'"tr- f ' " 'Down His if 6 For H I!, Love riain ; iso man n nan i ms, i nai a luian Lay The Ghrisimab Cheer Campaign For Food and Clothing For WEATHER FOHECAST: Rains in west and rains and snows in southeast portion; normal temperature: fresh westerly winds. Maximum yesterday, 46: minimum, 32; river. 5.9; rainfall, .13; atmosphere, part cloudy; wind, southeast. fcENTY-SIXTH YEAR Body of Woman Discovered in Basement With Shirt Around Neck CASE BAFFLES POLICE Roomer at Home Report Meet ing poorly Dressed Worker Talking to Mrs. Berard In Parlor of 'Home COUNCIL BLUr"FS, Idwa, Dec 24.(AP) A mysterious Strang er was sought tonight in an effort tn solve the death ot Mrs. John Fierard. 41, wife of the Burling ton railroad passenger agent here, whose body, with a shirt twisted around her neck, was discovered wedeed between the furnace and wall in the basement of her home. fftunty authorities said the case was one of the most puzzling that had confronted them In years. Thy said they are not ready to accept a suicide theory, nor can they discard suspicions of mur der. As the Investigation prog ressed, however, detectives said they were almost convinced it was murder. The "mysterious stranger" angle was given by Robert Moore, rail road fireman and roomer at the Berard home. Moore said as he left about 2:50 p. ' m. yesterday he noticed Mrs. Berard was in the parlor talking to a man whom she introduced as "Mr. Williams." Moore said he had never seen "Williams" before, and did not know the , subject of the conver sation. The man, Moore said, was rthfl .poorly dressed and jLppfar ,QWn 30 and 40 yekrs old. Tien Mrs. Berard Introduced him to me, I thought nothing of it and did not stop to talk," Moore told police. MI thought he prob ably was some worker in the SeTenth. Day Adventlst church, of which Mrs. Berard was an active member." Members of the Berard family could shed no light on the strang er's identity. To support a suicide theory is the recent nervous illness of Mrs. Berard. "She had once. said she -wished she were dead," Mr. Berard said. tContiand ea MO I.) CHRISTMAS TREE GREAT SUCCESS 330 YOUNGSTERS RECEIVE ,) GIFTS AT MEETING Salvation Army and Elk9 Cooper ate luMot Worthy Work . -f Yuletlde The'Elks-Salvation Army Xmas tree program, given at the armory last night, 'was easily the largest and best affair of its kind ever held 'In Salem. All seats in the big auditorium were tilled and the audience overflowed into the gal lery. Dr. B. F.' Pound, chairman of the 'Army advisory committee, gave an' address of' welcome to the yon A g " guests, telling them what they "were to expect, and how gratified the Elks and Army were to see them out in such num bers. Cooke -Patton outdid him self In 'feats of magic, receiving wild applause,' especially from the young guests. The two young sters who acted as Mr. Patton's aides deserve special mention tor their part in the program. A piano' "solo and eneore were ren tlenMTbyGatl MtClean in a charm ing fanWr.Si Ensign 'Pitt of the Salvation for ? t he assistance given by the Elks.'thy-oewspapers and the peo ple of Salem, saying that never before hTten gears' experience had Kjand - Mrs. Pitt been accorded hearty ; cooperation enjoyed .ICt A J (J IUVU lUDUUVlU I " . ylngs1cfs vtn how to conduct lurmscives tnat tne presenis inigni Itn'iOstrihAtf'd with an llttl. ilftav as Possible.' a!nd coached them in tho Australian sneezer Tfte! big cvftnt of the'vcnhiR was then on. J'Preet'ded y a clatter of pound ing fweV 'Sa'nta himself popped rfght atjobthe fireplace and ricelvd 'wlth , bhriU 'yelli 'of fJoy bv" theVttritfs'tcrs.. Santa explain ed the absence; of chiming bells by aylngi'that ills territory wa po larg, ho had to 'travel by ;alr- OFFICERS S EE K HtHlTl-v 'trtv-cf man mm 4 i i Itara Mfi . b a u& um On Earth Peace Among Men" Christmas Message 'No Room in the Inn" So the Son of God Was Born in a Lowly Manger, Came Bringing Faith, Love, Hope and Joy to All Mankind "THE miracle is wrought again, 1 The Lamb of God is born And angles sing the song of peace Above the earth this morn. "( would that Christmas peace and love And all its hope and cheer Could live within pur hearts and souls Through every day and year." Et!elmu. Bij lrl S. McSherry ALMOST two thousand years ago there was enacted a scene in the little town of Bethlehem that has remained en shrined in the hearts of the people through the passing years. Bethlehem, a typical town of the times was filled with people. Many of the visitors crowded into the stables and used them for sleeping quarters. It was in one of these JURY CONVICTS PAT M'DERMOTT MAN HELD HIRELING OF UX DERWORLD FOR SLAVING Defense Counsel Will Appeal to .Higher Court on Grounds ; of Error CANTON, Ohio. Dec. 24 (AF) Patrick Eugene McDermott was found guilty early tonight of first degree murder for the death of Don R. Mellet, Canton publisher. The jury of 10 men and two women returned its verdict with a recommendation of mercy after deliberating but one hour. The case was delivered into the hands of the jury just as dusk of Christmas eve fell over the city where the crusader editor a few months ago launched his attack on the underworld, and its alleged police protection. From the time Mellet was shot down at his gar age door in a fusillade of shots discharged from ambush early' on the morning of July 16. there has been one predominant theory, that he was slain by the under world. McDermott, the state charged, was the underworld's hireling picked "to do the job." When the verdict was read in the court of Judge E. W. Diehl at 6c55 p. m. today, McDermott ap peared calm and composed, al though the sealed envelope might have dispatched him to the elec- ( Continued on page 2.) LABISH LUNCH PLANNED Chamber of Commerce to Feature Region in Weekly Meeting A "Lake Labish'i luncheon will be held Monday noon by the cham ber of commerce. It was announced vpKterdav. Products of the dis trict 'will bo served at the meal L. O. Herrold will give statistics about the mint, celery, lettuce. onions, and fine potatoes grown there. The ' Lake Labish country, ex tending eight miles in length from the Keizer nchool to Parkersville. is from 100 tc 2500 feet wide. It was once a lake, but is now Jand worth from 5750 to iooo per acre. It is considered one of the greatest farming districts in the northwest.' It will be considered etiquette to chew gum flavored with Labish mint between courses. 32 REVELERS ARRESTED Police Swoop IKwi on Ilcsitaur antfj Staging Cclcbratlou SEATTLE. Dee. 24. (AP Thirtv-two oersons starting an old fashioned Christmas celebration here today were arrested When the nsiiik rirv nan ad swooped down on two" Seattle restaurants. Twenty seven were charged with being in places w here liquor was sold and the others were held as thcr opcta- 12FJ si csiaiUsfessiiisi ? - i stables tnat tne scene oi me me '. i j Christmas story was enacieu. Picture the lowly manger as a crib Mary, the mother of Jesus, in spotless white bending over it Joseph standing near watching three kings of the Orient mak ing their gifts with royal dignity the shepherds the wlsemen there comes from the crude cradle of the new born King a soft glow message to an manxina. Born In a manger because "there was ! no room ; for him in the Inn." Those last few words tell of the humble circumstances of tlie S6n of God. Tragedy and pathos touch this part of the first Christmas story. "No room in the inn"- the phraBe strikes the heart strines of everv person. To many It seems almost, an affront, yet It came to pass that the Babe was born as a guest of the toilers His first friends were the common working men of the Bethlehem country, the shepherds, the trad ers and the stable keepers. He came into the world and lived here a short time bringing love. peace and hope to all. Thus we have a picture of the (Contmnea on vg S.) 7 wmmmmm . 'mm - 1 0H ; SALEM, OREGON, SATURDAY AUTO OWNERS URGED TO GET 1927 LICENSE Department Preparing to Take Care of Maximum Demand for Few Days ONLY 27,000 APPLIED "Unlawful to Operate Motor Ve hicle in State With Any Other Plates Than of Current Year" Says Secretary An urgent appeal for motor ve hicle owners to obtain their 1927 license plates was made here yes terday by Sam A. Kozer, secre tary of state. '"Of the 150,000 motorists in Oregon who drive their cars.dnr ing the entire year not-to exceed 27,000 have applied for 1927 li cense plates," read a statement issued by the state department. "This means that the same con gestion will prevail the first of next year as has existed in the past. "Attention has been directed to the. fact that it is unlawful for motor vehicle owners to operate (Continued on pige 3.) ONE FATAL ACCIDENT 664 Injuries Reported to Commis sion During Week There was one fatality due to industrial accidents in Oregon dur ing the week ending December 2 5, according to a report prepared here yesterday by the state Indus trial accident commission. Of the 664 accidents reported 551 were subject to the provision's of the workmens' compensation law, 10S were from firms and cor porations that have rejected the act. and five were from firms and corporations not subject to state protection. RICH MAN, POOR MAN, BEGGAR MAN, Salem's MORNING, DECEMBER 25, 1926 HIROHITO MADE RULER OF JAPS ACTUAL CORONATION TO BE HELD NEXT NOVEMBER Simple Ceremony Enacted Imme diately After Death of Y'oshihito TOKYO, Dec. 25 (AP) Yoshihito, Japan's invalid emper or, died in the early hours of this Christmas morning. Hirohito, his eldest son, who since November, 1921, had ruled the empire as re gent, immediately became Japan's 124th emperor. The ceremony of the ascension of Hirohito to imperial office took place in the main hall of the villa at Hayama in which his father had just succumbed to pneumonia after critical illness of more than two weeks. Hirohito went almost directly from the death bed of his father to the ceremonial which proclaimed him monarch. Japan ese custom so decreed. Yoshihito yielded his roign while surrounded by all members of his family except his second son, Prince Chichibu, who is has tening home from England. The efforts of his majesty's many phy sicians who attended him day and night, and the unceasing devoted attendance of Empress Sadako, many times warded off death in the emperor's last day. The de votion of his attendants and the prayers of the nation were given credit by the Japanese for the pro longation of the life of thel&over eign who since birth has suffered physical afflictions which ulti mately affected his mentality. The ceremony by which Hiro hito became invested with imper ial office was simple. It consisted of the turning over to his keeping of sacred treasures, symbolical of his sovsreignty. There were a sword, a mirror and beads, which always accompany an emperor of Japan. These treasures, really replicas of originals which 4re safely de posited in shrines, are venerated as having descended from the gods. With the treasures was also handed to the new emperor the privy seal of his empire. The ceremony took place in the pres ence of cabinet ministers, other (Continued on page 2.) THIEF $flfmm . v. 0fmh$m$ Needy to Go mmM 'CAflOtSUSHER n n r TO CELEBRATE Salvation Army and States man's Fund Reaches High Mark 100 FAMILIES BENEFIT Theater Tickets Giveu. in Baskets to Children Who Cultl Not Be Present at Celebra tion in Armoi'jr Contributions to the Christmas Cheer fund continued to come into the office until a late hour last night, bringing the grand total up to a high figure. The generosity of the citizens enabled The Statesman and the Salvation Army to bring happiness and joy into a number of homes today- In many of these hones the bare ne cessities would hav been lacking except for the aid given. The Christmas Cheer Fund was started some . weetks ago and mounted steadily in, spite of the fact that other similar movements started later in the- month. - The las 48 hours witnessed a rapid increase in the f urid and so en abled the workers no reach many worthy people and nsure numer ous youngsters against the tragedy of finding an empty stock ing this morning. Over one hundred families of Salem and outlying districts were recipients of Christmas Cheer yes terday. More than 75 large boxers of food supplies, filled according to the needs and size of the fam ilies, were delivered at their doors. Each box contained enough provi- (Couifoood on page 2.1 CARS CRASH AT McCOY One Man Injured Four Cornered Seriously Accident DALLAS. Ore., Dec. 24. (AP) A. C. Vernon of Scio was in jured seriously and G. A. Halton of Eugene hurt slightly when three automobiles and a farm wagon piled up today in a collis ion on the west side Pacific high way north of McCoy. Slippery pavement on a hill was given as the cause of ttte accident. The cars were driven by Vernon, a son of Mrs. Halton and L- L. Shively of Amity. The driver of the team was in the employ of Mrs. William Rohde of McCoy. Vernon was taken to a hospital at McMinnville. JURY FREES WATCHMAN Testimony Showed Man Shot to Protect Lives of Family SEATTLR, Dec. 2 4 (AP) Albert Swanson, department store watchman, who shot and killed his son-in-law, Fred C. Cartwrlght, 24, at the Swanson home yester day was exonerated by a coron er's jury today after testimony had been given by Swanson's daughter, his wife and neighbors. The jury found that Swanson had "fired in defense of himself and his family's lives." No further information is ex pected to be filed in the case against him. BUS REPORTED WRECKED Many Passengers Thought Hurt When Stage Leaves Bridge MODESTO, Cal., Dec. 24. fAP! California Transit com pany stage northbound, with 35 people aboard was reported to have crashed through Ripon bridge, over' Stanislaus river to night. Many passengers were re ported injured- BANDIT ROBS BANK - CHILDRESS, Texas, Dec. 24. - ( AP) A robber held up Clarence Wylie, cashier of the First State Bank of Tell, and took 11500, to- EI POOR GHRST1S DAY dayj. ; " ' On For Six The Statesman Christmas Cheer Fund The "Tragedy of An Empty Stocking" will not be enacted ' in many a home this morning owing to the generosity of the good people who contributed to The Christmas Cheer Fund. Many took supplies of cloth ing and food to the Salvation Army and so were doing just as splendid a work. Every cent of money and every article of food and clothing is being used to make someone happy today. Santa Claus says to tell you all he appreciated -the help you gave him in the work and he wishes you one and all" the very Merriest Christmas. Previouslr acknowledged Mrs. II. Baker S. Bush C;ish 1'erry Dodd Cash A Friend 'red J. Tooze, J is AiKither Friend John If. Scott Check A 'ricnd -. A. Brooks 1177.27 2.0 - 20.00 .30 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.0O l.OO 1.00 5.00 .75 1.00 WINTER RELIEF FUND PLANNED CHARITY WORK HANDLED LIKE CHRISTMAS CHEER Many Families May Need Help During Winter Until Spring Work Opens Christmas has come, and to morrow it will be gone for an other year. Salem . has respond ed generausly to all the pleas for Christmas relief for the destitute families of the city, but a long winter looms ahead for many of them until spring, with a prospect of more work, will be here. With the view of helping many of these poor families until they can find work, the Salvation Army and The Oregon Statesman have decided to continue the Christmas cheer fund until spring. The Statesman and the Salva tion Army believe that Salem will not, fall down in this good work, but will keep the Christmas spirit for a longer- time. The fund will be managed on tho same plan by - which the Christmas one was operated. Not only money, but clothing and food will be welcomed. Those who contribute money are asked to leave it at The Statesman of fice, while those who bring offer ings of clothing or food can de posit them at a place which will be prepared in the Salvation Army headquarters. It is believed that the fund will only be needed for about six more weeks, when work on farms and other outdoor sources of employ ment win be available for prac tically anyone who is able to work. The same plan of selecting de serving families that is now used will be continued. The Salvation Army keeps a list of all families who are worthy of help, and will see that they are properly sup plied with clothing and food, so far as the money and supplies will permit. All money that comes into the fund will he carefully spent, and will be used entirely for clothes and food. The fund will not continue un der the name of "Christmas cheer fund," but will be known as, the Salvation Army and Oregon Statesman Winter Relief fund.M TO SPEAK IN PORTLAND Similar Meetings to Iks Held Many Parts of Country in Dr. Norman K. Tully, pastor ot the First Presbyterian church" oi Salem, has accepted an invitation to give an address on the 'Life of Woodrow Wilson," at tho. com- morative exercises to be held at the Central library in Portland Tuesday night, December 28 On that day similar programs will bo hold in many sections of the United States under the dlrec tlon of the National Commemora tion committee of which-Norman H. Davis is president. Joseph N. Teal of Portland is chairman of . the Oregon committee and Edgar Freed is vice president. Governor Pierce and members of his official family will attend the Portland mooting. Weeks Mov:s First Sectibn-Pagei h to 8 Two Sections 1.6 Pages . . , . : : " - .: ?. " s-5x f j- ;PR1CE-JFIVE: CgNTS President Coodge Lights Yuletide Community Tree in Washington ;,: SANTA HEAPS PRESENTS Canvass of Official Circles Dis closes General Homeward Exodus of Nation's Exec utive Leaders WASHINGTON, .ec 24. (AP) The nation lifted its voice as a "choir invisible" tonight with President and Mrs. Cool id fee .lis tening and singing at the White House to usher in the 1J2C Christmas to the solemnly inspir ing strains of old time carols. With millions ot voices raised in song in every quarter ot the country. It was the first 'nation wide celebration under radio guid ance. The choir of Central Con gregational Church at Brooklyn, of whichDr. S. Parkes Cadman is pastor, broadcasting"- between 10:30 o'clock and midnight, over an extensive radio chainprovided the leadership that' attracted singers from coast to coast." Beginning of the celebration in Washington, which like ' most of. the country could look forward only to a rainy rather . than a snowy Chrlstmaa, was ''left to President Coolidge the. lighting of the community Tula Tree plant ed near the treasury. ;Marin band music and an address hy Senator Capper of Kansas . were other features ot the program, after which Mr. and Mr. XTool idge had invited .th public to at tend carol singing within the White House grounds led by a choir of the First Congregational church. Not all of the eveninjc could b given by tne'Coolidges nd-thi son. John, to singing, for threo Christmas trees awaited decora tion at their hands. Arranged in the 1lne room, they will -be heap ed about In the morning byvhun- dreds of gifts to the presidential family from all over the country. Their wrappings, like those to ho exchanged between father, motn- ( Continued on page 4.) LITTLE ORPHAN AWARDED PRIZE ENGLISH GIRL WRITES WIN- NINO CHRISTMAS CAROL Words and Music Copyrighted and! Proceeds Go Toward Annie's Education Here is a genuine 1926 Christ mas story which might be, called, a "Christmas Carol" and as charming in real life as is Dick-' ens "Immortal Tale in the World of Make-believe." By BATES RANEY LONDON, Christmas Morning. 1926 (AP) -Once upon, time there was a little English girl who didn't have a father. ' Her name was Annie Lucille Fanning, and when she was 10 years old her mother-was obliged to place her in an orphan's home. Little Annie . as very lonesome and often her black eyes filled with tears -be-' cause she didn't have any nice , home or brothers or sisters to play with. . . .. Soon after her eleventh birth day, her teacher asked her and tho rest of the orphan school- girls . each to write a Christmas. carol. So Annie wrote one .she called .j "Little Lord Jesus,' but she dld't think it was very good because she never had any musical ability . -her teacher said so But any way, she took paper and k pencil and wrote: . .. : .'- tLIttle Lord Jesus was born this day thousands of years ago. "Dear little babe, in a manger he lay, and the cows and the oxen " did low. - . ,. , , -. , "Alleluia, alleluia, little Lord Jesus., our , king;- hark how the , bells do ring! " -. .---: t -r : . . t "And in the night,,when all was . still and the . starry heavens shone!.;. v'r.;'.:,1 ' - if- ' j "Mary, the 1 gentle ' mother. - sat' watching the whole night long,- : N6w Jet tii 6ur praises sing to Goduf. 'heavenly king;. ,"He was a baby born on earth, loud let his praises ring." Little Annie, sent in her carol