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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1908)
12 THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, MARCH 1. 1908. MAY ESCAPE JAIL ON TECHNICALITY Prosecution of Title Bank Of ficers Hinges on Delicate Law Point. IS BANK ACT OPERATIVE? Argument-, on Question Presented Before Tliree Judges in State Circuit Court, and Decision Is Taken Under Advisement. ' Vpon the question of whether the bank in(t law passed by the last Legislature is yet operative will depend the further prosecution of the officials of the defunct Title Guarantee & Trust Company on charges of receiving deposits In an in' solvent banK, knowing the same to be In solvent. Aiguments on this question were presented before the State Circuit ourt yesterday forenoon, when the de murrer lately filed, by the accused men was ordered up for hearing. Circuit Judges Oantenbeln. Bronaugh and O Day heard the arguments of state and defense nd then took the matter under advise ment. Later the three Judges held a conference but did not reach any decis ion. Another conference will be held this week and the attorneys in the case will be notified as soon as a finding is- pre pared. Of the four men accused, J. Thor burn Ross. T. T. Burkhart, J. E. Aitch ison and George II. Hill, the only one in court was Burkhart. Section IS of the new law is the one under which the indictments were drawn against the four men, and this section provides that "owners or officers of any bonk who shall receive any deposit, know ing that such bank Is insolvent, shall be deemed guilty of a felony and punished. on convlctjon therefor, by a tine not ex ceeding H000 or imprisonment in the State Penitentiary not exceeding two years, or by both such tine and imprisonment, at j Ihf discretion of the court. " Basis of Claim' for Immunity. ' TKe section under which the indicted ffticliils claim immunity from prosecution Is 34 which concludes with this sen tence: "Within 18 months after the tak ing cnVct of this act, all banks doing business In this state at tne lime or iaa- ing effeQt of this act, shall conform to ami in a.1 respects comply with all tne provisions of this act. and be subject to examination by the Examiner and tne uenalties herein provided. District . Attorney Manning and Judge Martin L. Pipes, special prosecutor In the vase, appeared for the state while Wal lace McOamant and C. H. Carey rep resented the accused four. Wallace Mc Camant, in presenting the contentions whereby it was asked that the demurrers be sustained, said: "Section 18 create a new offense, affix Inj? a penalty of fine or imprisonment or both for its commission. There Is notntng In the language in section 18 which showa that this penalty was excepted from the operation of the language contained in section .14. nothing to declare a legislative Intent to putt section IS with its penalties in force af .n earlier date. The penalty prescribed in' section IS must therefore necessarily be included among tne penal ties herein included' as declared in sec tion 34. The imidi used in section 34 are so broad and comprehensive as to plainly include all penalties mentioned in the act. and among- them those mentioned in section 18. Denies Law Is in Force. "Manifestly, sec-tlon 18 is not In force,' he said t in conclusion, "and until it is in ' force there is no penalty attached to the act complained of. Until the law is in force there can be neither indictment nor information for Its violation, nor can there be a conviction under it. Section 18 not be ing In force for the Infliction of pun ishnient for acts in violation of its provisions, its penalties having been eliminated by section 34 for a period of 18 months after the act takes effect, and the acts charged having been com mitted within tills) period of 18 months, the admission of the facts charged in the Information -would not justify a conviction nor wuild the acts therein . charged be punishiable with the penalty prescribed by section 18." Judge Pipe replied convincingly. He said that a paramount rule of construc tion of any statute is in gauging the Intention of the Legislature and the object aimed at. Language capable of more than one meacnihg is to be taken in that sense which will harmonize with such Intention and object and effect the purpose of the enactment." lie added, tiuotlng a rule of construc tion. "The first inquiry, therefore, will be What is the object and intention of the act in question?" Juilne Pipes continued. "It lias only one object. and' that is to protect depositors. There is not a word or line in the act, from the enacting clause to the last word, that is not de signed to promote this object. There is no conceivable reason why the Legisla ture shall meddle with or attempt to reg ulate the banking business except to pro tect depositors. The banking business is a necessity of modern business methods. It would be impossible now to hark back to the times when men kept their money in stockings, or In chinks In the' wall, or in safes, or in safety vaults. The whole business structure now depends upon the convenience, certainty and effieeincy of the bank. It is the very breath of busi ness Foundation of Public Confidence. "The foundation of this structure is pub tic confidence. The bank is the creditor of the business world. Its business is based on confidence. There could not be any banking without confidence. It is to pro mote that confidence and to protect the business world from the consequences of fraud that this act is passed. "Kxamine carefully every section of the act and It will be founU that not one of them has. or can have, any other object than that of making it safe for persons to deposit their money in the banks.' as sured the money will be paid on demand." Judge Pipes carefully dissected sections IS and- 34 and quoted extensively from authorities for the purpose of showing that any statute must be interpreted from its aim and purpose. He urged that the act went into effect February 25. 1907, and that it applies to banks existing at that time as well as to banks organized since. Demurrers to the indictments charging the four men with having stolen state money and with having loaned state money out at interest are also pending. Judge Cleland has them under advisement, ind expects to announce a decision in the course of a few days. has' been ordered 'by the Secretary of the Department of Commerce and Labor. The specific charge against Hamageuchi. who alleges that he is a student, is that he entered the United States without pass ing the usual inspection.: Importation Is ltesited. Noinusaburo Hamaguchi. a subject of the Emperor of Japan, yesterday, by his attorney. Walter H. Kvans. Med a peti tion In the Federal Court for a writ of habeas corpus. Hamaguchi seeks by this mova Ia prevent bis deportation, viuvu SUIT OVER ACTO INSURANCE I'. A. Bennett Seeks Judgment Against Harvey O'Brien. Some interesting sidelights on auto mobile insurance were shown in a civil suit which was decided in the State Cir cuit Court yesterday afternoon. Likewise some interesting facts concerning the habits of tcuring cars were developed. The suit was that of F. A. - Bennett against Harvey O'Brien. Bennett is seek ing to collect $:X frpm O'Brien in con sequence of a wrecked cur." It appears from the testimony that Bennett insured his car with O'Brien and then lost the machine by tire before the insurance paper had been accepted by the company. It was several weeks ago that he took out titer policy on his big 2000 touring car. Afterwards he sold the machine to F. Prosser. who makes a business of haul ing people about at so much an hour. Very often his patrons like a little scorching 'done. It was while 'a party from the Portland Hotel was enjoying the sensation of passing through Montavilla at a meteoric pace that the machine caught Are. it is alleged. The hotel party had to walk to the car and slip into the hotel by a side entrance because of the attachment they had formed for Monta- villa real estate. Bennett had received only part payment on the machine. It was still his prop erty. He went down to collect -his in surance. . He says Mr. O'Brien, exhibited a document 'Showing his company bad Just rejected, Bennett a application- for auto Insurance. He didn't know it was an application and told the Insurance man he had been led to believe he was insur ing his'-. machine 1 rather :r than' signing a mere application for; insurance. Bennett wpas aavisea tnat auto . insurance is . ac cepted with great caution as the risks are very great. ' ' ' The case was argued at great length yesterday, morning . before Circuit Judge Gantenbein, who took the matter under advisement.' HU9H50N ON TRIAL Principal of School Accused of Beating Pupil. PUNISHED FOR TRUANCY NOT " RELIEVED OP LIABILITY Condemnation of Building Does Not Release Owner, Court Decides. . While building inspectors have author ity to condemn buildings, . yet the owner of a condemned building is not thereby relieved from possible damage to tenants. according to a decision made yesteruay forenoon by Judge Cleland, In the State Circuit Court. The suit In question was that of Hung Sing & Company against Mrs. Cornelia Burkhart to collegt $82,- 419 damages because of the tearing away of a Second-street building used by the firm. In an answer to the complaint Mrs. Burkhart set. up that the building has been removed under orders - of the City Building Inspector. The case was in court yesterday on a demurrer to the answer, it being urged that the action of the Inspector did not relieve an owner from responsibility. Judge Cleland said the question as to. the necessity of tearing away the building was a matter for the Jury to pass upon He sustained the demurrer. NOT EXEMPT, COURT RULES Non-resident Corporations Must Pay Taxes, Says Judge Cleland. "on-resident corporations are amenable to all laws and particularly to the tax ation laws of the state. Such, in effect was the decision made by Circuit Judge Cleland yesterday in the suit of Marshall Wells Hardware Company "against the county to restrain collection of taxes on money, notes and accounts aggregating $226,000. The tax on this personal prop erty amounts to $3195, and the company contended that it could be assessed only under the laws of New Jersey,where the firm is incorporated. The county's de murrer set out that the personal prop erty involved is in Multnomah County and subject to taxation therein. This de murrer was sustained, thus ending the suit, unless appeal is taken. HIS 81ST ANNIVERSARY Judge Bullock Will Celebrate Birth day Next Wednesday. S. Bullock, for many years Justice of the Peace on the East Side, will cele brate his 81st birthday next Tuesday at the home of fc.llis McLean, 7o Lmon avenue. North, where friends will gather in honor of the event. It is hardly cor rect to say 81 years old, for while his hair is white, his heart and spirit are f i '8 . ,.' MMWtttlrtzM Judffe 5. Bullock. young, and there Is music in his soul. For 30 years Judge Bullock has been a resident of the East Side. For more than a decade he has been the leader of the famous Veteran Male Quartet, which has always been composed of veteran sing ers, who have long since given way in the church choirs , to professional direct- ore and leaders, and yet they never lost the real spirit of music. Judge Bullock and the veterans sing the old songs and they, sing so that every word is clear and distinct. Some of these veterans have dropped out of the circle since the quar tet was organised, but others close- up the ranks and they go on singing. So the veterans also will gather to rejoice with their leader on the attainment of his Slst birthday. Judge Bullock's voice shows no evidence of age, even if his snowy head proclaims it. SAHLIN BUST FORMS. The fact -that McAllen & McDonnell carry in stock the Sahlin Bust Forms and Corset combined is sufficient guarantee of merit. Oregon People in Chicago. CHICAGO. Feb. 29. (Special.l Ore gon people registered at Chicago hotels today as follows: Great Northern A. E. Coville. A. K. Hawkins, Portland. Palmer Uoune J. W. liQW. Portland,' Arthur Matthews Prosecuting Wit ness in Case Before Justice Reid. Hearing . Will . Be Resumed Next Saturday Morning. The case or the State of Oregon against o. js. wugnson, . principal of the Ports mouth School, charged with assault and battery on Arthur Matthews, one of his pupils, January .31. was taken un before Justice of the Peace Beid yesterday after noon. At 5 o'clock an adjournment was laiten until next Saturday at 9:30 A. M. The reason given for the long postpone ment of the trial is that a majority of tne witnesses lor the defense, yet to be examined,- are schoolteachers and would do required to absent themselves from tneir duties in event the hearing were re sumed Monday. Professor Huerhson w Dan 3. Malarkey, while Deputy District Attorney btevenson. assisted by W. W. Banks, special prosecutor retained by A, E. Matthews, father of the complainant, looked after the state's Interests. The trial commenced at 2 o'clock and most of the afternoon was taken up by me examination or the Matthews boy. his mother Mrs. Annie Matthews, and two of the pupils who are alleged to have Deen chastised by the principal at the same time as was the prosecuting wit nets. Toung Matthews made a good witness. adhering closely to the story he told at tne time the charges were filed against the principal, February 11, the day the ooy was sent to the hospital by Dr. E. a. caoie. According to the testimony of the boy t-roiessor Hugnson beat him with a pad dle for playing truant with four other lads. The boy said the principal struck mm wun tne snarp edge of the paddle on the knee and shin, Inflicting a bruise of very serious character. When asked bv Mr. Malarkey if it was not true that his injury was not received while horseback riding some time previous to the chastise ment, the lad denied that such was the case. Mrs. Matthews was the next witness. She told .of the return of the boy Trom scnooi on the day the beating was admin istered. She said she noticed then that the boy was lame. On investigation she found bruises on the boy's right leg and aressed them, not thinking the injuries were serious, and permitted the . lad to m-isit his father down town. On the boy's return home, she said, his leg was worse. and she was compelled to attend him practically the entire night. At the boy s earnest request he was allowed to attend the school examinations on the following oionuay and Tuesday. Monday, February 10, young Matthews was still suffering much pain, and his father took him to Dr. B. E. Cable. The physician ordered him removed to the hospital. . Dr. Cable 'testified that the bruises were of such an aggravated nature that they retusea to yield to outward treatment, and he was forced to lance the knee. One piece of contradictory evidence orougnt out, having bearing on the case, was in the testimony of Walter Berry, one ui me ooys wno was chastised by Professor Hughson at the time the al leged assault on young Matthews was committed. Young Berry said that Mr. jviaiinews naa given mm a dollar on a certain Saturday following the chastise ment, on which day other witnesses had declared that Matthews was out of the city. Berry stuck to his assertion on cross-examination. Ram ?nrlnn,1er annthpr tt tha A,u "punished by Professor Hughson, testified that the principal beat Matthews quite severely. He also admitted that he and Matthews had been accustomed to fide horseback, and that on one occasion Matthews was Injured while out riding. He could not fix the date. Justice Reid announced at 5 o'clock that the hearing would be postponed until next Saturday morning at 9:30 o'clock. and Constable Wagner was instructed to notify the witnesses to be on hand at that time. The prosecution will introduce a few more witnesses and the examina tion of witnesses for the defense will then be taken up. A number of schoolteachers summoned on behalf of Professor Hughson will be .present. By their testimony it is exDected to show that the charges against the principal are malicious and that the Matthews boy was prevailed upon to bring tne cnarges by enemies of the prin cipai. WILL STAY IN PORTLAND Effort to Move Pacific Monthly to Seattle Fails. It is reported that a movement is on foot to remove The Pacific Monthly to Seattle. This has been supplemented by a statement published In a local paper yesterday to the effect that the magazine might be discontinued alto gether. The latter report Is emphati cally denied by both Charles H. Jones, the general manager, and Lute Pease, editor of the magazine, who state as follows: "The report that The Pacific Monthly Is in a doubtful condition is unfortu nate, because wholly untrue. The fact is, The Pacific Monthly management is discussing reorganization because of the very fact that it is so prosperous. PIANOS Player-Pianos Phonographs Records if Tou are thinking of Durchasinsr any of the above, it will pay vou to visit our store. We have fourteen different makes of pianos, including some of the old est and best-known. We have more different makes of player-pianos than any firm in the city, and we are the exclusive agents for the great Mel ville-Clark "Apollo" Flayer-Piano the only instrument on the market which makes use of all the keys on the piano when played either way. We are now offering some special inducements. See us about it. Hovenden-Soule Piano Co. Cor. Morrison and W, Park Sts. . SPRING IS COMING And why not select your clothes now and be ready when she appears in her Spring hat? Chalk and pencil stripes, moss tans and wood browns are very modish this Spring. The most desirable patterns aresure to be picked up early; why don't you be the one that secures the cream of the- showing f We have plenty of time to devote to every detail of your clothes. Come in and talk over Spring styles. Let us show you the new weaves and colorings, whether you are ready to buy or not. BUSINESS SUITS... $25 TO $30 OVERCOATS .... :. .$25 TO $60 Satisfaction guaranteed in all cases. Garments to order in a day if required. Fall Dress and Tuexdo Suits a specialty. WILLIAM. J ERREMS' SONS, 108 Third Street It is expanding so rapidly that it has outgrown its swaddling clothes. "It should be a source of pride to Portland to know that The Pacific Monthly heads the list, of all maga zines for circulation and advertising growth during 1907 In the report re cently published by 'Printer's Ink,- of New York. "The Pacific Monthly has climbed the hill and is now on the high road to success, and is fast becoming one of the big magazines of the country. N'o one connected with the magazine has ever thought of discontinuing it. A stockholder's meeting has been called to discuss a plan of reorganization electing new officers and mapping out a vigorous campaign for 1908. "It is true that a number of Seattle capitalists opened negotiations for the purchase of the magazine and plant. They saw the greate advertising value of such a magazine for Seattle, as well as the investment future', but from the way In which a number of leading Portland business men have subscribed for stock in the reorganized company. It looks as though Portland Is also awake to the value of the magazine, and we want to say to the friends and readers of The Pacific Monthly, 'Just kick If you don't receive your next copy on time, because we will be right here doing business at the old stand.' " YAKIMA INDIANS OBJECT Demand That .White Hunters Be Kept Off the Reservation. NORTH YAKIMA. Wash.. . Feb. 29. (Special.) The Yakima Indian reserva tion population has arisen practically in Us united might against further Intrusion of the white hunter. It has appealed to' Reservation Superintendent Jay Lynch for an order prohibiting the grant of any more privileges to white hunters within the bounds of these millions of rich acres. The reservation is the duck hunt ers' paradise in this part of South-Central Washington. It comprises the lower parts of the valleys of the Taktma and tributary streams and contains the swamps and bayous of this part of the Inland Empire. Here it is that the grass growth is most abundant and feed is plentiful, there being many broad wheat fields, near. Duck hunters from sur rounding parts of the state are wont to flock here during tne duck season and bag thousands of birds. These hunters, the reservation people 'I0U DON'T- HAVE TO Attejid Bargain Sales Clearance Sales Shanr or any other Sales when you can buy , First-Glass . Suits for Men of us at 9 - '..,. There are dozens of styles to choose from, every size, and all the new fabrics. Spine of these identical fabrics and patterns are shown in uptown stores at $20.00 When You See It in Our Ad It's So MQIEK Third and Oak First and Yamhill allege, have become' wantonly abusive of their privilege, shooting stock and crip pling it in some instances in an effort to drive It away from the ponds and swamps where the birds are plentiful. They have become insolent and are charged with threatening the reservation police, who are Indians of courage and intelligence, and to whose discretion may be attributed the defeat of -riotous en counters between the hunters and inhab itants of the reservation, the latter .-having armed themselves to protect their property. Agent lyncn win prooaoiy issue an order forbidding further trespass on the reservation preserves by hunters of any class from the outside districts. White occupants of reservation lands have joined the Indians in an appeal for this order. Deaf Man Takes His Own I4fe. Despondency brought on by reason of his physical condition caused Wil liam Rogers, a glazier;-23 years of age, to hang ' himself some time Thursday -night."' His dead body was found sus pended by a rope to an. exhaust pipe in the engine-room of the old United States Brewery at Water and Harrison streets, by two boys, yesterday morn ing. When 6 years of age Ilogcrs was afflicted with spinal meningitis, which' rendered him deaf, and this affliction Is believed to have caused him to be come despondent. He lived with his mother at 401 Water street. It is said that he made two previous at tempts to end his life, but on each oc casion was interrupted before the act had been consummated. . Until three months ago he had been employed by the Povey Bros.' Art Glass Works. Cor oner Pinley took charge of the remains, but it is not likely that an Inquest will he held. SALE OF NEW SPMNG GAHEWTS - AT THE HOUSE OF VALUES SPECIAL Moire Imported Heatherbloom and Sateen Petticoats Regular $1.50 Values, Monday 89c SEE WINDOWS SPECIAL Lingerie sloT WW aists New Waists, Reg. $1.50 Values $1.00 SEE WINDOWS Demonstration of Our Own Teas Now Going on in Our Grocery Dept. Come and Have Tea With Us Silk Petticoats Regular $8.50 Silk Petticoats, all colors, Monday, $4.95 New Spring SUITS New models arriving daily from the foremost designers io New York. Chic styles, new cloths. " Special New Spring: Suits A" sample line of new,, up-to-date Spring Suits, values up to $37.50, Monday, $22.50 SKIRTS New line of Dress Skirts, val ues up to $12.50, . , Monday $5.95 '. VISIT OUR FURNITURE DEPARTMENT - - INSPECT OUR NEW SPRING MILLINERY WHOLESALE AND RETAIL Jo M. Acheson Co. FIFTH AND ALDER STS.