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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 27, 1908)
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN, PORTLAND, DECEMBER 27, 1908. SYMPHONY CONCERT SEASON ANNOUNCED Opening Performance to Be Given at Masonic Temple on January 11 Miss Katharine Goodson, Pianist, to Be Soloist. 4 J J t ..-' jkR3. EDN'A B. JONES, who wHl 11 again muug the Portland Syro ' phony Orchestra, ears that there Is every indication of a prosperous sea son ahead and that the first concert o! the series of IMS-CO will occur at the Masonlo Temple January 1, 1909, on which occasion the soloist will be Mlas Kath arine Goodson, the English pianist. At the third concert of the series David Bl?pham, the eminent American bari tone, will be the star attraction. The new director of the Portland Sym phony Orchestra is Iavid C Rosebrook, who eomes highly recommended from California and the East, where his work has been notable with the different or chestras with which he has' been asso ciated. The personnel of the Portland Symphony Orchestra Is practically, the same as last year, with the additional strength of ten new members, making in all 44. Mr. Kosebrook has already won the ad miration of his men and their hearty co operation and, coupled with the fact that the fund raised for the orchestra will permit of more than twice the work given the rehearsals last year, makes It possible for the orchestra to ask for patronage on Its merits alone. Miss Katherlne Goodson. the pianist at the opening concert, ranks among the world's greatest artists. She has ap peared with the moBt prominent orches- fc.T- i.il ini'i tral organizations of Europe and this country and has called forth the most enthusiastic praise wherever she has been heard. With the Boston Symphony Orchestra her appearance was considered one of the most conspicuous feature of an especially brilliant season, while her metropolitan recital with Damrosch. which followed, established her still more firmly In public favor. Besides the two organizations mentioned. Miss Goodeon appeared last season with 14 of the lareest orchestras throughout the coun try, notably the Thomas Orchestra, of Chicago; the ,Plttsburg, and Philadelphia symphony orchestras and the New xork Philharmonic. In the life of Leschetlzsky complied by Hullah "Goodson" Is named as one of the master's favored pupils. For years Miss Goodson studied with Leschetlzsky, who has been made world-famous as the teacher or Paderewskl, and he Is no less croud of Miss Goodson. The master and artist are great friends and recently Mlsa Goodson made a special trip from Lon don to "Vienna to spend a short vacation with Leschetlzsky before starting on her Australian tour, from which she has Just returned and Is now visiting Eng lish friends in Victoria, B. C, before beginning her present musical season Miss Goodson has appeared under the auspices of such distinguished conduc tors as Rlchter at his London concerts, and Nikisch, In Lelpslc It was Nlklsch who said: "I have known many artists In ny life, but the true musicians I can count on my fingers, and I class Good son with Tsaye, Paderewskl and X' Al bert." 'In the history of American muslo no one has won for himself so firm a place in the affections of the music lovers as David Bispham, and in Europe Mr. Blspham's concert work la no less popu lar. At succeeding concerts It Is the Inten tion of the management that one local artist will appear as soloist. "9009" Facts Are Largely Taken From Prison Records of Oregon Book Points Powerful Lesson of Needed Prison Reform, Prom Piction Writers' Standpoint. SALEM, Or- Dec- 18. SpeolaL) In the thrilling and deeply Impressive prison story, "Number 9009," recently published by the Saturday Evening Post, there Is retold, with surprising fidelity to details, the story of the kill ing of 'William Mansfield in the Oregon Penitentiary. June 23. 1888. Men who were familiar with the facts regarding the killing of Mansfield rec ognize at once the striking similarity of incidents related by the authors of 9009 ' concerning the brutal and cow ardly shooting of Jlmmie Carroll. The authors, James Hopper and Fred R. Bechdolt, assert that their story Is based upon facts, and of this there can be no doubt, for nearly every Incident described by them has Its counterpart In the history of the Oregon Peniten- tlary. In the form of fiction the authors of "9009" hare exposed many of the gross abuses which make a prison a brutal izlng rather than a reformatory insti tution. The acts of injustice commit ted by prison officials, the favors ex tended to prisoners with Influential friends, the petty grafts enjoyed by men who are put in power over con demned criminals and the evil effect of the "stool-pigeon" system, are all de picted in the story "9009." Just as they have been described from time to time by men who have been familiar with events at the Oregon Penitentiary. Mansfield Was Burglar. William Mansfield was an Oregon convict serving a 12-year term for burg lary, eommlted In Multnomah County In 1SS2. He was one of the convicts who participated in the outbreak in 18S3. but was captured and returned. On June 23. 18S8. while working in the prison foundry he complained that he was sick, and that he could not work on the food he was receiving. He was taken to the prison chapel where Cap tain W. W. Saunders, a fellow prisoner and hospital steward, questioned him regarding his ailments and then ordered him back to work. Mansfield refused to go. saying he was too sick to work and Saunders then notified Warden M. J. McKinnon. The Warden at once re peated the command that Mansfield re turn to work but the latter still re fused. Mansfield Shot Down. McKinnon sent for Guard John Whit ley who soon appeared, armed with Winchester, and took his station near the chapel altar. At McKlnnon's order, Whitley covered Mansfield, who was some distance away, with his rifle. The Warden then ordered Mansfield back to the shops and the refusal was repeated whereupon the convict was told that he must go back to work, or be tied up and flogged or shot. "Shoot and be damned," exclaimed Mansfield, opening the front of hi shirt. "I won't work and I won't be flogged." When McKinnon tried to ap proach Mansfield, the latter edged off. keeping out of the way. After further parleying, during which Mansfield con tlnued defiant. McKinnon gave the word and Whitley fired, the ball pass ing through Mansfield's abdomen and causing his death a few moments later. A small knife, with, a blade 2 Inches long, was found on Mansfield after his 4eath. "Justifiable) Iro'Irrtc1, Verdict. A Cm oner's jury, after bearing the tes timony presented by the prison officials, rendered a verdict of Justifiable homi cide. Notwithstanding this verdict, the management of the prison was severely criticised then and afterward for shoot ing down the convlot Instead of over powering him and compelling him to serve out the sentence of imprisonment Imposed by the court. While the prison authorities sought to excuse themselves by saying that they would not take chances with a desperate man, they were censured by a large number of people who could see no risk in half a dozen men undertaking to overpower one and who also believe that since prison offi cials voluntarily engage In such employ ment. ' they should expect to meet some Sanger. taken of the case. One was that Mans field was really sick and could not work on the food he was receiving, and if that was true, he was unjustly killed. The other view Is that Mansfield wanted to die and took this means of ending his life. If that was true, the prison officials yielded to his wishes Just as completely as though they had provided him with poison or a weapon with which to com mit suicide. It Is this failure of prison management that the authors of "9009" picture In the killing of Jlmmie Carroll. Tracy" In It, Too. The central figure In the story of "9009" Is John Collins, and the story of bis career Is a fairly accurate account of the escapades of Harry Tracy, whose es cape from the Oregon Penitentiary In 1902 was followed by deeds of daring that made the whole civilized world stand aghast. The purpose of the story Is to depict prison life, the. attitude of guards toward con vie to and of convicts toward each other, the injustice of prevailing prison methods and the evil Influence those methods have upon men who. In theory, are sent to prison to be re formed. In pursuance of this purpose, the authors tell of the workings of the "con" system, give an account of the tricks of stool pigeons and expose the weak ness of a prison management which places men of low character In control over convicts. It is not to be assumed that the authors represent that all the evils are found In any one prison or In any prison at any one time. Oonrict'B Troubles i-nj Prison. John Collins, whose prison number was 9009, was guilty of burglary and assault with Intent to kill, was sen tenced to serve eight years, and, upon reaching his cell, read the rules which Informed him of the time he could earn by good conduct. He resolved to be good, but this resolve was rudely shaken a few moments later when Guard Jennings came to his cell, stared him In the eye and remarked, "you are a bad one." Collins found that prison officials encouraged convicts to tell on each other that the convict who would re port the misdeeds of his fellows could win favor among the officers. In the effort to win this favor and secure assignment as trusties or perhaps get a pardon convicts would make false reports or lead their associates into violation of the rules so that they could profit thereby. Collins soon found that when these stool pigeons reported anything to the prison officers they were believed, while an accused man would not even be listened to In bis own defense. He learned that every convict must be looked upon as a possible stool-pigeon and felt that at any moment he might be the victim of the system. Jen nings, the guard who pronounced him a "bad one," Informed Collins of his determination to "break him," and this guard lost no oportunity to persecute the convict. A stool-pigeon "framed up" an out break and then gave the oflcers the tip, so that when the attempted break oocurred (Collins Joining In It under the excitement of the moment), the victims of the plot ran Into an am bush of armed guards and some of them were mercilessly shot down. The officers who had been Informed In advance of the Intended outbreak per mitted It to occur so that they could gain reputations for efficiency and make themselves "solid" with the ad ministration. That this stool-pigeon system as pic tured In the story existed for years in the Oregon Penitentiary is generally agreed among men who have been fa miliar with the prison affairs. In his recent book giving an account of bis "Thirteen Years in the Oregon Peni tentiary" Bunco Kelley tells how the system was worked and bow frequent ly injustice was done. But this sys tem undoubtedly obtains in other pris ons as well, so this feature of the "Number "9009" story would not con clusively Identify It with occurrences in the prison at Salem. Collins' Story and Tracy's Life. The points of similarity between the careers of Harry Tracy and John Col lins, "9009,"' are chiefly these: A rifle was taken over the prison wall at night and hidden where the convict could find It; the convict shot down defenseless guards who had treated him unjustly; he escaped over the wall and led a dare-devil chase over the hills and through timber; he relieved a workman of his clothes; he stopped at farmhouses and ordered fod, tra versed towns, shot officers, stole horses to aid him In his flight, always brought down his man when he shot; and, l finally, was surrounded in an open field, where he made no fight, but let the posse shoot him as he lay con cealed by the grass or grain. Then, too, there la a similarity In that the convict is unquestionably guilty in each instance. The authors of "9009" do not try to picture their chief char acter as a hero unjustly serving a prison term, but represent him as most prisoners really are guilty but not past reformation. The story is apparently 'designed to Impress upon the American people the Idea that many prisons are not in fact reformatory In their Influence because there are too frequently placed In charge men who are not chosen for their work because of any known fit ness for the duties and responsibil ities they are to assume. The story is a protest against the policy of shooting down a convict when he is safely with in prison walls and surrounded by as many guards as may be necessary to overpower him. .. As the New Tork Times says, it Is an Indictment of a branch of the Government for the com mission of cruelties which rival in in tensity pretty much anything of the kind on record. The book reviewer of the Times ex pressed a doubt whether the story Is founded upon facts, but there Is enough now known of the history of events In the Oregon Penitentiary to prove that It Is so founded and there is reason to believe that If all the truth were known It would be found that the authors are also correct in saying that they have knowledge of facts much worse and more revolting, which they shrank from using. ROMANCE FAR OUTDONE Convict Spins Horrible Tarn, of Lurking Terrors, PARIS, Dec. 28. An escaped convict named Hyacinth Barthelemy, who sur rendered to the police recently, relates a story of adventure and privation probably without parallel In French criminal an nals. In 1897 Barthelemy was sentenced to a long term, of penal servitude for burglary, and was departed to Guiana. He and five other prisoners managed to escape from the convict settlement. They seized a boat from some natives and after a dangerous journey, partly by river and partly through a trackless forest, reached Venezuelan territory. Be fore arriving at Caracas, however, two of them were crushed to death by a BOYS ENJOY SPORT OF CATCHING GOLDFISH IN UNION SQUARE- T, PTs 1 1 II MT ,: - Jt ..-V . -.i'V?.. ... St-., .-l-; . . - ! ,4 . W. " a v . : V ."V. ! kit." -i.- T--V' s 1 GOI.DFISHI IN NEW YORK. NEW TORK. Dec. 26. (Special.) Catching goldfish in Union Square is the oddest activity New York has known this week. Each year when cold weather sets in, the fountain basin In Union Square is drained and the thou sands of goldfish, with which the basin ls'stocked, are dipped out In nets, put In tanks and are moved to their Winter resort the Aquarium. The Tom Sawyers of the neighborhood are only too eager to help In the work. A Tremendous Cut-Price Clearance Sale Including Every Item in My Entire Stock of Diamonds and Jewelry . After the greatest. Holiday season's business in the his tory of this store, I have the finest and most complete stock in the city. Jf To turn this stock into money quickly, I will start my Annual Clearance Sale tomorrow . at gTeatly reduced prices. This is positively the great est value-giving" sale of High-Grade Jewelry ever offered in the City of Portland. All Diamonds at lO Per Cent Off These are all perfect stones, selected as to their individual worth. $500 Stones. ...$450 $200 Stones ... $180 Entire stock reduced, down $400 Stones... $360 $100 Stories. 90 to choice stones at $10 for $9 All Solid Gold and Gold-Filled Jewelry at 25 Per Cent Off Our entire stock of Novelties, Buckles, Combs, etc., which surpasses in value anything ever shown in the city, is offered during this sweeping Clearance Sale at 25 per cent off of our regular and reasonable prices. 20 Per Cent Off on All Watches From the finest down to the lowest price watch in my stock (Howard ex cepted), I offer a 20 per cent reduction during this great clearance sale. All Cut Glass and China at 25 Per Cent Off Not a store In the Northwest that shows a finer assortment of choice Cut Glass and hand-painted China than what we now offer at exactly one fourth off. Aronson's celebrated hand-painted China. ' Sterling Silver Toilet Sets 25 Off Our entire stock, the finest ever shown anywhere, at 25 per cent off. Clocks 25 Per Cent Off Fancy Clocks of every description, that have attracted so much atten tion. All offered at 25 per cent off. Umbrellas 25 Per Cent Off K most complete assortment of artistia handles, high-grade Umbrellas, 25 p. c off. Aronson Popular-Priced Jeweler 294 Washington, Near Fifth python, a third was devoured by a puma, and a fourth killed by a crocodile on the hull, if tYn OH n nro. Barthelemy and his sole remaining com panion eventually arrived at the Vene zuelan capita, but the authorities, on finding that they were Frenchmen, threat ened to have them shot. They escaped Into the wilderness again, where Barthe lemy's companion was killed and eaten by cannibals. After Innumerable other dangers Barthelemy reached the eea coast and embarked on a Spanish schooner, which landed him at Bordeaux. Be arrived In Paris this week only to find that his mother and sisters had dis appeared, leaving no trace of their where abouts. In despair he surrendered him self to the authorities m order to secure food and shelter. Asks Boston Surveyor to Quit. WASHINGTON. Dec. 26. Secret aw Cortelyou today said that he had asked Mr. McCarthy, surveyor of the Port of Boston, to reslpn either that position or the chairmanship of the Republican city committee. The Seoretary stated there was nothing unusual in this case. It was, he added, simply an Instance of too much politics, and he had simply taken the same course that he had In similar case from time to time. Tance every Tues. eve.. Ringer's Hall PURELY COMMERCIAL For the ' Retailer, Wholesaler, Manufacturer Banker, Office and Professional Man, Etc. 1909! Only four more days! Is your office properly equipped with modern time and money saving devices and necessities for the New Year? SINCE the year 1867 more than forty years ago the name GILL'S has been, synonymous of Commercial Stationery. By carefully studying the requirements and needs of the people of this big city, we have justly earned the title, "PORTLAND'S LEADING OFFICE OUTFIT TERS," and by carrying out our idea of doing all things just a little better than they were ever done before, thus insuring our valued patrons absolute satisfaction in all dealings, we have estab lished an en-viable reputation throughout Portland. In our Commercial Stationery Department, the largest and best in the Northwest, everything that may be expected in a strictly down-to-the-minute Commercial Stationery Store may be found, from the every-day pen and pencil to the modern, mechanical (and even electrical, if you please) duplicating machines; and from the smallest vest-pocket Memorandum Book to the very latest pro ductions in Loose-Leaf Devices! Scan the list below; better still, come and inspect our showing and this with the assurance that no obligation will be inferred from any inquiry you wish to make. It may give you a lisht on some of the newest and best time and money-saving office devices and necessities manufactured today. HERE'S JUST A MINIATURE COMMER CIAL DIRECTORY OF SUGGESTIONS Blank Books. m Erasers. Office Ticklers. Bankers' Cases. Envelopes. Office Cuspidors. Board Clips. Envelope Sealers. Office Pins. Bond Boxes. Eyelet Punches. Paste. Billhead Boxes. Envp. Distributor. Price Books. Bill Files. Envp. Openers. ' Paper Fasteners. Book Racks. Eye Shades. Paper Clips. Bankers' Shears. Flies. Pen Racks. Bank Pins. Finger Molstener. Package Scales. Blotting Papers. Fountain Pens. Pin Trays. Calendars. Glue. Pen Trays. Carbon Papers. Gummed Labels. .. Pin Tickets. Call Bells.' Tnk. , Pena. Cash Boxes. Ink Eradlcators. Penholders. Check Cancellers. Inkstands. Pencils. Copying Presses. Loose-Leaf Devices. Pencil Sharpeners. DESKS AND CHAIRS. Letter Baskets. Postal Scales. Diaries. Letter Scales. ' ROTARY NEOSTTLE. Date Books. Lawyers' Seals. Rulers. Daily Journals. Merchandise Tags. chhir Ktumn Pads Desk Sfy Racks. Memorandum Books. EubberStampFafl!. Desk Baskets. Neostyles. Rubber Type Ptg. Outfits. jJupllcating Machines. I Numbering Machines. Rubber Bands. Stationery. SAFES. Sheet Holders. Statement Distributors. Stamp Boxes. Scrap Books. Shears. Sponge Cups. Sponges. Sealing Wax. Seals. Shipping Tags. Tapes. Tape Baskets. Telephone Indexes. Telephone Tablets. Telophone Holders. Typewriter Papers. Typewriting Supplies. Waste Paper Baskets. Writing Papers. Window Hooks. Etc., etc Field and Office Equipments for Architects and Engineers PHONES MAIN 8500 A 8500 TheJ.ILGILLCO. Booksellers and Stationers THIRD AND ALDER STREETS F I R S T and SECOND FLOORS There were two Jstowsj &sA t&lgbt be J