The Coos Bay times., May 07, 1908, Image 1

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A REAL NEWSPAPER.
ALKKT,
CONCISE,
INDEPENDENT,
SINCERE.
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A PAPER OF THE PEOPLE.
11Y THE PEOPLE,
AM) FOR THE PEOPLE.
MEM1JEH OP ASSOCIATE!) PltESb
VOL. II.
THE DAILY COOS BAY TIMES, MARSHFIELD, OREGON THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1908.
No. 259.
1RKIN TESTIFY BUILDING
RS. GUINESS LURED i
SAN FRANCISGO'S FAT
GREETING OF THE FLEE
LAPORTE, INI)., "WOMAN HLUE- i
HEARD" SECURED VICTIMS IJY
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WAS NOT SAFELY CONSTRUCTED
i nnic mm
K
A
Several Give Sensational Tes
timony at Inquest of
Frank McKellar.
CORONER'S JURY
IGNORES EVIDENCE.
I. S. Smith and J. E. Cayou
Makes Statements Regard
ing Contract.
Sensational evidenco concerning
the new I. S. Smith building, which
collapsed at the corner of Broadway
and Washington streets yesterday
afternoon killing Frank McKellar,
seriously Injuring Georgo Miller and
causing narrow escapes for a half a
dozen other workmen, was given at
the inquest over the remains of Mc
Kellar last night. Tho witnesses
were mostly men who were employed
on tho construction of the building .
and practically all of them testified ,
that the building was not safo owing
to not being properly braced and tho
timbers used being too small for the
size of tho structure.
Tho coroner's jury ignored tho
testimony in their verdict and did
not attempt to place any blame for
tho accident. Their verdict simply
was that "Frank McKellar came to
his death by the accidental collapse
of a building at tho corner of Broad
way and Washington streets." Tho
members of the coroner's jury were
II. M. Wleder, W. C. Pennock, S. A.
Conro, Messerlo, D. A. Curry and
J. A. Smith. Justice C. L. Pennock
presided at tho inquest, Dr. E. Min
gus, tho coroner, being at Coquille.
The inquest was held at tho Johnson
Undertaking parlors.
Tho men who testified at the in
quest wore:
L. D. Noah, J. L. Reynolds, W. H.
Watson, M. G. Keenan, C. S. Lind
gren, J. B. Rust and Dr. E. E. Straw.
Lijdit Joists Used.
According to the testimony of the
workmen, only 2x4 joists or studding
were used in tho construction of the
building which was two stories, 75
feet long, 25 feet wide at tho base
and 28 feet on tho second story, an
extension of threo projocting over
tlie street, about thirteen feet from
tho ground. Tho carpenters testified
that they did not consider the 2x4
timber sufficiently strong to support
a safe two-story building of the size
under construction that they did
not believe that even 2xG joists
would bo any two strong to make It
a safo structure.
Others testified that tho first story
of tho building was not braced cross
wise, except at tho very ends and
there with not very strong lumber.
Braces were used lengthwise of the
structure.
The gust of wind that is said to
have precipitated tho collapse was
declared to have not been very
strong. Some gavo their opinion
that tho breezo must have caught
under the three-foot extension and
toppled tho structure over.
Was Killed Instantly.
J. B. Rust, tho partner of Frank
McKellar, testified that McKellar
Was unconscious when he went to his
rescue a moment after the collapse.
Rust and McKellar, who were to oc
cupy tho first story of the building
with their plumbing and heating
business, and the flats on the second
story as their homes, started to work
on tho plumbing of the building yes
terday afternoon. The two were
working on the second story. Rust
first noticed that tho building was
going over and shouting to McKellar
to drop through to tho first floor,
jumped down between tho cross
beams, the floor of tho second story
near them not having been put in.
Rust, landing on tho first floor,
threw himself under a work bench.
McKellar was evidently dazzled and
didn't get down but was caught be
tween tho roof and a cross beam and
the side or roof and crushed.
Nearly every rib was broken, and
it Is possible that his neck or back
bone was also broken. Ho never
regained consciousness. Dr. E. E.
Straw said that the Internal Injuries,
which resulted in hemmorrhages,
Were sufficient to cause death.
BUILDING TO
BE GUARDED
o
City Council Urged to Pass
Ordinance Introduced Year
Or More Ago.
It is likely that as a result of
yesterday's catastrophe, the Marsh
field city council will immediately
take up tho building ordinance, first
considered a year or so ago and
designed to prevent the construction
of unsafe structures, and pass it.
Mayor E. E. Straw said last night
that something ought to be done.
He said that the building ordinance,
which would have been a safeguard
against such catastrophes as occur
red yesterday, had been taken up
many times when tho council had
nothing else to do but had always
been laid on .tho table and somehow
or other had been recently lost sight
of.
Just what the ordinnnce will pro
vide has not been determined. It is
likely to specify the size or kind of
material to be used in the construc
tion of buildings of different sizes,
certain precautions to be taken dur
ing the construction for the protec
tion of tho workmen, and also pro
vide for a competent building in
spector to see that tho ordinance is
lived up to.
In order that tho expenses of tho
city will not bo too greatly increased
by enlarging tho list of salaried em
ployes, it has been suggested that the
building ordinance provide a gradu
ated list of fees, according to the
cost of the building to be construct
ed, for building permits, the pro
ceeds of which would pay a com
petent inspector. Other cities have
this plan of defraying the expense of
a building inspector.
Yesterday Councilman Sacchi dis
cussed the Smith building with men
who had..njcedjlt and it was un
derstood to be Mr. Sacchl's intention
to see that tho city provide some
sort of building requirements. The
thing in particular that camo up at
tho discussion was tho right of property-owners
to build out over the
sidewalk, as was being done in the
Smith case.
Others Had Narrow Escapes.
Half a dozen carpenters, including j
Mr. Johnson were working on the
upper story when tho accident occur
red. They succeeded in running
across tho building as it "fell north
and jumped to the ground clear of
tho lumber that crushed together.
Mr. Johnson severely sprained his
leg or ankle when he jumped but did
not notice tho Injury for sometime,
tho excitement and necessity of help
ing remove McKellar diverting his
mind.
Wife is Prostrated.
Mrs. McKellar Is almost prostrat
ed. They had been married less than
two years and came to Coos Bay but
ten days ago. Her relatives reside
in Kansas and the only near relative
of her husband is a brother in Cali
fornia with whom communication
had not been established last night.
Messrs. McKellar and Rust, tho
latter being a brother of W. J. Rust
of Marshfield, were employed by a
large plumbing and heating firm do
ing business in San Francisco and
Sacramento. They decided to come
to Marshfield, form a partnership
and get Into business for themselves.
They were just completing the ar
rangements to start their first work
when tho accident occurred. Mr.
McKellar was about twenty-eight
years old.
I. S. Smith's Statement.
The building was being erected
under contract. I. S. Smith, the
owner, this afternoon said:
"The contract for tho erection of
the building was awarded to John
son and Cayou. Tho floor plan was
.irnftPrl when Cavou took un the
! matter but he drew up the specifica
tions, me nrm iurnisnu uu a uuu
for ?1,950, signed by Masters and
McLatn, to turn over the building
ADVERTISE-
MENTS ALLEGED ACCOMPLI
CES ARE UNDER ARREST.
(By Associated Press.)
CHICAGO, May 7. The fol
lowing is Mrs. Gunness' "Matri
monial Advertisement" with
which her victims were lured
death. "Personal Comely widow
who owns a large farm in ono
of the finest districts In La
Porte county, Ind., desires to
make the acquaintance of a
gentleman, equally well provid
ed, with a view of joining for
tunes. No replies by letter will
be considered unless sender is
willing to follow his answer with
a personal visit."
(By Associated Press.)
LAPORTE, Ind., May 7. Addi
tional light on the methods of the
Guiness woman and the persons who
are supposed to have fallen victims
to her lust for gold were shed today
by Asa K. Helgelin, a brother of An
drew Helgelin, Mansfield, S. D.,
whose dismembered corpse was
among the nine found on the farm.
Helgelin told the coroner that not
only had his brother been in com
munication with tho woman, but
she had written to him after Andrew
had disappeared in an attempt to in
duce him (Asa) to visit this city.
She advised him to sell his brother's
stock and come to LaPorte, "and
we will hunt for your brother to
gether." "The letters were written in Nor
wegian and only partially translated.
Others Under Arrest.
Several circumstances indicating
that Roy Lampore, accused of first
degree murder in connection with the
incineration of Mrs. Guiness and
children, had some knowledge of her
crimes, havo developed. Bessie
Conkling, a young woman residing in
Michigan City, and a friend of Lam
pere, has boen arrested, and is being
held awaiting the action of the grand
jury. It is alleged that she stated to
Sheriff Smulzer that Lampero told
her that Mrs. Guiness "had to be
good to him as he knew enough to
send her to tho gallows."
It was discovered this afternoon
that the shed on the Guiness farm
in which the bodies of the victims
were kept had been broken into and
the bodies seriously disturbed.
No trace of Mrs. Guiness has been
found although it is still believed
that sho is in hiding in Chicago.
complete, free from all liens and in
cumbrances. "I regret tho matter very much.
While I am legally freed from any
loss in the matter, I expect to share
some of it if tho builders adjust' it
squarely as they undoubtedly will."
Mr. Johnson is a carpenter and
was at work on tho building, Mr.
Cayou is an architect and is at Co
quille where he is supervising tho
erection of a now bank building.
Mr. Cayou's Version.
Mr. J. E. Cayou today made the
following statement:
"I had nothing to do with tho
planning of Mr. Smith's building. It
was planned and overseen by Mr.
Smith, personally. Tho specifications
were drafted according to his dicta
tion, he determining tho material to
bo used. I have never been on the
building since It was under construc
tion. As far as contracting goes, I
do not make it a specialty. In this
Instance, I became Interested In Mr.
Johnson as a friend and as ho was
out of employment and wanted to
figure on some work and not being
able to personally carry tho contract,
I agreed to go in with him. Tho
construction was left entirely to Mr.
Johnson, ho making such alterations
as Mr. Smith directed or requested
from timo to time."
OTHER VICTIMS IJETTER.
Injuries of Contractor Johnson and
Geo. Miller Not Serious.
It was stated today that Georgo
Miller, tho carpenter, who was in
jured In the collapse of tho Smith
building yesterday was residing easi
er. He did not sustain any broken
hones but was badly bruised and al
most prostrated by tho shock.
Contractor Johnson's Injuries were
mostly to his arm. Tho injuries are
not regarded as serious.
MATRIMONIAL
TOR MARTIN MANY BURNED
Important Evidence Disclosed
In Portland's Mysterious
Murder Case.
(By Associated Press.)
PORTLAND, May 7. What Is be
lieved to be tho "Missing link" in
tho chain of circumstantial evidence
in the case against E. H. Martin,
under arrest in connection with the
murder of Nathan Wolff, tho pawn
brokor, Friday evening, has been
supplied by tho testimony of A. W.
Field, watchmaker in the employ of
Wolff, who has positively identified
Martin as the man whom ho saw
talking with Wolff at 5:30 o'clock
on the afternoon of tho murder and
again later in the evening. It waB
decided today to disinter tho body
of Wolff for the purpose of examin
ing the finger-nails and if find pos
sible traces of the skin of tho mur
derer under tho finger nails of the
dead man. Martin's neck and hands
were severely scratched. Tho police
believe the scratches are the result
of his encounter with Wolff. Martin
claims that he was scratched by a
cat.
Gov. Gooding Postpones Ex
ecution Until July 2d, That
Pardon Board May Act.
(By Associated Press.)
BOISE, Ida., May 7. Governor
Gooding late yesterday reprieved
Harry Orchard until July 2d. Or
chard was under sentence to be hung
Friday for the murder of Governor
Steuncnberg. The reprieve is the
outgrowth of tho legality of the
Board of Pardons acting on new
matters at the pending session.
Frank Wyman, Orchard's attorney,
petitioned for a reprieve as the
board which had been called to meet
was advised that the session could not
be held. Gooding assured Wyman
that Orchard would not bo hung
until the Board of Pardons had
heard his case.
Dr. Gale Denies Rumors That
Contagion There is of
Serious Nature.
Dr. Gale decided not to put up any
officer, today emphatically denied tho
reports that the contagion there was
small pox. He said that ho had
heard the report but that it was ab
solutely untrue,
"Tho ailment is known as Impltc
go and is a contagious skn disease,"
said Dr. Gale today. "Isolated cases
of it are not infrequently encount
ered and it Is rare that It assumes
tho proportions of an epidemic like
it has in North Bond now. It is
not a critical ailment, merely being
bothersome. It doesn't usually last
very long. Wo hope to havo it
checked in a few days. Tho school
rooms have been thoroughly ven
tilated and it Is expected that school
will bo resumed Monday morning."
Superintendent Raab is ono of tho
i victims of tho disease.
Dr. Galo decided to put up any
quarantine signs on account of tho
dlseaso, leaving it to tho people
themselves to exercise tho proper
precautions.
EXCURSION to Bandon Sunday,
May 10 th. Leave Marshfield at 8
o'clock a, m., return 8 o'clock p. m.
Tickets, $1.50.
ORORARD WILL
RAKE REARING
NU SILL POX
At Least Four Dead and Twelve
Injured in Incendiary Blaze
In New York.
(By Associated Press.)
NEW YORK, May 7. Four were
killed and twelvo injured in a fire
believed to have been incendiary and
which practically destroyed a five
story tenement at 101 Orchard
street early today. The firo was dis
covered by a policeman when the
flames began shooting through tho
windows of the lower part of the
house. With the assistance of a num
ber of policemen, nearly every one
in the house were aroused, but the
fire escapes became choked with tho
frightened tenants. Tho polico res
cued a number of children before the
firemen arrived to put up ladders.
More than 100 were taken down by
tho firemen. A number were caught
inside and cremated alive.
h PIIWF
u, fl, r.UiSL
One of the Earliest Residents
of Southwestern Oregon
Succumbs.
Mrs. Martha E. Owen, wife of A.
P. Owen, and ono of the best known
pioneers of Coos Bay, died at her
homo on Fourth street, near 'B,
after a lingering Illness of four
months. The (laughter of Captain
and Mrs. Jackson of Empiro City, her
family had the distinction as pion
eers of having tho first birth, mar
riage and death among tho white
settlers on Coos Bay.
Mrs. Owen was born at Empiro
City, July 3, 1858, and resided there
until her marriage to A. P. Owen, on
February 15, 1877. Soon after their
marriage, they moved to Marshfield
where they have resided almost con
tinuously since that time.
Two children preceded her in
death. Sho Is survived by her hus
band, A. P. Owen and several broth
ers and a sister. Tho brothers are
George Jackson of Empiro City,
Charles Jackson of Marshfield, An
drew Jackson of Montesano, Wash.;
Wm. Noble and Lyman II. Noblo of
Marshfield, and tho sister is Mrs.
Emma Saunders of Empiro City. Her
father, Captain Jackson, died about
two years ago and her mother about
a year ago.
Tho funeral services will bo held
from tho Presbyterian church In
Marshfield Friday afternoon, May 8,
at 2 o'clock, tho Rov. II. II. Brown
officiating.
STOLEN RIDE
MAYBE FATAL
Auto Drops 75 Feet Into Bay
At Seattle and Four Occu
pants May Die.
(By Associated Press.)
SEATTLE, Wash., May 7. An
automobile, running fifty miles per
hour, dashed through tho unprotected
railings at Fourth and Andover
streets late at night and alighted on
a raft of logs sovonty-flvo feet below
in Elliott Hay with two girls and
two young men.
Tho two girls, Hazel Ross and
Allco Teator, wero fatally Injured.
Tho men, Edgar C. Bennett, 22, and
Henry C. Hlbbard, 23, wero seriously
hurt. Bennett stole tho automobilo
from his father's garago for a lark.
EAD
Bay City is an Undulating
Sea of Color in Honor
of Ships.
A WONDERFUL DAY,
CLEAR AND BEAUTIFUL
Fifteen Thousand Participate
in Great Naval and Military
Parade.
(By Associated Press.)
SAN FRANCISCO, May 7. Tho
great naval, military and civic pa
rade constituting the chief feature of
today's celebration of the arrival of
tho Atlantic fleet, started from the
foot of Market street on Its long
march thru the leading business sec
tions of the city shortly after nine
o'clock this morning. About fifteen
thousand were in line, 8,500 being
marines and sailors from the vessels
in tho bay, a large force of regular
troops from tho Presidio, the marine
corps, naval militia, National Guard
of California, veterans of the rebel
lion and Spanish wars, California
pioneers and other various semi
military organizations and officials
and prominent citizens in carriages
made up tho rest of the procession.
Secretary of the Navy Metcalf, Gov.
Gillett and staff of California, Gov.
Sheldon of Nebraska, Mayor Taylor
of San Francisco, Rear Admiral
Evans and staff rode In carriages.
The Salt Lake battallion high school
cadets acted as a special escort to
Admiral Evans. Hundreds of thou
sands of people lined the route of tho
parade and when the people caught
sight of Admiral Evans, tho cheer
ing and waving of flags and hand
kerchiefs was continuous.
The sailors and marines of tho
warships were enthusiastically greet
ed all nlong the line. Tho spectacle
of hundreds of thousands of flags in
the hands of tho spectators, present
ing an undulating sea of color mak
ing it a wonderful nnd never bo for
gotten day, clear and beautiful.
Ask Pacific Fleet.
Tho first of the functions connec
ted with tho coming of the Atlantic
fleet was a breakfast given in honor
of the Secretary of Navy, Victor H.
Metcalf. About fifty guests gathered
in the red room of tho St. Francis
hotel, Including Secretary Metcalf,
tho governors of several States, tho
executive and reception committees
and the California Promotion Com
mittee. Governor Sheldon of Neb
raska, presented Mr. Metcalf a mon
ster petition signed by officials of
commercial organizations of Wash
ington, Oregon, California, Idaho,
Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Alaska, Ha
waii and Phllllppines representing
tho sentlmont of over 200,000 mem
bers asking tho permanent establish
ment In Pacific waters of a fleet o
twelve battleships.
TO ALL members of Koos Trlbo
and Sacajawea Council, you are re
quested to meet at Red Men Wigwam
Thursday, May 7th. Joint meeting
Corn and Venison. Wives and hus
bands of members aro Invited.
Five Arrested at North Yakima
On Charge of Throwing
Brakeman From Train.
(By Associated Press.)
NORTH YAKIMA, Wash., May 7.
While attempting to eject five
hoboes from a baggage car on a
Northern Pacific train, John Pryor, a
brakeman, is alleged to havo been
thrown from tho car by hqboes be
tweon Connoll and Hatfield and was
killed. Tho tramps wero arrested
and sent to Pasco. They declare that
Prior fell from the train by accident.
VOTE for N. O. Medley, Repub
lican candidate for County Assessor.
ROLD ROROES
FOR MURDER
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