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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 1921)
TIIE MORNING OREGONIAN, SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 1921 T ALLEGED SLAYER CAPTURED IN CANADA, HIS WIFE AND HIS ALLEGED VICTIM. ARREST ATTRIBUTED week with a Torce of men making permanent connections on the new water mains on the streets the new highway'will run. Crater Lake Rim Road Open. MEPFORD, Or . Auc. IS. fSpeclal ) The rim road around Crater lake is open to travel, the last big cut through the deep snow still on the wonderful scenic road having been made yesterday afternoon. A short time later the first automobile with tourists from Nebraska completed the circuit. BY C1M POLICE d3 TO ROSEBURG TIP fioseburg Fugitive Agrees to Waive Extradition. Nature of Clew, However, Is Not Revealed. IDENTITY IS ADMITTED SHERIFF HIGHLY PLEASED Another Xame Given at First, but Later Retracted 'Dentist Is t Silent as to Crime. Mrs. Brumfield Refuses to Believe Husband Is Murderer "Unless Told So- by Himself. r BRUMFELD CAUGH r " ":-"'"innir r; Ill - .."" WW- ; ' - . ' - , -s West Paik near Vashingt Direciion JensenV6n'Herber ' (Continued From First PQ ijrumfield," said Waugh, stepping up and snapping the handcuffs on his wrists. From under the mattress on Erumfield's bed at the farm the po lice took a letter which Brumfield tonight admitted he had written for direction to District Attorney Keuner of Douglas county, Oregon. Brumfield's intention apparently lad been to create the impression that the Roseburg dentist was the iman who was found dead under the charred wreckage of Brumfield's automobile on the Pacific highway ' Hear Dillard. L Letter Is in Bad English. The letter was written in very bad lEnglish (evidently as Brumfield thought Russell would have written it) and purported to be an explana tion of how Russell came to his ideath in the automobile in which Jhe and Brumfield were riding. It declared that the car was wrecked, Jlussell killed in the smash and the car burned all -by accident. The ..writer said he changed clothes with .the man and made his escape out of the country. The author also admitted that he Shot the dead man in the shoulders. The letter very evidently was an attempt by Brumfield to make it appear that it was he who had been Sailed, that Russell had escaped and jwas confessing in the letter. The writer declared that he had keen drinking with the dentist, who vas driving the car when an acci dent occurred. He told of injury to his head in the wreck and then of having walked to Oakland, where he boarded a train. (This fits in with the report of a Roseburg-Port-and train crew at the time that they had seen Dr. Brumfield, dressed like a tramp, board the tram at that city). :-' He said he stripped ' the clothing from the dead doctor and wore them himself, so as to mislead the pursuers, believing Russell to be the decapitat ed man beneath the automobile. The letter said in part: "You don't need to be scared of your man being caught for murder, for he died in the wreck of his car about the middle of July. I was. with him and was hurt, too. I wouldn't have done what I did after he was killed if I had not drunk the whisky I did. When 1 found his head was gone I fixed him to look like I was the one killed. Some folks had seen us together at my House, so X put my clothes on him and shot him in the shoulder tv, times to make it look like murder. Firing of Auto Explained. "His clothes were torn and bloody, to I put on a pair of blue overalls of Doc's that I found in the back seat .nd Doc's cap. I was looking with c match under the car for Doc's head when the car got on fire. Gas must have been leaking out. I had to run like hell to get .away. I forgot his clothes by the car. I only took his money. "I went to Roseburg and walked up the railway tracks nearly to Suther lin that night, then I made a bed of hay in some bushes by a creek and stayed there all day. "The doc showed me $535 he had In his pocket. He said he was to pay this to a Roseburg bank next day. When we went back to his car he had a bottle of whisky. I took a big drink. Doc said he didn't like it and didn't drink any. While we were talk ing I got awful sick and Doc said for me to take a ride with him and I would be all right. We went a little ways when I leaned -out of the car and threw up, and the door came open. I fell out and burst my nose uwful; I couldn't get up. so doc had to put me in the car. My nose bled awful and I got blood, all over him. Doctor Declared Afraid. "I was mad and scared, too. He was afraid somebody would have him jinched for giving me whisky. We went nearly to Myrtle Creek and turned round. ' I was still awful sick when I reached my house, so doc said he would take me to Roseburg to see a doctor. When we got to Roaeburg I was better and asked the doctor to take me home. He said no; my wife didn't know where I am. so he wouldn't take me home with him, and take me back early next morning." In conclusion, Brumfield wrote "The doc, driving awfully fast at the time and being without lights ran oft road.' You know the rest. 1 have killed several men, but they were all In war and all greasers but ' one, but this has worried me sick There is no use to hunt me. I am Roing away from here today (evi dently referring to Banff) to place I know they cannot find me. Calgary police notified Roseburg ond an officer has been dispatched to bring him back. The prisoner admit ted to the chief of police that he was Brumfield and would not fight extra dition. Whisker Growth la Heavy. When Brumfield was arrested at the ranch he had a heavy growth of whis kers and was attired in farm labor ir. lathes. Brumfield was brought here by au- ..tomobile and was locked up in the city Jail. Brumfield was run down as a direct result of his sending the express order from Banff to Seattle, for the ship ment he had made from Myrtle Creek In sendinjr the order, he had signed - the name of "Mrs. Norman Whitney As a result of the message to the Seattle office of the company, the Canadian authorities were Informed ..that the sender of the order probably ..was the Koseburgf fugitive. Then they : Investigated and the arrest followed. In the meantime Sheriff Starmer of Roseburg had flooded the Pacific and Canadian northwest with circulars and pictures of the fugitive and these helped make the police more sure of their quarry. Tio Worry la Noticed. In his cell in the Calgary police station Brumfield again admitted that his true name was Dr. Brumfield. Tonight under examination by Chief Ritchie Brumfield said: "I am willing to go back and I will tell all I know to Ueorge Is'euner, district attorney." Brumfield would not admit that there was a charge of murder against him, nor would he have anything fur ther to say . about the crime with which he is charged. He told the chief, however, how he had worked his way up from Roseburg, crossed the international boundary, visited Lake Louise and Banff and later had obtained work in Calgary as a farm laborer on the ranch on which he was arrested. Brumfield is in good "health and does not seem to be worrying much. He has a month's growth of beard on his face. The officers took Brumfield away from the Vader farm immediately after searching his person and his quarters. Mrs. Vader made up a sand wich for him and the prisoner ate it in the automoDile. He was garbed only in shoes, a pair of overalls and shirt and cap. FEDERAL ACTIOX Extradition of Dr. Brumfield Is Matter for State. Department. SALEM, Or., Aug. 12. (Special.) Under the international law regulat ing the extradition of persons charged with crime from Canada to the United States It will be necessary for the district attorney of Douglas county, where Dr. R. M. Brumfield was al leged to have murdered Dennis Rus- seH. to first make application for extradition or the prisoner to Oregon executive department. If the papers are found to be reg ular, the governor then wm issue a requisition upon the governor-general or other proper Canadian offi cials for the return of the dentist. This requisition must be Bent to Washington for approval of the state department. Subsequent proceedings relating to the return of the prisoner will be be- CHRONOLOGY OF" EVENTS IX ' BRUMFIELD CASE. - ', July 13 Dr. R. M. Brumfield's ' car wrecked and burned on Pa- ' cific highway near Dillard, ' Douglas county. Just before midnight." j July 14 Charred and head- 1 less body found beneath burned wreck of Dr. Brumfield's car at bottom of embankment. Iden tified early In day as Dr. Brum field by ring on finger. War rant issued late in day for Brumfield; body declared that of Dennis Russell, laborer, re siding near Dillard. July 15 Headless body iden tified as Dennis Russell by . brothers of Rhssell; as Dr. -Brumfield by Mrs. Brumfield. Examination reveals - bullet wounds in body; jawbones and" teeth found to be extracted. Hunt for Brumfield spreads. July 16 James Hunter; finger print expert, summoned to Rose burg from Portland. Search of Brumfield's dental office fails to reveal any finger prints. Hunt for Brumfield continues. July 17 S o u t h e r n Pacific train crew declares Brumfield was on train bound for Portland late on night of July 13. Sus pect that dentist has fled through Portland. July 18 Posse trails suspi cious auto party near Bend. Brumfield declared seen passing; south in auto through La Pine, i Mrs. 'Brumfield insists that' corpse of murdered man is her husband. July 19 Coroner's Jury con venes double identification of body made by witnesses. July 20 Jury declares body that of Dennis Russell. Death resulted from gunshot wounds inflicted by unnamed man. July 21 Brumfield reward raised to $2000 by. Douglas county court. Reports that Brumfield has passed through widely scattered places com ing in. July 22-August 5 Brumfield clews followed by posse in cen-. . tral and southern Oregon. Re ported seen by friends. Thought to have fled into northern Call-, fornia. August 6 Mazama party held up near Beaver marsh in Cas cades. Brumfield declared one of robbers. August 6 Package of wom en's clothes shipped to Seattle by Brumfield the day of Rus sell's murder is returned to Roseburg. August 12 Full month from date of Russell murder. Brum field captured near Calgary by mounted police. ft . - r tm I- . - ' ! - 4 -x - 1 ' NECESSARY It 1 " , - U. H ' - 5 i - v. -j i r iri. ini.il. i in, il, . . , , ,1 . n ii iir;iiiMiiiiiiTifirtiim1rT"''"-"-T-' tiwM-iw - thei :;:,, ,, ',, " jf - i j ii i... i" m - ' i Top Dr. It. M. Brumfield, whose attempt to have worthlf shipment for- warded to htm led to hi arrest, and contended her husband u dead. allrsed victim. tween the state department officials at Washington and the Canadian au thorities. Although reports received in Salem indicate that Dr. Brumfield has announced that he will return to Roseburg without formal extradition, it was not believed here that the Douglas county officials would un dertake the trip after the prisoner without first obtaining formal con sent of extradition by the Canadian authorities. Besides' a reward of J1000 offered by . tile county court of Doug las county for the arrest of the mur derer of Dennis Russell, a similar re ward has been recommended upon behalf of the state by Governor Ol cott. The latter reward must be paid by the legislature, there being no available funds for the compensation of officers or other persons instru mental in the capture of persons wanted for the commission of crime. .NOTE IX BOTTLE IS FOC.VD Brumfield Declared to nave Been Portland Visitor. After Dr. Brumfield's capture had been reported here yesterday, police revealed that he had been a visitor to Portland immediately after the crime while on his way to Canada. His presence was prior to July 22. as it was on that date that a man found a bottle floating in the Wil lamette sealed and containing a note signed with the name "Dr. Brumfield." Police at first were inclined to be lieve the note war a hoax perpe trated by some praewcai joker or sensation lover, but tne bottle and note were sent to-Sheriff Starmer at Jloseburg, and the next day he tele-gra-phed that Dr. Brumfield's banker had identified the signature as gen uine. There was no clew In the body of the letter to show where Brumfield had stayed while In Portland, and Captain Circle sent the letter to Sheriff Starmer without making a copy of it for the use. of his own men. It was asserted that part of the missive found in the bottle poked fun at the police, indicating that Brumfield had enjoyed the sensation of rubbing elbows with the sleuths who were supposed' to be watching for him. Another paragraph asserted that the writer would be at a certain St. Paul hotel on July . 21, and gave an itinerary purporting to be future plans of escape which would land Dr.. Brumfield ultimately , in Buenos Aires. It was asserted in the detective's office last night that no report of the finding "of the bottle had been filed, and that it was impossible for the department to give the name of the man who ..found the bottle be cause no record was kept. With -the presence of Dr. Brum field in Portland the latter part of July indicated by the bottle, detec Uvea recalled that a woman had re ported to them that she had enter tained a woman caller whom she was Mrs. Brumfield, who has aiteadfastly Below Dennis Ruwcll, Brumfield's sure was Dr. Brumfield disguised as i a woman. But little attention was I paid to the, report at the time, it was! said, and the department had no rec-1 ord to show who the woman was wno maae me report 10 mem. une ae- tective was sent to call on the woman and investigate her story, but he was thought to have paid little attention to the assignment. At any rate the deteutive office was unable last night to produce his report or to reveal the name -of the detective who was sup pose to have investigated it. The note in the bottle was disre garded as a palpable ruse, and such disposition was justified, by the dis covery that Dr. Brumfield had been in communication with a Canadian Australasian steamship company re garding passenger and shipping rates from Vancouver, B. C, to Australia. The date of the letter of inquiry, as revealed by the steamship company, was three weeks prior to the murder of Dennis Russell, adding another link in the chain of circumstantial evidence to prove that the crime was one of unusual premeditation. As Brumfield's plans slipped when he was seen on the road, with the 'dead , body of the victim; so they slipped in his negotiations with the steamship company. Their reply, for some reason, was delayed so long it did not reach Roseburg until after the commission of the crime. Sheriff Starmer was notified that the letter was waiting for Brumfield, and he is thought to have it in bis posses sion. 1 From the evidence at hand, Brum field was thought to have planned to remain hidden near Calgary which is well back from the coast until the sharp lookout of officers was over. Then he would have slipped to Van couver unobtrusively to obtain pas sage to Australia. The package containing women's wearing apparel, shipped by Dr, Brumfield from Myrtle creek on the afternoon of the murder of Dennis Russell, to "Mrs. Norman Whitney" in Seattle, was undoubtedly the clew that led to Brumfield's capture in Calgary. When this package was re turned to the Roseburg officers and it was found that it had been shipped to "Mrs. Whitney." the first real clew to Brumfield's location was dis covered. Police officials throughout the United States and Canada were notified, and when Brumfield, from Banff, sought to have the package forwarded to him he clipped into a self-made . trap . that led to his cap ture. That Dr. Brumfield had long pre meditated the murder of Russell, and figured the mysterious package as a part of the means of his escape, was shown by the fact that he made an effort to obtain it from Seattle and have it forwarded to Banff. When he sent the package from Myrtle Creek he endeavored to have it ex pressed to Canada, but was informed that it would be impossible for him to have it shipped over the line. This showed that in his premeditation he planned to make his escape into Canada. Had Brumfield forgotten the f ack- age, and cut himself free from all correspondence, he probably would have remained a free man much longer than he did. Just why Dr. Brumfield should have been so anxious to recover the package which he had shipped from Myrtle Creek is one of the many mysteries of the case. The package contained several "articles of women's underwear, new, which Brumfield had bought in Roseburg, and some mis cellaneous articles of no value which had been in the packing case which Brumfield bought in the store at Rose burg to use as a conta'ner for his shipment. The theory of the Roseburg offi cers was that Brumfield had shipped the package as a blind, but this was exploded by the development that he sent for it afterwards. Brumfield's action in regard to this package, as well as his folly in leav ing a bottle' message concerning his visit to .Portland, in handwriting post tively identified by his banker as Brumfield's.. points rather strongly toward insanity , as the only possible motive for such' acts, officers said. SLAYER BLAMES WEDDING MATT WHO SHOT PRIEST SAYS ROW WAS OVER DAUGHTER, Rev. James Ooyle Is Said to Have Officiated at Marriage of T Assassin's Child. BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Aug. 1JJ. Kd ward R. Stephenson, barber and itin erant preacher, who yesterday sho " " J panics LC, " " . vi. lii ziuivaiiia iui iliC V. LL L 1 1 olic church and pastor of St. Paul's) church, had little to say today re garding 'the shooting. "I remonstrated with him for mar rying my daughter Ruth to a man against whom we had iodged obi-" -tions," said the prisoner. "I called him a 'dirty dog.' He struck me ana then I shot him." Father Coyle was shot on the porch of St. Paul's rectory and died in a hospital without regaining conscious ness. Members of the priest's house hold saw his assailant approach the rectory, but did not hear the conver sation. "For a Ions time," Mrs. Stephenson, wife of the prisoner, said today, "our daughter Ruth has evinced fttrnnir re Kard for the Catholic church. When she was married to a man of that faith, it brought matters to a head." Ruth Stephenson was married to Pedro Gussman, who was born in Porto Rico Stephenson, his wife said, never had held a regular pastorate and had fre quented the courthouse, where he whs called the "marrying parson." because of the number of marriage ceremonies he had performed in the county building. Stephenson is not a member of the Southern Methodist church. Rev. Dr. Robert Echols, presiding elder of tne Birmingham district, said today. TWO BOYS ARE FUGITIVES Youths Escape From State Training School Tliroug-li Open Window. Lester Welsbarger, 13, and Billy Butcher, 12, 'climbed through a win dow that had been opened to permit rnore air to enter the dormitory a't the state training school for boys, oh to a fire hose and escaped late last night. Welsbarger, who was sent to the reformatory from Morrow county, is five feet in height, has gray eyes, short black hair and the left side of his face is covered, with a scar caused by a burn when he was an Infant. The left eyelid is drawn, due to the burn. The Butcher boy, whose home Is in Woodburn. is four feet six inches in height, has gray eyes and dark short hair. The usual reward of $5 is offered ror information that will lead to the arrest of these boys. LAND OFFERER VETERAN'S 2 00 Farms In "Wyoming to Be Held 60 Days for ex-Service Men. WASHINGTON", D. C. Aug. 12. More than 200 farms on government reclaimed lands will be opened - to entry by ex-service men next month. Until 60 days after the opening, the interior department announced to day, none but veterans will be per mitted to make filings, but others will be accepted later, if any claim remains unfiled by soldiers at that time. The farms are on the North 'Platte Irrigation project, Wyoming, and will be opened for entry September 9, while other's on the Shoshone project, 57 in number, will be opened one week later. Admiral Peoples Coming Wst. WASHINGTON, D. C. Aug. 12. De tail of Rear-Admiral Christian J. Peo. pies, bureau of supplies and .accounts, navy department, to be general In spector of supply corps for the Pacific coast was announced today in navy orders. The admiral will be relieved of his duties here September 1. Read The Oregonlan classified ads. ROSEBURG, Or- Aug. 12. (Spe cial.) "There Is no doubt but that the man captured in Calgary.. Canada, is Dr. Brumfield." said District At torney Neuner this afternoon, follow ing the receipt of the message that the alleged murderer of JJennis itus sell had been placed under arrest. I have had a second telegram trom the chief of police, David Ritchie. No doubt the clew furnished from the Douglas county sheriff's office led to Brumfield's capture. The place ot the capture was the Identical place stated in the clew on which we have been working. That is all that I can say at this time. The doctor, having waived extradition, will expedite the matter of his return and as soon as Sheriff Starmer returns from Reeds- port, which will be late tonight or tomorrow, consultation will be had and Brumfield's return arranged." It has been intimated that a tip i was given the Calgary officers by the local sheriff's office. The na ture of this clew the officers, how ever, declared, would not be revealed until they were positive the man in custody is Dr. Brumfield. Two Telegrams Received. The only information received by the local officers was in the nature of two telegrams from the chief of police, stating that Brumfield had been placed under arrest. The tele grams were quite positive in their tone and for this reason the officers here believed that the suspect is the man for whom they have been seek ing. Sheriff Starmer was absent from the city when the news of the arrest was received. He passed the day at Reedsport and was informed of the capture by ' telephone. He expressed his delight and announced that he would return here at once. The sher iff's office recently flooded Canada with hundreds of posters, carrying a photograph and description of Dr. Brumfield. Several of these were sent to the chief of police at Calgary and he doubtless made his identification more positive from this description. Officers Work on Theory. The officers during the past week have been working hard on the theory that the suspect might have gone into Canada and hav. been endeavoring to develop . that clew. This is based largely upon the package which was sent from Myrtle creek to Seattle. Although it was first thought that the package had been sent for a ruse, the officers followed up the trail, and the subsequent capture of the man under the name to which the package was addressed makes them belive that he might have intended to call for the woman's" apparel, but became frightened when the officers sent out the warning that he might be In wo man's disguise. The theory has been advanced that there has been a woman connected with the case, but the officrs de clard that they have no definite evl- i dence in this regard. Xote Is Found In Bottle. I Another clew that Brumfield had I gone north was received by the offi cers in the form of a note which was picked up by the Portland police in a bottle, found floating in the Colum bia river. The note was written-ap parently on July 16 and was not found until several days later. The mes sage was signed by Dr. Brumfield and a local bank identified the signature The note was as follows: Portland, Or., July 16. Whoever discovers this bottle will do me a great favor if they will notify my friends that I was not in Redmond at all and furthermore I was not the hobo that rode on the blind baggage, as the newspapers have it. I am a slicker and these guys will never get me, because they are too damned slow to catch cold. I will be in St. Paul, at the Hotel Ryan, July 21, and from there I am going to Buenos Aires Cordially yours, K. M. Brumfield." Mrs. Brumfield insisted, following the receipt of the news of the capture of the dentist, that the officers were mistaken and that the suspect was not her husband. In the event that the statement was true, she said, she Is positive he U insane. She will not believe that h ' committed the murder until he says bo with bis own lips, was her statement. Mrs. Brumfield is a woman with exceptionally good emotional control and It is impossible to judge her feelings from her bearing. When the telegram announcing the capture of the suspect was received she was found consulting with her attorneys. When informed of the news, she ap peared to be bewildered but. not un usually nervous. Kews Considered Mistake. "It must be a mistake," she said. "I cannot believe he is still alive. I have always said that I will not believe that he committed the crime until I hear him say so with his own lips. If he does say so I will believe and say that he is insane." Roseburg was wildly excited within a few minutes after the telegram had been received. The announcement arrived a few moments before the local paper went to press and by press time the street in front of the office was crowded and blocked. Hundreds of telephone calls poured In from country districts and people were greatly aroused. Although there is little prospect of violence, the officers said that the prisoner would be brought into Doug las county with all precaution. It is quite probable that the time of arrival will be kept secret and it has been intimated that several guards will accompany the dentist into Roseburg. MOB WHIPS TWO BLACKS Florida Town Marshal . Requested to Resign Position. ORLANDO, Fla.. Aug. 12 Two negroes were whipped and the town marshal of Longwood, near here, was requested to resign last night by 16 masked men, according to . word received here.. The marshal's activities In attempt ing to enforce the speed laws prompted the request for his resig nation, it was said. The negroes were whipped for blocking the roadway with their vehicles, it was stated. Yamhill Mains Being Connected. YAMHILL, Or., Aug. 12. (Special.) E. F. Magoon, mayor and city water commissioner, Is busy this V TODAY! The Big Picture of the Season Direct- from the Rialto, New York' finest thea ter, where it broke all records in spite of hot test weather. VUSKMUl rowemetur Mot lis from his serial story in Hearst's Magazine. A tremendous story of temptation and a beauti ful woman. It strikes at the heart of America's greatest problem DIVORCE Comedy, Kinograms and the big Peoples Orchestra I lit MM-' V-"a" "WHAT'S A WIFE WORTH?" Man Gets and Forgets Woman Gives and Forgives 14 Comedy Weekly New York's Opinion: "Beautiful story and famous novel acted and directed with high art." New York Evening Journal. "A hit picture extremely artis tic ending 'The Wild Goose" says many good things." Alan Dale. "Extremely well done a relief from the customary a lovely, win some little girl. Rita Rogan. Gained unanimous approval plen ty of thrills and tense moments" New York Evening Mail. "A first-class attraction. one of the best feature photodramas re leased In some time." Morning Telegraph. wsa.JHrwiw. klmmnCannntamM TODAY! ' I I S. Is it for happiness, convenience, companionship, motherhood, or WHAT? lllllP