The Sunday Oregonian., June 06, 1909, Page 6, Image 6

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THE SUNDAY QKEGOXIAX, PORTLAXD, -JUNE 6, 1909.
ILL HEALTH CHOSE
OF GHASTLY CRIME
Marquam Man Blows Up His
Family, Killing Self, Wife
and Daughter. .
GIRL IS -FATALLY HURT
Another Stepdaughter Refuses to Go
lovn!-tairs AYlien Called and
-Ksoapes Neighbors Had 'No
ticed Man A-ted ijneeriy.
ORKGON CITY. Or.. June 5. (Special.)
Despondent over ill" health. Bert B.
Garrett set ofr a chaige of dynamite,
killing himself, his wife, their 4-year-old
daughter and fatally, injuring Miss Villa
Brown, Mrs. Garrett's daughter by her
first husband. Miss Brown Is terribly
limngled and Is not expected to live
through the night.
In Marquam, where the tragedy oc
curred, the people were shocked beyond
expression at 7:30 o'clock this morning,
when a terrific explosion under the floor
of the kitchen at the Garrett home hlew
three people into eternity. Garrett and
his daughter were killed instantly. Mrs.
Garrett lived more than an hour and
though both her lower limbs were blown
off, she retained consciousness while she
lived and died without knowing there
were other victims of her husband's act.
Garrett was Si years old. and Ills wife
Ave years older. His illness had caused
him much worriment and he had been
receiving treatment In Oregon City and
in Portland.
Garrett Borrows Shotgun.
Several days ago he borrowed a shot
gun and stated lie was going to shoot
gophers. He bought eight shells, tilled
with No. 7 shot, at the Marquam store,
and later exchanged them for No. 5 shot,
the largest size he could obtain there.
His brother learned of this and advised
the man who had loaned the gun to Gar
rett to see it was returned immediately,
lint Garrett, with his unbalanced mind
bent on murder, took another tack, and
secured a quantity of dynamite, prob
ably from Mount Angel, where he had
been during the last few days. He at
tempted to buy powder at Ridings' store
in Marquam. but none could be obtained.
Tills morning while his wife and their
little daughter and Miss Brown were in
the kitchen, Garrett went to the bed
voom of his wife's other daughter. Miss
Gladys Brown, nged 15 years, and told
her breakfast was ready and to come
down stairs. It was his evident inten
tion to get all of the members of his
household In one room together and ac
complish their destruction at the same
time.
But Miss Brown declared she knew it
was not breakfast time and as she was
not feeling well, sUe declined to go down.
Garrett stole quietly out of the house
and went to the outside wall of the.
kitchen, where he dug a hole and planted
his lmirderous charge.
He was seen y Roy Ridings and Mrs.
Chapman,. Ms next door neighbors, who
supposed he was digging a hole in which
to plant something. A minute later tho
whole village was startled, by the ex
plosion. Garrett was blown T.5 feet. His head
struck a tree and the force of the im
pact shattered his skull. Mis heart
was blown out of his body, which rolled
and bounded further on. The little girl's
head was blown off, and Mrs. Garrett
lost both limbo. Her daughter. Miss
A illa, was Injured internally. The kitchen
was completely demolished, but the other
portions of the house escaped with but
few broken windows, and Miss Gladys
Brown was unhurt.
Ac-led Queerly Lately.
News reached Oregon City by t'.;Ipivone
end Coroner Holnian. accompanied by
Attorney Gilbert L. Hedges, went to the
scene and hold an inquest. The follow
ing jury was impaneled: J. T. Drake, G.
W. Bcntley, Adolph Meyers. S. G. Nichol
son. J. W. Falconer and W. A. Shaver.
The evidence was indirect, but it was
established beyond doubt that Garrett had
intended to kill his whole family along
with himself, and had nearly succeeded.
Testimony at the inquest developed that
Garrett had been acting queerly of late.
He had inquired about the surest and
quickest way to put anyone out of the
way and had avoided his neighbors and
associates.
Garrett will be burled tomorrow at
Marquam. Ho conies from a highly
esteemed family, and was the commonly
accep(-d black sheep. He was married
seven years ago to Mrs. Brown, a
willow with two children and their life
had been reasonably happy. According
to Mrs. Garrett's dying wish.' her body
and that of her little child will be sent
to Hartlmnn. in Kastern Oregon, and
. buried alongside the remains of her first
husband.
G AltrjKTT'S l.IFK Vl'RPOSELESS
Former Hoarder Says Burden of
Family Fell on Wife.
Carl F. Anderson, of this city, until
re.-ently principal of the Marquam public
school, is satisfied "that the Garrett home
at Marquam was dynamited by the bus
. band and father yesterday morning. Un
' til two weeks ago, when the Marquam
st hool closed. Mr. Anderson boarded at
the Garrett home while teaching. ,
"From my observations of Mr. Garrett
t his home." said Mr. Anderson last
nieht. "1 am impressed with the fact
that his was a purposeless life. He was
neglectful of his family and entirely
indifferent as to their needs and com
forts. "Of a morose disposition, he fre
quently would sit by the hour and brood
ever imaginary troubles. He was any
thing but sociable, of a reserved nature
ml. Instead of being industrious, was a
burden on his family. There is no ques
tion In my mind but. having satisfied him
self in his mental condition that he would
ne better off dead than alive, he resolved
to end the lives of himself and all of
the members of the family.
"Mrs. Garrett was a pood woman. She
was a faithful w'.fe and possessed indus
try which was a minus quantity in her
liusband's makeup. Two of the daugh
ters attended the Marquam school. Tliey
were both bright and exceptionally good
echoinrs. They were especially devoted
to their mother."
liliOTHF.K SAYS GAKItETT CKAZY
Sisier Hints Bomestlc Kelattons in
Family Vnplea.saut.
si I A" FUTON. Or., June 5. (Special. 1
The entire community surrounding the
home of R. B. Garrett, of Marquam.
was thrown into a high state of excite
ment this morning; wnen Garrett killed
himself and two members of his family
w ith dj namite. "
Mrs. Jones, a. sister of Garrett, said
tonight domestic relations in the Garrett
' family had not been altogether pleasant
by reason of his peculiarities. "None of
us mistrusted he had contemplated this
dreadful murder and self-destruction,"
she added.
Mrs. Garrett lived two hours after the
tragedy and before she died told her sister-in-law
the whole story. - Garrett had
a roving disposition and wanted- con
stantly to go from place to place. The
house belonged to his wife, and because
she would not sell it and go with him in
searth of fortune, he had threatened to
destroy the home and the family.
Dr. R. I. Garrett, of Hubbard, said 'his
unfortunate brother had been - insane
nearly all his life. .When quite small, he
said, he suffered a severe attack of scar
let fever, from which he never fully .re
covered, lie also said domestic relations
in the family-had not. been harmonious,
and that his brother used up a good farm
and all his money in going from place to
place. He had no money at all when he
died, and for some time Mrs. Garrett has
supported the family by taking in wash
ing. '
In his brother's pocket Dr. Garrett
found a note addressed to Or. William
House, of Portland, and written on the
back of a real estate contract was the
following: ...
"All I told you is so. I cannot go and
leave them, so this awful crime. These
innocent souls. This awful way fo die.
But they will not know it. (Signed.)
A Man with a Damned Soul."
Written on the envelope was ' "Look,
this is for Dr. House. Portland, Or."
Beside the message to the doctor the en
velope contained two prescriptions.
The remains of Mrs. Garrett and her
little daughter will be shipped tomorrow
to Hardman. according to her last re
quest, and interred by the side of her
first! husband, named Brown, who died
10 years ago. Garrett will be buried in
Marquam, where he was born and grew
up.
FIRES RAGE IN TIMBER
foub;sts blaze ix Washing
ton corxTY. .
.Desperate Kffort Made to Check
Flames Before Valuable
Trees Are Burned:
FOREST GROVE, Or., June 6. (Spe
cial.) Word reached here this morning
that forest fires are raging in the timber
neighborhood, in the northwest part of
Washington County. The fire is burning
in section 32, 3 X., 5 W. and has started
in section S3. The territory over which th5
flames haVA been a-ocnir. c v.., v, .....
burned over.1 At 3 o'clock the lire was
still burning fiercely and owners of the
tracts, living in Portland, had been noti-
oiepa nave, oeen taken to call as
sistance for fighting the fire In case it
should spread.
The green timber in that section is
among the best In the West and if it
became the prey of the raging flames
millions Of feet nf ntnmlinr ;ti
be destroyed. Fire Warden Sidwell is
in charge of fighting the flames.
FAIR MEET GALLED OFF
WITHDKAWAIi OF ORKGON AND
WASHINGTON IS CAISE.
Track Contest at A.-Y.-P.. Stadium
Abandoned Owing to Failure
. of . Rig Teams.
SISATTLE. Wash., June 5. (Special.)
The Northwestern Intercollegiate
track and field meet scheduled for next
Saturday at the Exposition stadium
was today called off by Major William
M. lnglis. director of athletics at the
exposition. Major lnglis sent out tele
grams to all the conference colleges,
notifying them that the big event of
the collegiate year for their track
teams was off.
Failure on the part of two colleges to
participate is the reason. ' The Univer
sity of Oregon, winner of the tri-state
meet a few days ago, and Washington
State College, looked upon as probably
DYNAMITED HOUSE AT
the next strongest in the conference,
fcoth occided not to enter teams, and it
wr.s the opinion of Major lnglis and
the committee on intercollegiate ath
letics for the A.-Y.-P. that a meet with
out Oregon and W. S. C. would be
vseless.
The University of Oregon team could
not be entered on account of examlna
fions set for the week of the meet The
State College wished to enter a larger
team than the exposition management
felt justitied m putting up a guarantee
for.
The meet was first set for todav, but
postponed one week owing to the mil
itary tourney. Major lnglis and the
committee in charge had practirallv com
pleted arrangements for the meet, even
to tlie ordering of the mdals. General
regret is felt that the event is called off.
as the Northwest colleges have a number
of stars that would undiublAdlv have
made good records on the stadium track.
$$-Xt xKfcv s- 111 r4 I
ML lr -sS-iW" r;: ; ,
rift?.5 ..-' m"cv 5-r-' j,
CARD OF THANKS.
"W'e wish to extend to our manv dear
friends and neighbors our heartfelt
thanks for their kindness and beauti
ful floral pieces in our sad bereavement.
R. B. PELT AND WIFE.
MRS. W. C. BELT.
linUIUU UULU IV IN
c
OFF WOOD
Flood Conditions Prevail at
Vancouver, With Water 18
Feet. 2 Inches.
RISES INCH EVERY HOUR
Government Docks in Danger and
Are Weighted Down Pittock &
I.eadbetter Mill Forced to Close.
Higher Stage Is Expected.
VANCOUVER. Wash., June 5. (Spe
cial.) The Columbia was 18 feet 2
inches above low water tonight, having
risen 12 inches in the last 12 hours.
The Northern Pacific dock is two feet
under water, and the upper dock, about
15 feet above the lower dock, is being
used by all steamers. Little, if any,
damage, however, will be done to the
Northern Pacific dock by the high wa
ter. The Government dock, which is
about 400 to 600 yards up the- river
from the Northern Pacific dock, is in
danger of considerable damage if the
water rises much higher. The dock
is over a foot under water now.
The commanding officer at the bar
racks had a number of planks pulled
up, to ease the pressure on the dock
by the ebb and flow of the water.
Planks were also laid across the dock,
and on them were put sacks filled with
rock and gravel, the weight to prevent
the dock from floating off. but even
this protection may not save it.
Ten cords of wood piled on the Gov
ernment dock . floated oft tonight at 6
o'clock and sailed down the Columbia to
the ocean. The ivood belonged to a
steamship company that does consider
able traffic along the river, and had only
recently been put on the dock.
So high is the river that the deck of
the ferry where it lands on this side is
practically on a level with Lower Wash
ington street. Passengers from the ferry
boat may now step directly from the
jumper, on which the apron of the ferry
vests, to the curb without walking up a
step, whereas usually there is an incline
to climb.
The current of the river directly In front
of the city is swift, but the strongest cur
rent is now soutli instead of north of
Hayden Island. The water rushes over
the old dyke at the east end of Hayden
Island, and it is down this arm of the
river, where the water passes' underneath
the trestle of the Portland Railway,
Light & Power Company and flows on
past the Swift packing plant that the
driftwood goes. The street railway has
a crew of men on watch all the time and
if the drift lodges against the piling of
the trestle or the piers it is at once
cleaned away.
The sawmill of the Pittock & Lead
better Lumber Company has shut down
on account of the high water, as it was
impossible to get the logs into the mill,
though the planer is still in operation.
It is figured by the rivermen that by
Monday the Columbia at this point will
be 20 feet above low water.
KOOTENAY DISTRICT ISOLATED
Four Railroad Lines Out and Many
Miles of Track Gone.
WINNIPEG. June 5. Four railroad
lines are out of business in the Kootenav
district. On the Lardo hrancb nf fh'a
LCanadian Pacific Railway there are 10
wasnouts on tne JsaKusp. and on the
Sanbon three, and on the Slocan Lake. 10
miles of track must be rebuilt. The
Crows Nest line of" the Canadian Pacific
Is in bad shape and the Great Northern is
also damaged.
Many places are isolated. The freshets
MARQUAM, WITH ONE VICTIM
OF TRAGEDY.
. Mrs. R. B. tanr.
: -
I
Nicoll's Garments
Reflect Sartorial Skill
You'll get more all-round comfort
and satisfaction in the wearing of
Nicoll's garments than from the ordi
nary kind.
Our expert tailors know how to pro
duce garments that you'll hesitate to
discard at the end of each season's
wear, on account of the comfort
you've had in the wearing.
The cream of the nobby Spring and
Summer styles are here in abundant
variety.
We'll be pleased to have you look
them over.
, Satisfaction guaranteed In all cases.
(arnients to order in a dav if required.
Full Dress and Tuxedo Suits a specialty.
Trousers $6 to $12. Suits $25 to $50
WILLIAM JERREMS' 80N8.
108 Third Street.
have caused mllions of dollars- damage
this year.
Hood River Moving Back.
HOOD RIVER, Or., June 5. (Special.)
The Columbia River is now higher here
than it has been this season and is rap
idly rising. It is said by- old-timers it
will reach the highest stage for a number
of years, and everything that is movable
along the waterfront is being moved back
to higher ground. The Bailey Gatzert ar
rived ' here this afternoon, but it is ex
pected the river will be so high tomorrow
she will not be able to get through the
locks at the Cascades.
Wallowa Without Water.
WALLOWA. Or., June 5. (Special.)
Wallowa is without water and has been
since yesterday morning. High waters
in Bear Creek, the source of the city's
water supply, .have piled sand and
gravel deep over the Intake
of the system and have filled the pipe
for a short distance with fine sand. A
crew of men is at work making re
pairs, but is greatly hampered by the
high water.
CHICAGO MEN AT SEATTLE
Entertained at Fair on Way South
ward to Portland. v
SEATTLE, June 6. Thirty-seven
business men of Chicago, members of
the Association of Commerce, arrived
tonight to visit the Alaska-Tukon-Pa-ciftc
Exposition. They were met at the
Northern Pacific train by members of
the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and
the Chicago Club and escorted to a
hotel. Tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock
they will be entertained at breakfast
by. the Chicago Club, and then conveyed
in automobiles to tlu Fair Grounds,
where they will be luncheon guests of
the Exposition management.
On Monday night at 7 a banquet
in honor of the visitors will be given
at the Rainier Club, and at 11 the party
will start for Everett and Bellingham,
where Tuesday will be spent. Wednes
day will be given to Tacoma, Thurs
day to Portland and the Journey home
ward will be begun over the Oregon
Short Line to Salt Lake. The excursion
ists stopped today at North Yakima
and Ellensburg on the way from Spo
kane. Seattle and Tacoma fret their electric
llgrhts 100 per cent less than we do 1n
Portland. Vote for the municipal lig-ht-ing
plant. (Paid advertisement.)
AND ONLY SURVIVOR
T
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ISA? "-
1
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Mima Gladys Ilrom.
t JS lllllllll I
HERE IS A MAN WITH AN IDEA
The same kind of an idea that put the old shoe
makers out of business. Why not drape the figure
instead of fitting it? Why not use the best talent in
merchant tailoring to build a ready for service gar
ment equal in material, style and finish, but superior
in draping to any custom work? This idea has been
tested, developed and put in successful practice by
the makers of
r
Chesterfield Clothes
America's Finest Product
$20 to $50
R. M. GRAY
Morrison at Fourth
5HEHIFF1HTURM0IL
Strained Relations Exist With
County Commissioners.
TROUBLE OVER BAKE-0VEN
King County Official Is People's
Choice by Big Majority and Itup
ture AVltli Republican Board
Augnrs Fight In Primaries.
I SEA TTL.E. Wash. .Tnt. K iiCn..i.i .
Sheriff Robert T. Hodgre, who was elected
as the people's choice by an overwhelm
ing majority over the Republican can
didate supported by the machine organi
zation, has locked horns with the Re
puolican Board of County Commissioners
and the hottest fight ever known in. the
Republican County organization is being
waged.
Economy in administration is the Hodge
slogan, while a strict conformity to law
and red tape is the shibboleth of the Cora,
mlsfiioners. There is talk of citing HoCge
for contempt. TTgly words have passed
between the combatants and the end
is not yet in sight. ,
Orders Bake-Oven Installed.
Trouble began when Hodge ordered in
stalled in tlje County Jail a bake-oven
at a cost of 400. He did this, say the
Commissioners, without legal authority
and in doing so usurped the functions of
the county purchasing agent. Hodge says
he received verbal permission from the
Commissioners to install the oven but the
Commissioners have refused to foot the
bill.
Now come two evening papers offer
ing to pay the bill if the Commission
ers persist, one of the papers appeal
ing to the public for the money.
Hodge has also insisted on making
his own Jail appointments, wh'ile the
Commissioners insisted on appointing
their own man for jail physician. There
are two Jari" Physicians at present,
the Commissioners' appointee receiv
ing the pay, while Hodge's man is do
ing the work. Hodge insisted the ma
trons be paid 75 a month and the Com
missioners fixed their pay at $50.
Took Profits From Jail Food.
Hodge took the profits derived from
feeding the Federal prisoners and
prisoners sent by outside counties to
make up the difference, and there is
talk of compelling him 'to make resti
tution to the county, although Hodge
asserts he is entitled tj use such pro
fits as he deems fit and in retaliation,
he demands, in an open letter, that
the office of the County Commission
ers be investigated.
It is all a family row. as it looks on
the surface, but with a Senatorial cam
paign not far away, and a state primary
election law in efTect, with Hodge, the
man who got the biggest vote cast at
the last election as-the target of the op-
Feed Your Nerves;
Keep Your Strength
FREE TEST OF A WONDERFUL
STRENGTH Blli.DKR.
MtUc-MM Tabla.
Men and women possessing weak, run
down nervous systems are in a deplorable
condition. They are in constant misery. Work
Is distasteful to them. Thev are quarrelsome,
irritable, disagreeable, and society shuns
them as outcasts. l you ar in this condi
tion you need a restorative a nerve tonic
Make-Man Tablets. They will send rich. red.
nutrition blood coursing- through your sys
tem and build up strong. steady nerves.
Such disorders as Neurasthenia, Nervous
Dyspepsia, Catarrh. KUlney and Liver Trou
bles. Rheumatism. Melancholia. Insomnia,
and even Conuumptlon. are traced directlv
to bad and Impure blood, and readilv yield
to this great remedy. Ail leading druggists
sell Make-Man- Tablets, s cents a. box or
six for $2. GO: or will be sent direct, by mail,
on receipt of price. Every box guaranteed to
give perfect satisfaction or money refunded.
-CCX OCX FRfi COCPOX-
Make-Msa Tablet fa.
14 Make-Man Bids;., Iept. A. Chirks;.
As I have never used Make-Man Tab
lets before, please send me through, my
druggist
(Druggist's name)
(Address)
A full-site Oc box Make-Man Tablets;
also your valuable booklet. I inclose 4c
to partiaUy pay mailing expense.
My name , ....
Address
(Write plainly. Only one box to emcb
family.)
position, it does not augur, well for
harmony when harmony will be a
requisite to success.
MESSINA IS NOT REBUILT
Returned Traveler Tells of Scene of
Chaos and Desolation.
ABERDEEN, Wash., June 5. (Special.)
Mrs. Fred Green has returned from a
five months' trip abroad. She spent sev
eral days in Messina, Italy, the scene of
the great earthquake. Mrs.' Green says
the view from the Straits Rives essina
the appearance of 'still being a com
mercial port of importance, the walls
of the buildings that faced the quavs
still standing in solid outline. Back of
the walls, however, there is nothing it
is chaos . everywhere. The debris gives
one the impression that better buildings
might have withstood the shock.
No effort appears to have been made
to rebuild the city and thes soldiers, who
have been given full sway, are said to
have profited largely by the loot found.
Mr. and Mrs. Green have decided to
build a home in Portland and take up
their residence there.
OLD FERRY QUITS RIVER
Boat in Service at Vancouver for 410
Years Tied V"p at Portland.
VANCOUVER, Wash., June 5. (Spe
cial.) Vancouver bid a last farewell to
the old Vancouver ferry this after
noon when at' 2 o'clock the boat was
loosed from its moorings near the ferrv
landing, where it has been since the
new ferry was nut into commission,
and taken to Portland.
Captain Stevens was at the wheel and
Chief Engineer Munger in the engine
room. This was the last trip these
two officer will take on the old ferry,
which has done service between Van
couver and the Oregon shore for the
past 20 years. The boat is now tied
up at the docks of the Portland Rail
way, Light & Power Company.
SCHIVELY DENIES CHARGE
Enters Plea of Xot Guilty to Xew In
dictment of Perjury.
SPOKANE,. Wash.. June 5. (Special.)
The new Indictment against J. If.
Schively. charging perjury in his testi
mony before the grand iury will stand.
Judge Webster this afternoon overruling
a motion to quash the same. The motion
was made upon the ground that after the
matter was resubmitted to the grand
Jury no additional evidence was taken by
that body. The former indtctment was
set aside on the ground that it did not
explicitly state In what particular parts
of the defendant's testimony he had per
jured himself.
A demurrer on statutory grounds was
overruled, and Schively, who was In
court, pleaded not guilty.
ihEjL, i -Is, - :' mm
!,jBsSisaiisVlfs.s ii J
This $6000 residence is not for sale ; but a block adjoining, improved -with
beautiful fruit and shade trees, like this, 145x222 feet; absolutely the choic
est homesite available, is offered for a few days at the low price of $3500
Liberal terms to a desirable neighbor, who will build onlv one residence on
the block, to cost not less than $3000. Located East 43d "and Halscy. Ten
minute car service. '
J. C. GIBSON, Owner
209 Commonwealth Building.
THUGS FIRE TOWN
During Blaze at Pasco Three
Hold-Ups Are Perpetrated.
ONE ROBBER IS WOMAN
Damage or Over $30,000 Mesalte
Krorn Apparent Attempt to Loot
Buildings After Flames
Have Spread.
SPOKANE. Wash.. June-i.-(Special.)
To start a disastrous fire among frame
buildings in Pasco and during the con
fifsion hold up and rob the early morning
risers was apparently the plan of firebugs
who kindled a flame at the rear of the
Little Gem Restaurant on Tacoma avenue
early this morning, the fire spreading
rapidly, until an entire block of structures
was razed. The total loss is estimated
at J.10.000.
Three holdups were perpetrated during
the excitement, the robber in one case
being a woman.
Jumping from the restaurant, unoccu
pied for two weeks, wthere it oricinntert.
the fire destroyed the Brewery Saloon,
! Nye's barber shop, the Pasco Clothing
Company and the Bon Ton rooming
house. The Bon Ton Restaurant, Rigg &
Whiteharn's grocery. Marks Clothing
Company, Bradshaw's cigar store and -Bragg's
barber shop also fell in the path
of the fire.
The seven men employed by the city to
fight flames were unable to check the
spread. - Volunteers assisted, but failed
until the frame structures had fallen.
The new three-story Cunningham brick
block. was in the Arc-swept area, but the
damage to this building will be only $100.
JUDGE DISAPPOINTS JURY
Gives Murderer Kight Years When
2 0 AVere Asked by Jurors.
SAN FRANCISCO. June . 5. J'etcr
Palassou. the aged dairyman who killed
his wife in the stable of their place on
the San Bruno road, and who was
convicted of manslaughter, the Jury
recommending that he be given th
extreme penalty of the law 20 years,
was sentenced today by Judge Caban
niss to eight years in San Quentin. In
passing sentence, the judge censured
the jury for a misuse of its powers In
advising the court, and said that sincr
it had shown a harsh spirit, he woul
be merciful.