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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 1922)
TIIE MORNING OEEGONIAN, THURSDAY. DECEMBER T, 1923 " 8 GOVERNOR RUSSELL FACES HIS ACCUSER WOMAN WHO SLEW HER MOONSHINER CONSORT. AND OTHER FIGURES IN CASE 1ESE0 S begun before a federal rand jury today into the circumstances of the sal of the Bosch Magneto company by the office of the alien property austodian. The inquiry is being di rected by Herman J. Galloway, a special assistant attorney-general, who arrived today from Washing ton, and United States Attorney Hayward. lost the stolid composure that - she had maintained since being taken into custody and broke down and wept. She kissed the dead man's forehead several times. nounced that the questioning had no result. Mrs. Baratti insists that her husband killed himself. DEFY IS 0R1T1ES Phone your want ads to The Ore- Afterwards she was questioned goni&n. All its readers are inter- bv fl police detertivp. but it Wag an- ested in the classified rolumns. "' - 7- Stenographer's Charges De nied by Executive. LAISON BRANDED FALSE Young Woman, on Witness Stand, - in TearsVhile She Relates Details of Her Romance. OXFORD, Miss., Dec. 6. (By the Associated Press.) Lee M. Eussell, governor of Mississippi, today denied in federal court here allegations of wrongs made by Miss Frances Birk head, stenographer, basis of a suit for $100,000 damages against Mr. Russell now on trial. Against this. Miss Birkhead, on the witness stand, reiterated in de tail statutory charges and other al legations made in her petition for redress. 3t was the opening day of thrf ac tual trial and a day crowded with sensational declarations. Governor Kussell, called by coun , eel for Miss Birkhead as an "ad verse witness," was on the witness stand a comparatively short time, but was expected to be recalled for a lengthy examination. He deolared the charges without foundation. Alleged lielutlons Detailed. Miss Birkhead, who was called to the witness chair when Mr. Russell vacated it, was under cross-examination when court adjourned tonight. In a voice scarcely audible a few feet from the witness box she gave, on direct examination, a detailed narrative of alleged relations With the governor while she was in his employ during his campaign for the governorship in. 1918, and brought her testimony to a climax with a dramatic declaration that one of the papers offered in evi dence by the defense was a forg ery. . ' The taking of testimony began at the afternoon session of court after selection of a jury was accepted with unexpected rapidity. Governor Russell asserted that he employed Miss Birkhead as a sten ographer in Jackson. He denied he talked with her in a Jackson drug store prior to her employment and. in turn, declared untrue various other alleged incidents. Authorship of Letter Denied. "Did you not admit in the pres ence of former Governor Theodore G. Bilbo that you were responsible for Miss Birkhead's condition and asked Mr. Bilbo to settle the mat ter?" was one of the questions asked by the governor. "I did not," was the retort. Introduction of a letter signed "Mary" brought a denial by the gov ernor that he was the author and. as a test for comparison as to hand writing, he wrote the same word ing from dictation in the courtroom, Both were submitted as exhibits. The letter, which. Miss Birkhead said she received while engaged in war work at Camp Jacksoiv during the 1919 political campaign in Mis sissippi, urged the recipient "to get treatment there." Miss Birkhead charges that she submitted to an operation at the suggestion of the governor and as a result her health was permanently impaired. She testified that the letter was in Mr. Russell's hand writing. Young Woman fn Tenrs. . Miss Birkhead, part of the time in tears, was under direct examination for nearly two hours.- Her cross ex amination was only in its early stages when the court adjourned for the day. "The governor appeared interest ing and he told me he loved me," the young woman testified. "Each time I saw him he appeared more inter esting. He told me he was getting a divorce." "He never left the office without kissing me good-by," Miss Birkhead said at another part of her testi mony. She told of going to Oxford and of her residence at the Russell home there. Governor Russell previously had explained that Miss Birkhead accompanied him and Mrs. Russell to their home to aid in the sending of campaign literature, the purpose for which, he said, she was employed. Wife Faints, Though Mate Js Held Not Guilty. Womnn, Falling; to Hear Verdict Shrieks Hysterically. THINKING that the defendant was the person primarily interested in the matter, E. M. Morton, clerk of the federal court, read the ver dict in a sufficiently loud tone for his words to carry to the table where the accused man was sitting. As he finished, a woman sitting in a far corner of the court room. sUrieked, moaned hysterically and toppled over on the back of the bench ahead of the one on which she was seated. The woman was 'the defendant's wife. She failed to hear the little word "not" in the verdict. For several minutes bailiffs and court attendants were busy with glasses of water and first aid. The husband rushed to the wife's side. He attempted to comfort her. "You're innocent, you're innocent," she moaned. "Why did they con vict you?" It was only after the bailiff had personally assured her that the ver dict was the opposite of what she thought, that her husband had been acquitted instead of being convicted, that the woman calmed down. She continued to sob, but she wept for joy rather than sorrow. The case was that of the gov ernment against James O. Dewell, former Southern Pacific agent at Dayton, Or., during the time that the railroad was under government control. Dewell was accused of em bezzling J312 during the summer of 1319, but the evidence showed that it was a desire to trust his towns men In accepting freight shipments and a poor knowledge cf bookkeep ing, rather than criminality, that caused the shortage. The jury, after deliberating for about an hour, re turned with the verdict of not guilty. Washongal Holds Election. WASHOUGAL, Wash., Dec. 6. (Special.) In the annual city elec tion here yesterday G. Y. Moody, W. T. Pike and H. P. Cone were elected coundlmen for two-year terms and Glen Smith for one year. . T. S. Keep was electe4 treasurer without oppo sition. Much interest was shown in the election and despite the stormj weather 160 votes were cast. Id The Oregonian classified ads. f 1 " ' v" flit ; if 1I. v -.: w v, T if , II Lett to rsht 1. A. Aicholts husband of prisoner Sirs. Nichols, the slayer; W. P Alyers, her attorney, .- Sheriff S. E. Roberts of Deschutes county. SLAYER IS AT VMM MRS. NICHOLS PLACED ' IN , HANDS OF MATRON.' Woman Believes Shooting of Dis tiller Will Be Found Justi fied; Snow Drifts Battled. KLAMATH FALLS, Or., Dec. 6. (Special,) With the grand jury already in session, the law should move quickly in the case of Mrs. Mabel Nichols, who, according to her confession to Sheriff Robins of Bend, fired the shot that , killed Robert Greer, with whom she had been living at the lonely Summit stage station in the northern end of Klamath county. " ' Whether Mrs. Niohols told the Deschutes sheriff all of the story of the homicide is a question. She was anxious to talk to Sheriff Low of this county about the keying, but under advice of her attorney, W. P. Myer of Bend, is maintaining silence. "I can't break my promise to the lawyer," she told Sheriff Low, "but I think I would feel better if . I could unburden my mind." The sheriff, his prisoner, Coroner Whitlock and Dr. Stewart,, the antopsy -surgeon, arrived here at 3 o'clock this morning after a hard night's trip from Crescent. , Much of the way they bucked snow 18 inches deep, Mrs. Nichols was lodged temporarily at a local hotel, but removed today td the county infirmary with a matron in charge. Klamath -county has no jail accom modations for women prisoners. $ The accused woman is 23 years eld, rather short and plump with black hair, which she wears bobbed. She stood the pfficial. inquisition and the hard trip from Crescent well. She thinks she will be able to justify the killing qf Greer in the eyes of the law and she wants to return to her husband and child at Ellens burg, Wash. SLAIN MOONSHINER BURIED Barely Handful of Persons Attend funeral of Robert Greer. 9 BEND, Or., Dec. 6. (Special.) Barely a handful of persons attended the funeral services here this after noon for Robert Greer, moonshiner, shot to death at the Summit stage station by Mrs. I. A. Nichols last Sat urday. Simplicity characterized the service, which was conducted at the Niswonger mortuary by Rev. F. R. Sibley, pastor of the First Methodist church of Bend. Burial was in Pilot Butte cemetery, with the possibility, according to a brother. J. M. Greer of Othello, Wash., tha the body later might be moved to Washington. Greer was born in Newark, Ohio, in 1874. Surviving relatives, in ad dition to the brother who was here from Othello, are a sister, Mrs. J. W. Smiley of Didsbury, Alberta; a half sister, Mrs. E. C. Gallup of Rhoner ville. Cal., and the widow and six children, residing in Ellensburg. Officers attending the inquest at Crescent, where Mrs. Nichols was found to have shot Greer to death with criminal intent, reported severe jbwder burns around the wound in the temple, showing that Mrs. Nichols had fired at very close range. They had learned from her that Greer had taunted her with cow ardice, declaring that she did not have nerve enough to fire when she leveled his pistol at him a moment before the fatal shot. GOLD DREDGES SUSPEND Operations at Sumpter Halted Tower Shortage. BAKER, Or.? Dec. 6. (Special.) The two large pold dredges at Bracelet Watches Marked Down Diamond set Bracelet Watches, which make princely Christmas gifts, can be bought for about a third less at the F. Friedlander sale of Diamonds. The window show at 810 Washington street is a sight to see. Nearly a hundred thousand dollars' worth of Dia monds are on sale at a fourth to a 4ialf below former prices. Portland's Painless Dentist Dr. Albert ABRAMS 200-1-2-3-4 Colombia BIdg, W. Park and AYashingrtoa St. Sumpter, one operated by the Pow der River Gold Dredging company and - the other by the . Western Dredging & Exploration company, ceased operations today at the re quest of the Eastern Oregon Light & Power company, which furnishes the power for operating the boats. In explaining the power1 com pany's move, Manager Lottridge said that a low water supply at the company's generating plant neces sitated this action in order that public service in Baker and nearby cities might be maintained. DATA ON MERGER ASKED SENATE ASKS WALLACE AS TO PACKERS' CASE. La FpIIette Declares He Will Of fer Bill Restoring Powers to Federal Trade Commission. - WASHINGTON, D. C, Dec. 6 The senate today adopted the reso lution of Senator La .Follettey re publican, Wisconsin, i calling upon the secretary of agriculture for fuil information regarding -the proposed 1 Armour and Morris packing merger Adoption of- the resolution fol lowed an attack on the proposed merger by Senator La Follette, who declared in a speech that the pack ers and stockyards act had deprived the federal trade commission, acting on its own initiative, of power to prevent the merger. Within 48 hour Senator La Fol lette sayi he would introduce a bill to restore to the federal trade com mission its former power-to inves tigate conditions In the -packing in dustry. , ' Neither the president nor Secre tary Wallace of the department of agriculture, Senator La Follette de clared, has "any authority or right to give the apiyoval requested by J. Ogden Armour for his purchase of the Morris interests' Post Elects Dr. Hempstead. OREGON ' CITY, Or., Dec. 6. (Special.) Dr. W. E. Hempstead last night was elected commander of the local post of the American Legion; William R. Logus was named vice-commander; J. c. Spagle, adjutant; feus Vasselieu, treasurer; C. B. Richards, sargeant-at-arms; Simon.'- McDonald, chaplain; Art Beatie, J. W. Leonhardt, L. A. Hen derson, S. A. Meads and Willard for We would like to show you a Colonial for "His" Christmas. "Here is a watch that will give you lifelong service ; it is a fine example of a seventy-year-old reputation for building the finest watch it is pos sible to build. S45. $50, 60, $75 up W. H. SAXT0N Belding & Saxton 245 Washington St. Expert Watch Repairing Official Watch Inspectors for Six Railroads !. HEITKEMPER CO. 130 Fifth St. Watch Specialists Expert Repairing Phone U3 for correct tim. . - Main 547. x See Wallham Watches Montgomery, executive committee. The next meeting of the legion is scheduled for December 18 Western Star Grange Elects. ALBANY, Or., Dec. 6. (Special.) At . an all-day meeting of the Western Star grange, officers for the coming year were elected and a decision reached to hold a big ChristmaB tree on December 23. Those elected were: R. A. Hulburt, overseer; Lottie Hurse, lecturer; Le roy Ohling, steward; George Laub ner, assistant steward; George An drews, chaplain; Bennie Ohling, treasurer; Winnie Ohling, secretary; George Blevins, gate keeper; Eva Hulburt, Ceres; Rowena Holcomb, Pomona; , Emma - Laubner, Flora; Emma Applegate, L. A. S., and Alice Shearer, pianist. Vancouver Home Is Burned. VANCOUVER, Wash., Dec. 6. (Special.) Fire late today destroyed the home of Charles Lamb at Thirty-seventh and Columbia streets, with a loss of J1000 -to $1500. -Phone your want ads to The Ore gonian. All its readers are inter ested in the classified columns. The . Scientifically Built Watch - Waltham Colonial "A" Riverside Cat- No. 1.64W.C. 1 q jewel movement. Adjusted to 5 positions -14K green golji carved case, raised gold figure dial Price$ns.oo A Superb Gift . THE approach of Christmas loosens the purse strings of the heart. The best, "alone, satisfies us, to express our affection and regard. In considering a gift for "him," here is a superb Waltham Watch, which, like true love or friend- ship, is dependable through life. This Waltham, Colonial "A" Riverside, is the "ut most" in fine watchmaking. A watch, honored all over the world for its beauty and perfection. Your jeweler. will be delighted to show it to you. He appreciates this Waltham masterpiece. Write for a valuable booklet that is a UberaT"Watch" 'education Sent free upon request. The Waltham Watch Company Crescent Street, Waltham, Mass. WALTHAM THE WORLD'S WATCH OVERTIME When you set this ttgn they ttll Waltham Watche Makers of (he famous VPaltham alrjriction quality Speedometers and Automobile Timepieces used on the world's leading cart GIFTS Select Your Watch at the WALTHAM WATCH AGENCY . Sales "and Service STAPLES the Jeweler OPTOMETRISTS OPTICIANS 266 Morrison Street . Portland, Or. . 1 . --.A. Surrender of Tsingtsao De cember 10 Demanded. UGLY THREATS ARE MADE Head of Chamber of Commerce Mission Kidnaped and Held for $500,000 Ransom. PEKIN, Dec. 6. (By the Associated Press.) The situatibn in Tsingtao, caused by the operations of the bandits with whom Shantung prov ince is infested, is described in an official dispatch received last night as exceedingly critical; The Chinese off'cials conferred with the outlaw leaders in an effort to conciliate them. The bandits rejected the ad vances and .kidnaped the chairman of the chamber of commerce, de- manding $5-0-0,000 ransom for him. Later tne outlaw leaders delivered an ultimatum that unless Tsingtao was handed over on December 10, the date set for the Japanese evac uation, they would kidnap all re sponsible Chinese officials and burn or pillage the shops. The Japanese authorities, accord ing to the message, declare it is not possible to change plans for the restoration of the province to China and that China must assume the re sponsibility. Most of the merchants in Tsingtao have closed their shops and many civilians have fled to Tsinan. HONAN MISSION ATTACKED One Chinese Killed, Others Are Robbed; No Foreigners Harmed. (Chicago Tribune Foreign News Service.) CHENG CHOW, Henan Province, Dec. 4.: (Delayed.) 'Bishop White of the Canadian Episcopal church In forms the Tribune that his mission at Kweitch was attacked a few days ago by bandits. One Chinese was killed and others -were robbed, but no foreigners were harmd. Feng Yup Siang had the situation in hand here until he was trans ferred to Pekln. when flame, murder and pillage began sweeping Honan province. Bishop White eays.that both Gen eral Feng and General Wu Pei-Fu have proof that the outlaw leaders have relations with General Chang Tso Lin, the Manchurian war lord. Chao Chien, former commander of the troops in western Honan, is sus pected of heading the bandits. Ef forts to find him have not succeeded and' his brother, Chao Tl, former governor of the province, likewise has disappeared. Bosch Magneto Probe Begun. NEW YORK, Dec. Inquiry was THAT LAST MAIL AGREEMENT MADE United States and Canada Close- postal Conference. OTTAWA, Dec. 6. A new postal agreement between Canada and the United States will be prepared, by Canadian postofnee officials, it was announced Tuesday at the close of the first international postal con ference between officials of the two countries. The new covenant, 'which will supersede that of 1888 and will em body the decisions of the conference just closed, will be forwarded to Washington for . approval. It is planned to make the new agree ment effective next January 1. Officials agreed in the closing session that each country should grant to the other free transit across Its territory by all trains used for its own mails of the closed post made up by any authorized ex change office of either country ad dressed to any other exchange of the same country. MRS. BARAJTI AGITATED View of Husband's Body Causes Murder Suspect to Weep. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 6 Mrs. Grace Cheney Baratti, ex-artists' model, who is being held by the po lice in connection with the shooting and killing of her husband, Harry F. Baratti, song writer and profes sional pianist, was taken to the morgue today to view Baratti's body. Upon seeing the body the woman ' M M . fQ ' " if m ' If EVERSm Who's your Stoker? At present gas rates, bills for 5 homes heated .by 8-Section GASCO Furnaces would run for the entire past season: $113.06 for 1005 E. Wash'n St. $110.53 for 581 Wash'n St. $118.58 for 387. E. 43d St. $105.79 for home at Itockspur $124.61 for 1198 East Davis These locations were taken from the books at random. Cheap enough, isn't it? Why be your own Stoker? Let us figure for you. No obligations. Portland Gas & Coke Co. I 'm J he I XLHU AJtf ten a"J M you ever mw See them in the windows; Eversharp and Wahl Pen the two useful pres ents that should be on every gift list. Each the supreme development in a writing instrument; each matching the other in engraved design; each attrac " tively finished in gold or silver. Sold singly, or together as writing sets, in velvet-lined GIFT BOXES. No other pencil can have the exclusive Eversharp rifled tip that keeps the lead from slipping or wobbling. For desk use, clipped on the pocket, attached to watch-chain, or carried for golf -scores, or for home notes, Eversharp, is a sturdy, eager writer, as dependable as a fine watch. . - Matching Eversharp in engraved de signs and efficiency is Wahl Pen the sensationally-new pen with the inde-, structible all-metal . barrel. Made in rinetv stvlps tn mutoh fho Iflftnftfifin Eversharfs in use. Look over your gift list and give WAHli Pens to match the Eversharps you gave last Christmas. See these useful gifts at your dealer's. Made in U. S. A. by The Wahl Company, Chicago WAHL WRITING SET HP matched By rABLPM Vritinq-est 9