here. He is survived by a
widow. Funeral arrangements, have
not been completed. .
NEWSPAPER
jSSUE HELD
Court
Fears Details
of Killing
Would Prejudice Jury.
SHREVEPORT, La., March 16. The
court believed publication of the de
tails would make it difficult to obtain
a jury to try two confessed 'slayers of
William Roberts, automobile transfer
man at Mansfield, La. '
Because of this fact, issuance of the
Mansfield Enterprise, a weekly news
paper published each Friday, will be
delayed until after the jury is selected
Monday. -
Irish Youth Ready to Die
for Liberty, Says Chief.
"PRESIDENT" WELL GUARDED
St. Patrick's Day Message Is
Given to Public.
RELIGIOUS ISSUE DENIED
Trouble in Ireland Declared to' Be
Misunderstood by Many Persons
In United States.
DUBLIN, March 16. (By the As
sociated Press.) Eamonn de Valera,
"president of the Irish republic." gave
today to the Associated Press corre
spondent the first Interview he has
accorded any newspaper representa
tive since his return from the United
States to Ireland.
If any proof of the extraordinary
precautions taken by his followers to
insure his protection were needed, it
was afforded by the care taken in es
corting the correspondent to and from
his presence.
For an hour after leaving, the cor
respondent was under the closest sur
veillance, not only from his escort,
but, as it seemed, from everybody in
Dublin.
In the conversation of three-quarters
of an hour, Mr. De Valera tpld of
the impresefons he had brought back
from America, and- remarked:
"The saddest thing there to me was
to see the Irish question treated by
so many people as if It were a re
ligious wrangle. It is not a religious
question, even in so far as the differ
ence here between the north and
south are concerned."
English Rule Attacked.
He spoke bitterly of the "English
government's lack of principle and
statesmanship."
"England," he said, "is trying to
win by playing on human weakness.
As a matter of fac though it does
not realize it, England is playing not
on the weakest, but the strongest
quality of the Irish people their
spiritual quality. The young men of
Ireland are saying to themselves 'at
best the span of life is only 70 years.
We must all die; so whynot now in
circumstances like these? Never,
perhaps, as by dying in such a cause
as Ireland's, could we do so much
for the world."
"England may try to contend that
men like those executed in Mountjoy
were murderers. She will find it
much harder than she imagines to
get the world to accept that view."
The Irish leader is in excellent
health, but his friends in America
would hardly recognize him, for he
is on the run, and naturally does not
(Concluded on Pase 7. Column 3.) ' (Concluded on Page -', Column 2.) I (Concluded on Vase - Column 4.)
I ALL HET UP ABOUT IT. , t
j
S - 4444 - --- MIIIIM t --
Co-operaflve Organization to Han
dle Clip From Farms With
Headquarters Here.
Wool from about 300,000 sheep on
the farms of western Oregon will be
assembled and graded and marketed
in Portland, according to the plans of
the Western Oregon Wool and Mo
hair association, which has recently
been formed. R. A. Wade resigned as
vice-president of the First National
bank of Bend last week to come to
Portland and manage the associa
tion's affairs.
The plan is to concentrate in this
city the wool and mohair of the west
ern part of the state and ultimately to
market the farm flock clips of Wash
ington as well as Oregon. Overtures
have already been made from sheep
men in northern California to join the
association, which is to be a co-operative
concern. The association is to
be conducted without a view to prof
its, the farmers to get the market
price for the grade of their wool, less
the cost of marketing.
' Much Already. Pooled.
Already 320,001) pounds of fleece
have been signed up for the pool and
the movement has scarcely started.
The association is a result of the co
operative marketing association bill,
which was passed at the recent ses
sion of the legislature. F. W. Her
ron of Ashland is president. J. B. Cor
nett of Shedd is secretary-treasurer,
William Riddle Jr. of Monmouth is
committeeman-at-large and Mr. Wade
Is the manager. Today Mr. Cqrnett
and Mr. Wade will leave for Oregon
City, Roseburg and Eugene to hold
meetings with farmers having sheep
and to arrange for organizing the
signing up of members. Every farm
er entering the pool will be asked to
sign a contract to pool his clip for a
period of years and market it through
the association.
A large number of farmers in west
ern Oregdn have a few sheep. Few
of these farmers have a large flock
and they know little about wool or
how to market it, and banks are not
inclined to lend money on a few
sheep.
Wool to Be Graded.
The practice has been for farmers
to sell their 'wool to traveling junk
men, who pay as little as possible.
Under the co-operative marketing
system the wool will be placed in a
United States warehouse and will be
graded. By this system of segrega
tion quantities of woo! of the various
grades will be assembled and a bet
ter price can be obtained for the
farmers than by throwing all sorts of
grades together.
The association will be able, Mr.
Wade explains, to finance the farm
ers' wool holding because the asso
ciation can take the government
warehouse receipts and use them as
securiy at the banks, the latter being
able to advance from 50 to 60 per cent
of the value of the receipts.
Having the wool in a pool, it will
not be necessary to sell when the
market is congested. The sales can
be spread over the year, when the
market is favorable. The plan means
that about 1,000,000 pounds of wool
will be stored in Portland and graded
and marketed from this point. The
Extremely Heavy Rainfall in City
Fills Basements and Streets
Marooning Householders.
WALLA WALLA, Wash., March 16.
Fifty members of battery A, national
guard, were put to work tonight as
special police, to guard points of dan
ger in the citv and to aid in safe
guarding traffic through the flooded j
streets of the city.
After several hours' letup, a heavy
rain began falling late this evening,
adding to the pocsibility of further
damage.
WLLA WALLA, Wash., March 16.
(Special.) Thousands of dollars'
damage was done in Walla Walla city
and county today by high water,
every creek in the valley overflowing
and washing out adjacent farm and
garden lands, tearing out lawns in
the city andofilling basements. Many
residents of the city tonight were un
able to reach their homes, houses be
inr; surrounded by water. Water was
the highest since May 30, 1906. Mill
creek, which flows through the city,
was overflowing and streams of water
six and eight inches in depth were
flowing down some of the principal
streets. Small bridges in the city
had been washed out and larger
bridges are menaced. Men were work
ing all day to help save the, bridges
across Park street and on Thirteenth
street.
Yellowhawk and Garrison creeks,
which flow out of Mill creek above
the city, were overflowing, filling
basements, and cellars and washing
out land.
The high water was due to a heavy
rain last night and this morning, ZVs
Inches falling this morning at the
water supply intake, thirteen miles
above the city. One result, aside from
the flood, was that the city water
supply was liquid mud.
Farmers who are unable to reach
the city telephoned that the heavy
rainfall has washed ditches in the
wheat fields some six and eight feet
deep. So bad was the washing in some
districts that farmers say they will
have to replow and reseed in order to
secure a crop this year.
Fire station No. 2 on Park street
had to be abandoned this afternoon,
as the water overflowed the lower
floor.
Rain continued tonight and Indica
tions were for more damage before
morning.
In the city 1.19 inches. of rain fell
up to 5 o'clock tonight.
Considerable damage was done -t
V.'aitsburg, where the Copei and
Touchet rivers went out of their
banks, flooding the upper end of the
town. School was dismissed hurried
ly and children were taken home in
automobiles. In Walla Walla street
car traffic on the East Walla Walla
line waa suspended beyond Division
and Pleasant streets, the bridge at
Pleasant and Ruth being undermined
until it was unsafe. Water on Fleas
ant street was so deep that cars could
not operate.
HOOD RIVER, Or. March 16. -(Special.
)-t-A huge slide of stones and
mud toppled from a canyon side of
the Columbia river highway between
Viento and Sonny tonight, completely
blocking the road. A dozen west-
Rights Are Waived and
Speedy Verdict Asked.
MOVE SURPRISE TO STATE
Court Adjourns Until Points in
Law Can Be Investigated.
HANGING IS NOT ASKED
Instructions to Jury Deal With
Justification for Killing a
Matter of Self Defense.
ARDMORE, Okla., March 16.
After waiving its right to argument,
the defense in the trial of Clara
Smith Hamon, charged with the mur
der of Jake L. Hamon, late today
asked that the case be sent im
mediately to the jury. Court ad
journed until tomorrow when a rul
ing will be made.
H. H. Brown of Ardmore. special
prosecutor, had just concluded
plea for the conviction of Clara
Hamon when W. P. McLean arose end
said:
"The state has opened-argument of
its case and -t has closed it."
The state was unprepared for the
move.
The court withheld a ruling until
Attorney-General Freeling could
reach the courtroom, ' and after he
had said that he wished time to ex
amine the law on the question the
court ordered adjournment until to
morrow.
Jury to Get Case by Noon.
Tonight Judge T. W. Champion
said that heretofore it had been the
practice to dispense with arguments
when counsel so elected la minor
cases.
The attorneys are not under a time
limit but it generally was said by
the eight attorneys involved, only
four of whom will speak if it is ruled
that the argument must go on, that
the case would be in the jury's hands
by noon tomorrow.
In his charge to the Jury, Judge
Champion pointed out the three de
grees of murder under the Oklahoma
code: Murder, with a sentence of life
imprisonment or electrocution; first
degree manslaughter with a sentence
of from four years to life imprison
ment, and second degree manslaugh
ter with a minimum fine of $1. He
also made plain the matters of self
defense, excusable homicide and dying
declarations.
Paving the way for Attcrney-Gen-eral
Freeling's closing argument and
asking that the defendant be convict
ed, Mr. Brown spoke one hour and
fifty minutes.
Comparison Is Invited.
Frequently he pointed to Mrs. Jake
It Hamon, as she sat weeping and
at the defendant and asked the Jurors
to compare the two.
Mr. Brown asserted Clara Hamon's
story of the shooting was "told from
the witness . stand yesterday in a
schooled tragic voice."
His references to her as a woman
who had. crept into the Hamon home
and who had "sold herself body and
soul" brought from the defendant no
sign of emotion. Her uncle, Ben Har
rison of Spokane, Wash,, who eat be
side her for the first time, scowled
at the attorney, and the faces of the
other relatives showed signs of
marked disapproval as he referred to
the Smith family as having profited
by the relations of Clara Hamon with
Colonel Hamon.
Apologry Made Mother.
In opening his address Mr. Brown
made what was interpreted in some
quarters as an apology for his re
marks yesterday in which he referred
to Mrs. J. L. Smith, mother of Clara
Hamon, as "the old woman."
He paid tribute Jo his younger
brother, Russell Brown, former county
attorney, who placed the information
charging murder against Clara Ha
mon. Should it be ruled tomorrow that
arguments in the trial are not ended,
the defense counsel will present three
of its members before Attorney-General
Frecling makes the' final argu
ment. The attorneys will not be lim
ited in their debate.
The case made rapid progress to
day. The defense announced that it
rested when Judge Champion ruled
Inadmissible letters purported to have
been written by Colonel Hamon to
Clara Hamon.
The state hurried through with Its
rebuttal testimony, offering five wit
nesses, three of whom previously had
testified.
- A
. Hatred Quoted by Reporter.
Sam Blair, a Chicago reporter, who
obtained an interview with the de
fendant while she was a fugitive in
Chihuahua City, Mexico, testified
that the interview as printed was "in
substance" as was given to him. He
said he wrote it 20 hours after he ob
tained it and after he returned to El
Paso, Tex., and had taken no notes.
" Blair had quoted Clara Hamon as
having referred to a will which he
said she said she believed would be
kept hidden until after her trial and
then brought to light, as having told
him of the details of a fight on the
night of November 21 when Colonel
Hamon was nhot and as having maid
Concluded oa Faf e . Coluioa
Police Are Called to Put Down
Disturbance and Disorder Be
comes Xcar.Riot.
CHICAGO, March 16. Police rein
forcements tonight were called to Or
chestra hall to quiet a tumultuous au
dience gathered to hear Sir Philip
Gibbs, English author and war cor
respondent, who spoke on the "Irish
question." A dozen hecklers, said to
be Sinn Fein sympathizers, were es
corted from the gallery and allowed
to go free.
The first and most violent heckler
had to be dragged from his seat by
two policemen, one of whom wrenched
his neck while the other twisted his
arms behind him as he kicked and
shrieked profanity. The heckler wore
an American army uniform on which
were foreign service strtpes and two
medals.
"You disgrace your uniform, you
horrid man!" shouted .a fashionably
gowned woman who had left her box
and rushed to the lobby. . The man
started to answer, but a policeman
muzzled his mouth.' He was thrust
through the entrance and told to stay
away. A man who had interfered in
the eviction also was put out.
The heckling was from the gallery
and the second balcony.
Sir Philip took the disturbance
complacently, with his hands caress
ing the lapels of his dress coat, but
became annoyed when occupants of
the first floor and box seats, becom
ing indignant, shouted: "Drag 'em
out!" "Kick 'em out!" Again derision
came from the upper region.
"Please," finally said Sir Philip to
his friendly auditors, most of whom
could not hear him, "don't say any
thing. Don't shout at them. You're
making It worse. They'll tire pretty
soon. Let them go it, I beg of you."
The manager then ascended the
stage and placing his hand apologet
ically about the shoulders of Sir Phil
ip, raised his voice to say "I am the
manager." That was as far as he got.
Pretty soon he started smiling, so did
the speaker.
- "These people," the manager shout
ed, "have come here to hear a lecture,
have paid money to hear it. Why
can't you be fair?" The last of this
died away in hurrahs roused by a
shout: "Hurrah for De Valera."
Sir Philip then seized the next lull,
saying: "Don't you men up there
know I'm your friend? I'm here to
tell Ireland's side, too." Hisses and
boos descended.
The reinforcements arrived, sprin
kled about the gallery and second
balcony. One fist fight resulted be
tween two men, one of whom was
being evicted.
"We're sure giving this audience its
money's worth," said the last man
evicted. Laughter followed this and
the audience then settled down.
"Such a burst of enthusiasm!" ex
claimed Sir Philip, preparing to re
sume his subject. "Really I am con
vinced there is much interest in my
subject."
CULT HEAD LOSES SUIT
$100,000 Damages Awarded Wom
an in Alienation Case.
SAN DIEGO, Cal., March 16. A ver
dict of $100,000 against Mme. Kath
erlne Tinglcy, theosophical leader,
was given in favor of Mrs. Irene M.
Mohn in superior court here tonight.
Mrs. Mohn sued for $200,000, charg
ing that the theosophist had alienated
the affections of her husband. Dr. G.
F. Mohn.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY S Highest temperature,
56
degrees; loweat, 51; rain.
TODAY'S Rain, southerly winds.
Foreign.
Allies will stay on Rhine until debt is
paid or steps taken by Germany to
tncet demands, say French. Page 2.
British sign agreement tor trade resump
tion with Russian soviet republic.
Page 2.
De Valera scores British policies. Page 1.
National.
Secretary Wallace to ask president to act
In favor of wool and wheat embargoes.
Page 1.
President Harding soon to launch Inten
sive drive for foreign commerce. Page 4.
Domestic.
Mavor Teters of Boston, disguised, spends
night in charity lodgings. Page 1.
Hamon defense waives right to argument
and asks for verdict. Page 1.
WaHress describes bedroom teas for Mrs.
Stokes and Wallace. Page 4.
Unions pledge aid to meat cutters. Page 5.
Sir Philip Gibbs heckled in Chicago by
reputed friends of Ireland. Puge 1.
Pacific Northwest.
Extrmlv heavy rainfall dors serious
damage at Walla Walla. Pas; 1.
Removal of Idaho normal school author
ised. Pago 7.
Governor vetoes blue sky measure. Page 7.
Sport. y
Frank Murphy and Dave Shade head box
ing card tonight at Milwaukle arena.
Page 10.
Beaver pitchers coacHed on fielding first.
Page 10.
Seven accused White Sox players fired
permanently. Page 10.
Commercial and Marine.
British government decontrol of grain may
stimulate American market. Page 18.
Stock market is strong and advances are
general. Page 19.
Portland put on same basis as other coast
ports when rate on gunny bags is put
at $7. Page 12.
Shipbuilding firm of Comfoot & Mcintosh
to be dissolved. Page 32.
Portland and Vicinity.
Etherldges, Fred S. Morris and P. B.
Pratt Indicted on embezzlement
charges. Page 1.
Foster road property owners are engaged
in bitter row over proposed drainage
sewer system. Page 13.
State hotel men angry at phone rate ln
crease and are expected to aslc rehear
lng. Page 6.
Mayor Baker seeks to have city election
combined with special state balloting
June 7. Page 6.
Mrs. Nina Churchman Larowe, well-known
Portland woman, dies. Page 11.
Police believe suMpct held In Los Angeles
is Portland "shadow." Page 6.
County seeks fund to build loop road.
Page 19.
Seveu soft drink licences revoked. Page 7.
Mfrf tir wUi lu4 duxity campaign. Page 2m
Etheridges, Morris and
F. B. Pratt Indicted.
BOND THEFTS ARE ALLEGED
$25,000 Stock Said to Have
Been Turned Over for $1.
$1800 IN INTEREST TAKEN
Coupons on $75,000 Worth of
Bonds Said to Have Been Cut
While Making for East.
Warrants issued on four Indict
ments returned by the Multnomah
county prand Jury, each charging lar
ceny by embezzlement, were served
yesterday on Fred S. Morris, John L.
Etheridge and Forbes B. Tratt of the
defunct bond house of Morris Bros.,
Inc., and Mrs. Stella M. Ktheridge.
wife of the ex-oresident of the firm.
Mrs. Etheridge was allowed freedom
on her own recognizance and the oth
ers were released on bail.
The indictments spring not from
the failure of the bond house di
rectly but from transactions in al
leged frenzied finance which led up
to the crisis in the affairs of the
concern. Ktheridge and Morris are
Indicted as principals, Mrs. Etheridge
as an aid to deals by her husband,
and Pratt as secretary and director
of the bond house, supposedly cogni
zant, and approving, of transactions
by which the state charges the cor
poration was looted by its officers.
Stock Deal Involved.
One of the indictments, returned
against Etheridge and Morris, con
cerns the deal of February 21. 1919.
by which Etheridsre purchased the
stock of Morris Bros, with J 100.
000 which, it is said, was taken
from the assets of the company. At
that time a cashier's check was
drawn for- $100,000 at the North
western National bank by the cor
poration and deposited to the credit
of Stella M. Etheridge at the Forest
Grove National bank.
Two checks were issued from that
deposit, according: to Jay H. Stock
man, deputy district attorney assist
ing: In the grand jury investigation,
one for approximately $96,000 in
favor of Henrietta Morris, sister of
Fred S. Morris, and the other for
$4000 in favor of Morris. This is
said to have been the consideration
paid by the Etheridercs for the $100,
000 stock of the firm of Morris
Bros. After being; checked out of
the Forest Grove bank, the $100,000
still was carried on the books of the
company in trial balances as on de
posit in that city, it is alleged.
$75,000 Sent Away, Report.
The joint indictment of EU.erlJga
and his wife involves $100,000 in
bonds which were taken from the
assets of tha local bond house in
February, 19-0, during a threatened
grand jury investigation by State
Treasurer lloff.
These bonds were Issued to Mrs.
Etheridge, said Deputy Stockman, a
few days after she had been credited
on the books of the corporation with
$102,000, apparently to satisfy that
credit. About $-5,000 worth which
were ready to mature, it is said, were
placed in a safe deposit box of Ethe
ridge in Portland and the remaining
$75,000 worth sent to the branch bond
house of Morris Bros, at Tacoma.
After the departure of Etheridge
from Portland December 24, 1920, he
picked up the $75,000 In bonds at Ta
coma. clipped the coupons, to the
value of about $1800, and expressed
the bonds back to Fred S. Morris.
They were intercepted and seized by
Sheriff JIurlburt, under the direc
tion of District Attorney Evans, on
their arrival in Portland.
Stock Sold for $1, Clinrge.
A third Indictment, returned against
Etheridge, Morris and Pratt, Involves
the turning over of stock in the
Ilogue River Water company, va.lued
at $25,000, to Fred and Henrietta
Morris for $1, in February, 1919,
when the firm virtually was insolvent.
H is said. Pratt as secretary and
director of the corporation signed the
resolution authorizing this action, it
is said.
The fourth , indictment, brought
against Etheridge alone, concerns a
deposit of $30,000 made in May, 1919.
Jo the account of Stella Etheridge,
from funds of Morris Bros., at the
Northwestern National bank. Books
of the company at the time howed
that the money was placed to the ac
count of Morris Bros., declared Deputy
Stockman, and it was not until No
vember, 1919, that the matter was
called to the attention of Etheridge
and he instructed that the item be
charged off to his account.
Morris was admitted to bail of
$10,000 by Presiding Circuit Judge
Kavanaugh yesterday, this being
$5000 on each of the two counts on
which he was indicted. The reduction
from $20,000 was permitted. Frank
A. Spencer and Louis Gerlinger were
his bondsmen. Pratt was permitted
to give cash ball of $2000 Instead of a
$5000 bond and released. As Ether
idge already had $1S,000 up on one
charge and $2000 on another while
the grand Jury was conducting its
Concluded ou 4 Ct4ums 4
!
I
f
v.-
I":
!-:-.-
-
e
'.
f
V:
15 ;f;w'--'