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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 1908)
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, DECEMBER 13, VJVS. is OYER ad 1 eeth Speak for Themselves GRII SA ?1CE f . .:. - I-- V - V t 4 OR. B. E. WRIGHT. GOOD SET OF TEETH ON RUBBER PLATE . m. b. e 342 Va Washington Street, Corner Seventh OFFICE HOURS 8 A. M. to 6 P. M. SUNDAYS 9 A. M. to 1 P. M. Phone Main 2119 Thirteen Years in Portland E Season of Delay in Homicide Cases Seems Past. FIVE TRIALS ON CALENDAR Matt Johnson Escapes Gallows on Second Degree Verdict Son Is Acquitted Start Made In Third Hearing. One murderer convicted, one man ac cused of murder acquitted, one murderer placed on trial, two murderers refused further time In which to plead. That Is a brief summary of progress made in the State Circuit Court yesterday In dealing with the Jallful of men held for the tak ing of human life during the past six months. Matt Johnson, slayer of Fred J. Holoek, waa the one to be convicted, thoucrh the Jury let him off with a second degree ver dict. His 22-year-old son. John Johnson, held because of having supplied the fatal weapon to his father, was acquitted of the murder charge. James A. Finch, discredited lawyer and slayer of Ralph Fisher, prosecutor of the "Multnomah Bar Association, was sum marily ordered to prepare for trial next Friday, his appeal for more time in which to decide on his plea being refused. Finch seemed taken completely by surprise when Presiding Judge Gantenbeln refused to tllow him one more week In which to plead. When he found there could be no delay, he declined to enter a plea. The court ordered that a plea of not guilty be entered, and set tlie trial, for Friday next. First Trial Started. Harry Daley, miiraerer or Harry Kin-, ney wanted more time in which to plead, but when It was found that more time could not be secured, he pleaded not guilty and his trial was set for next Thursday. Antonio Petarsso. murderer of Yencenza Desantis. appeared for trial yesterday, and the empannelllng of a jury was taken up. nine men being se cured before night.- The Jury will be completed Monday morning. In not one of these cases is there any element of doubt as to the actual kill ing. The crime In every instance was performed in the presence of witnesses, and the outcome of all the cases will be watched with eager Interest, for t!ere Is wide public feeling at the series of crimes which have occurred in Multno mah County within the past half year. Matt Johnson, although convicted on a charge that means Imprisonment for life, was In reality overjoyed when the Jury came In for the same verdict acquitted his son. John Johnson. The father, who has made three distinct efforts to kill himself within the past week, has been chiefly concerned about the son. The night he murdered Holock, following a saloon brawl, young Johnson ran home and got the revolver with which the murder was committed. Since the trouble Johnson has frequently said that he had been a neglectful father, and had not done right by the boy. "But now he Is clear. I do not care for myself," he said, when the Jury came in. Part In Jail Corridor. Half an hour later father and son part ed company In murderers' row in the County Jail. - There was no exhibition of feeling when the boy walked out free, leaving his father to spend the rest of bis life behind the bars. "Take care of yourself," the elder pris oner said, in Finnish. "I'll do that." said the son. "See you later," and he was off without a glance back at the long steel cage in which 11 murderers were grouped about, watching with wistful eyes the departure of one of their number. ; The Jury wiilch tried the Johnsons went out at 6 o'clock Friday afternoon and reached a verdict at 2 o'clock yesterday morning At first, on retiring to the Jury room, there was an inclination to hold the father for first degree murder. The showing as to his mental state probably served to modify a verdict which would have sent the man to the gallows. Ac quittal of the son was agreed upon almost from the start. Suggestion was made that he ought to be held for manslaughter because of running for a gun when the elder Johnson was in trouble with hit victim, at a saloon at Twenty-fourth and Nicola! streets. But since it had bei--made clear that Matt Johnson ordered the , boy to (u lur the weapon, it was decided I GRIND RAPID WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH THE CAT IS dUT OR THE BAG It is my business to make bad teeth good, sound teeth discolored teeth, white teeth repulsive mouths, handsome mouths. This is all accomplished without nerve-racking pain and slow methods, which would try the patience of Job. Modern dentistry, as practiced at this office, with the aid of all modern appliances and the highest grade of skill known to the dental profes sion, will produce results so satisfactory and lasting that you will wonder why you never tried it before. My Bridges without plates are almost equal to natural teeth fifi jO.UlJ BEST SET OF TEETH ON RUBBER PLATE . . WKIGS to place all the blame on him. ' There was a general belief at the Courthouse that the father was fortunate to escape the gallows. Although Johnson assured the offi cers that he would make no further at tempt to end his life, h was closely watched again last night. It has de veloped that on Thursday night he at tempted to hang himself in his cell. Failing In this, he cut his windpipe with a ftor before court time Friday, but failed to end his life, and after be ing rushed: to a hospital and treated was taken to court to complete his testimony. Later on he attempted to pull the dressing from his wound, but was restrained. "Now that the boy is free I will not try to kill myself again." he told Jailer Hunter in broken English. "I do not care for myself, but when they were after the boy I wanted to kill myself so that I could go to hell and get ready for the persecutors." Although there has not been a single first degree verdict returned thus far in the year by a Circuit Court Jury, the belief is current that a beginning is to be made with Finch. From what has been developed it would appear that the defense Is to be a combination of self-defense and insanity pleas. The state has plenty of testimony to show that if Finch was mentally unsound, It must have been merely during the ac tual commission of the crime, as he assuredly was sound of mind an hour be fore the murder of Fisher and was able to talk most consistently of everything excepting the murder an hour after it took place. CourtTires or Delay? . The action of the Presiding Judge in declining to allow Finch more time in which to plead would seem to indi cate that the court Is tiring of the long delays insisted upon in each' and every murder trial brought up. A new record Is set In Finch's case, as he is to come up for trial within a month from the time of the actual murder. The fellow has settled down to a more serious realization of his offense now. There is little doubt but that the crime grew out of a bitter hatred and an uncontrollable anger. But with two weeks to reflect in the quietude of the County Jail, Finch seems to realize the seriousness of his position and the prisoners in murderer's row say he has hours of alternate horror and weeping. Harry Daley's defense will be the well-worn Insanity plea. He pleaded not guilty to killing Harry Kenney, a saloonkeeper, several weeks ago. At torneys L. W. Humphreys and John H. Stevenson were appointed by the court to defend him. There are many wit nesses obtainable, it is said, who will testify to Daley's mental unsoundness for the past year, following a steam boat accident in which he was struck on the head. It will be brought out that Kenney, thinking the man harm less and disregarding his threats of violence, actually dared him to shoot, whereat Daley promptly accepted the dare. Murder at Wedding. Petarsso. who was placed on trial before Judge Morrow during the fore noon, shot and killed his countryman, Desantis. at a wedding. The two delved far too deep into the beer at the nuptial party of some Italian friends, and In a quarrel the murder followed. Petarsso will claim self-defense. He says the other attacked him with a knife and that he either had to shoot or be stabbed to the heart. The nine jurors secured thus far in his case are M. Kronenberg, R. F. Crawford, A. J. Fanno, B. B. Gardner, C. H. Clement, J. G. Dan. H. E. Clemens, J. M. Cald well and E. O. Daniel. The Jurors who passed upon the Johnson case, and several of whom are now appearing in the Petarsso trial, are K. B, Gardner. M. Kronenberg, W. H. Brown. J. W. Caldwell.- Robert Service, H. G. Chickering. A. J. Fanno, R. F. Crawford. Theodore Brugger, E. K Dixon, J. L. Yarnell and Fred C King. FUTURITY CAXXOT BE TAXED Judge Bronaugh Rules Expected Business Is Not Assessable. Tax assessments cannot be made on the probable future business of a Arm or corporation, according to a decision made yesterday by Circuit Judge Bronaugh in passing on the appeal of the Pacific Railway Advertising Company from the assessment made by Assessor Sigler and approved by the County Board of Equalization. This company was as sessed J20.0O0. it having developed that the present proprietors of the concern paid that amount. The company wished to pay on but $350. the value of the office fixtures; but the Assessor insisted on making the sale price the basis of as sessment, contending that the privileges enjoyed by the concern In putting ad cards on streetcars should be taxed. Judge Bronaugh said that no assess ment could be made except on the actual value cf the concession as shown by the boeks during 1907 and this, he said, authorized an assessment on 16000 valuation. H $8.00 nn PAINLESS DENTIST ADVANCES NEW IDEA Democracy in Workshop Cure for Trust Control. ALSO AID TO CHARACTER Walter Thomas Mills Closes Local Lecture Series With Appeal for More Individualism on Part of Great Mass of orkingmen. Walter Thomas Mills concluded his series of addresses at Masonic Tem ple. West Park and Yamhill streets, last night, speaking on "Either Des potism or Democracy, Both In the Workshop and at the Ballot-boxes." The meetings were successful, and much Interest was manifested, there being an average attendance of 800. In the course of his remarks last night the speaker said: onMPnahkftone' ln the 'Commentaries on English Law, says that " a law is a rule of action prescribed by a sune r or for the direction of a n I nf eri or" 5T;. erstn reported .to have said that government Is best which gov erns least. If government is an au thority vested in a group of people sup posed to be superior, to enact and en force laws for the government of others, supposed to be their Inferiors then I WQuld amend the words of Jef ferson by saying that government of that sort would be the best of Its sort which would govern not at all. . n,hl? country for a hundred vears Mr. Jefferson s own conceptions of the law. that Is that a law Is a voluntary agreement between equals determining what shall be done with regard to in terests which they hold in common, have been ln vogue. But such a gov ernment would hardly be regarded as the best, because it governed least, buch a government would be best which, with the greatest capacity and Justice, would provide for these interT ests which the Joint sovereigns are sup posed to hold in common. Mr. Lincoln once said "that man has never yet been born who was good enough to be the master of another man.' Government which pre-supposed a relationship between a superior and an inferior necessarily carries with it the relationship of mastery and servi- iuue, ana is mererore necessarily a des potism. Governments, however, which attempt Jointly to administer the Joint affairs of the persons involved are democracies. A despotism always rules by ap pointment from the top down. Democ racy rules by election from the bot tom up. Under a despotism every of ficer is a master. Under a democracy every officer is a servant. In this country we have two gov ernments, one a democracy with its headquarters In Washington, the other a despotism with its headquarters in New York. In this country we have an industrial despotism existing in the midst of a political democracy. With the individual units, that is those who possess and exercise a po litical franchise, the power of the gov ernment individually dependent upon industrial masters cannot long main tain a political democracy, and with an industrial democracy once estab lished it could not exist at all under political despotism. Whatever form of government Is to be established and maintained, either in industry or ln politics must prevail In both. It is admitted that self-government in the Industries is greatly to be de sired and would be ideal were It pos sible; but then it Is contended that any effort to establish Industrial self government. Instead of realizing a beautiful ideal, would result in. doing Infinite harm. If industrial democracy is to harm society it must do so either by lowering tho grade and the charac ter of the workers, or by producing a smaller or an Inferior product, or by corrupting the government. If society s Injured ln none or these Industries, f. In fact, society is benefited bv in dustrial democracy in all these par ticulars, then the last objection to self-government ln the workshop as well as at the ballot-box, is over thrown. As to the character of the workers, under Industrial democracy, self-government would Immediately Improve the Intelligence, the character, the self-possession of the workers. It would do away with unsanitary condi tions. It would do away with child labor. It would give leisure for social, educational and religious purposes, and ln all these particulars would raise, not lower the standard of the work. lngmen's life. Again, wun an men empioyea, wiin the best machinery under scientific management, with free access to the raw materials, the volume of the prod uct would be greatly . Increased: and as no one could profit through the pro duction of Inferior, shoddy or adul terated goods, self-government would not only Increase the produce but lm nrove the nualitv. MOYER workshop, instead of corrupting pon tics -would so relate each voter to his own employment that no man could afford to sell his ballot or to regard It lightlv. Inasmuch as he would vote on the job where he was employed, his ballot would be intelligent as well as tfiiiB-pnr it cannot be misled directly: understanding the is sues of an election, it cannot ne cor rupted. The great private iinerci ii. .r: l - M PMihnil 2 Years in the Leading Colleges and Hospital, of Europe. DON'T NEGLECT YOUR EYES If you have pains in or over the eyes, or in the back of the head, headaches. If you see floating specks. If you have blurred eyesight, if everything- gets black at times, if the eyes twitch Involuntarily. if you see double. If you see rings around lights, there Is something wrong and you should have them carefully ex amined by a skilled specialist. Moree. Germany's foremost physi cian, says: "The rapidity and accuracy with which Thompson corrects eye trou bles Is nothing short of marvelous." Thompson's new method of devel oping sight and testing eyes Is the greatest discovery made in optometry In the 20th century, perfect fitting glnMea as low as (1.58 THOMPSON The Internationally Indorsed Sight Expert. Second Floor Cnrbett Bid., Mb and Morrison street. Hake Elevator. The l-rgct and MMt Modern Op tical Parlor in Portland. AFEW SUGGESTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS Lyman's History of Oregon, 4 volumes $8.00 Gray's History of Oregon, 1 volume. . . . $5.00 Lewis and Clark - Travels, 3 volumes $3.00 A large stock of dainty gift books, Bibles and prayer books. Hyland Bros. TWO STORES: 168 Fifth, Opposite Postoffice. 211 Second, Near. Salmon. 3 Vlk. This store intends and always will be in the fighting. To show the public the advantages of our enormous puchasing power in this combination of stores, we place on SALE 600 MEN'S SUITS Our regular $10 and $12.50 suits, sold in up-town stores at $15, at the nominal price of We promise you that these are the equal of the $15 suits sold elsewhere. , WHEN YOU SEE IT IN OUR AD IT'S SO private advantage is best served by corrupting politics would cease to exist and go out of existence, the boodlers' barrel would at the same time and by the same process make its disappear ance. Hence, it is seen that in all particu lars industrial democracy makes for the social welfare; therefore both po Modern Prices Range From $io to $500 What Choicer Christmas Gift Than One of These? The Only Place Where All the Makes May Be Tested Side by Side. The large east show window of Eilers Piano House, on Washington street, and also numerous display parlors, are now devoted to a most wonderful display of the latest instruments for the reproduction of tone. To designate some of them as taking machines would not do them justice. The finest instrument displayed is unquestionably a new $225 style Rginaphone, this being undoubtedly the highest achievement as yet attained in the phonographic field. The marvelous Victor Victrola is shown in several superb styles; the prices being $20Q and $300. Another instrument, shaped somewhat like a miniature piano, is designated as a "Symphony Grand." It possesses a most wonderful velvety tone and is priced at $200. An instrument known as the " Auxetophone," wherein an electric motor creates a powerful air current, which is forced against the reproducing diaphragm, thereby greatly increasing the volume of sound, is also displayed. This instrument costs $500 and is particularly adaptable for very large gatherings. The double-sided Victor and Columbia disc records are now being sold in large quantities at Eilers Piano House, as are also the latest achievement of the "Wizard" Edison, the new Four-Minute Edison Amberol Records. Eilers Piano House is the only place in Portland where all the best makes of Talking Machines and Rec ords are shown impartially side by side, where you can determine just exactly what you want, whether a $10 Victor a $500 Auxetophone a $225 Reginaphone or any instrument at a price within this range. All instruments sold on a weekly (75c or $1) or monthly-payment plan, if desired. Open Every Evening Till IO o'Clock The House of Highest Quality THIRD AND OAK 1st AND YAMHILL litical and Industrial despotism are entirely without defense. The modern corporations have al ready Russianized American industry. Just now there Is an effort to Rus sianize American politics, to use the public authority of this country as bloodhounds on the footsteps of the Russian reformers. Devices for the Reproduction Magnificent Display Now Being Made by Eilers Piano House pirvur-nllob-iHtr 353 Washington Street TALK TO S EATT I jE 40c. v (Via Home Phone) Half Mln., 40e; Min.. 75c; Add'l Min., 25. "Home-Phone-It." Thirty-nine Japanese banks suspended last year. Underwear sale. McAllen & McDonnell. of Sound Biggest Busiest and Best