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About Eugene register-guard. (Eugene, Or.) 1930-1983 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 1963)
'Probable Suicide9 Ruled By JACK WILSON Ot tha Heckler-Guard Special Jury A verdict of "probable suicide" by an inquest jury has ended the controversy that grew out of the death of Eugene businessman Donald A. McDonald. In a statement released Monday through Lane County Dist. Atty. William Frye, the jury said, "while accidental death is a possibility, the evidence most reasonably points to the probability that McDonald . . . took his own life." Frye called the jury, equivalent to the old coroner's jury, when the county's medical investigator and Eugene police investigators failed to agree on the cause of McDonald's death. The jury heard 27 witnesses in 3V4 days and announced the following conclusions Monday afternoon: That McDonald died Oct. 29 at 3600 Donald St., Eugene; That "the cause of death was carbon monoxide poison ing, self-administered by means of running a car engine in a closed garage and probably for the purpose of taking his own life." McDonald's body was found in his car Nov. 10. The car was in the garage of a house at 3600 Donald St., Eugene, where McDonald had once lived. McDonald, 33, was a former president of Liberty Television, Inc., which operates KEZI-TV in Eugene. He had sold his interest in the firm several months before his death. Dr. Harold Lyman, the medical examiner, called the death a suicide, but at an unprecedented hearing Eugene police is sued their decision that the death was accidental. Lyman stuck to his determination, and Frye called the Jury of inquest as "the proper way to resolve the question." The jury began hearing testimony last Wednesday in secret sessions, Frye said he had not invited the public to the ses sions because of the personal nature of some of that testimony. "It was in the interest of common decency to confine the hearing to the departments and persons involved," Frye said. The district attorney added that certain witnesses would not have given complete testimony in an open hearing, and CofC Elects Robert Cross As President Eugene Insurance Man Rob ert Cross, 51, Monday night was elected 1963 president of the Eugene Chamber of Commerce, succeeding Attorney Ralph Cobb. Cross is beginning his third year as a member of the cham ber board of directors. He has served as vice president for the past year. Also elected Monday were Glen P. Porter Jr., a partner in the accounting firm of Collins, Herzinger, Ray & Porter, vice president, and David J. Wil liams, assistant vice president with the First National Bank, treasurer. Cross is a partner in Robert Cross Insurance, dealing in con tract bond business as well as insurance. He has been in busi ness here since 1944, and has been a member of the chamber since then. He is a native of Kitzville, Wash., and is a 1933 graduate of Washington State College. Cross is a member of the Ore gon Insurance Agents Assn., the National Assn. of Surety Bond Producers, and serves as secre tary and general manager of the Oregon Logging Conference. He is past president of the Eugene Active Club and the Central Lane YM-YWCA and currently is president of the Eugene Council, Navy League. Cross, his wife, Cecilia, and their son, Bruce. 18, live at 2295 University St. The Crosses have two grown children, Jim Cross, a student at the University of Oregon, and Mrs. Gary Arm strong of Pullman, Wash. Cross Monday night said he expects to appoint new commit tees in the near future. Directors-heard Chamber Man ager Fred Brcnnc report that the chamber now has about 800 active members as the chamber enters its 68th year. Directors agreed that two pri mary subjects of concern dur ing the next 12 months will be downtown parking problems and l tourist promotion program. 4-H'ers Plan Conference Lane 4-H'ers, 14 and older, will attend their own pre-legis-Jative session during the third annual "4-H Conference on County Government" in Harris Hall, Eugene, beginning at 9:30 a.m., Saturday. This year, the 4-H'crs will learn more of the subjects they hear under discussion at home such as home rule charter, civil defense and medical self help, the justice courts and du ties ot a medical examiner. County officials, including commissioners, county health officer, and judges, will open doors of their offices to the young visitors and explain their jobs. Originated in 1961, "the con ference and the interest of county officials bring home every 4-H'er's pledge to good citizenship," says J. R. Gurton, - 4-H extension agent. The Saturday conference on county government is also the forerunner to the annual 4-H conference on state government, the agent adds. Two Lane 4 H'ers a boy and girl who must be 16 or older will be select ed as delegates to the 5aiem conference, Feb. 6-9. and a be hind scenes visit to the Oregon Legislature. Announcement of Lane Coun ty's delegates will be made on Saturday after interviews with all eligible 4-H'ers regarding their 4-H activities and experience. SECTION B EUGENE, YOU MEAN Ht EXCUSE KKMIN6 ABSENT Fl?0M SCHOOL BECAUSE IWA55ICK? V is that what the note is R)R?Thats Disillusioning 1 wnTP? I 1 3 181 CD Gives Report On Shelter Marking The shelter marking program in the Eugene-Springfield area is nearly completed members of the Lane County Civil Defense staff were told at their annual meeting Monday night. The marking of downtown Eugene buildings is virtually complete, Deputy Director Ern est Norris noted, and said that the University of Oregon will probably complete marking of campus buildings by early next week. The 14 buildings marked in the city will provide shelter space for 11,670 persons, Norris said. The University will have another 16.000 spaces. In addition, Director James Postage Due Pennies Slow Mail Routes Letter carriers probably took a little longer getting around their routes Tuesday because of the new postal rates which went into effect Monday. Postmaster Ethan Newman of Eugene said there was "an awful lot of postage due for the car riers because people mistaken ly mailed letters at the old rates. Newman said that if a carrier delivers 1,000 letters, he could expect to have 25 postage due letters included and this means 25 stops to ring doorbells and to collect pennies. Normally, a carrier would ex pect to find three or four post age due letters in any 1,000 he has to deliver, Newman noted. Postage rates Monday rose to five cents for regular letters in stead of four cent"!. Airmail now costs eight cents instead of sev en. Because of these one cent postage boosts. Newman said his stations have been having field days selling one-cent stamps. More than 80.000 were sold Mon day, raising the four-day total to more than 200.000. "Yesterday, the lobby looked like Christmas," Newman said Tuesday morning, noting that it had now quieted to normal. Police Check On Anchorage Burglary Eugene police are investigat ing a reported burglary at Jim's Anchorage Drive-In, 947 Frank lin Blvd., sometime late Sunday night or Monday morning. The burglars entered by breaking a window. About $10 was taken from the cash register. Ends Inquest "the public will end up knowing more than it would have from an open hearing." Of the controversy and the unusual calling of an inquest jury, Frye said he thinks "the experience will work to the benefit of the entire system (of death investigations) in Lane County." . The jury's statement said it had heard testimony that McDonald suffered "severe personal, marital and business dis appointments , . . and had been under psychiatric care. Several years before his death he had attempted suicide and on several occasions more recently he had threatened or suggested sui cide." The jury gave this account of McDonald's actions on the night of his death: He had been drinking in at least two Eugene night spots and was not in good spirits when he left the last place about 1:15 a.m. He parked in the driveway of the house at 3600 Donald St. He walked to a bedroom window at the rear of the house, cut the screen with a paring knife, broke the glass and entered the house. He entered the garage from the family room, closing the door behind him. Then he opened a garage door, drove his car in, got out and closed the garage door, and returned to his car. The jury was told McDonald was found in the driver's seat of his car. The ignition switch was on and the gas tank was empty. The windows had been rolled down, although the garage was unheated. Frye had said earlier that no signs of violence were found at the death scene. 1 Police Lt. Robert Lockard, whose investigation as a deputy medical investigator led to the police ruling of accidental death, was commended by the jury. "His interest and highly professional attention to details led to valuable information being made available," the jury said. LANE COUNTY'S HOME NEWSPAPER. OREGON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1963 VE5, Vol have to have one. OTHERWISE THE SCHOOL CAN'T COLLECT ITS STATE-AID MONEV I TH0U6HT THEV WERE INTERESTED IN WHETHER Oft NOT I WAS FEELING BETTER ! If Kocpke predicted that shelters will be placed in the J. C. Pen ney building in downtown Eu gene, the new Equitable Savings and Loan building across the street, and at the new Big Y Market on W. Sixth Avenue, bringing the area's total shelter capacity to about 30,000 spaces. This is not too bad for the first year of the program, Koepke said. Clcve Dumdi, of the Lane Ex tension Service, reported that the program to train medical self help instructors is "going good" and he predicted that about 4,000 cpnple will be trained by May 1 representing every section of the county. Dr. W. I. Holcomb, Eugene physician, next reported on various aspects of the medical service that will be provided by civil defense agencies in event of a disaster elsewhere in West ern Oregon. These will include sending surgical teams and aid stations to the periphery of the disaster area; handling an estimated 30, 000 casualties through Eugene which will act as a southwest Oregon distribution station; and the establishment of field hos pitals in the area, Holcomb said there are now two portable 200-bcd hospitals in the area, and he is hoping to get another to store in South Eugene High School, and pos sibly a fourth for Cottage Grove if storage space can be found there. Meeting Notices Tonight ELKS DUPLICATE Bridge Club regular match point play at 7:15 p.m. at 2727 Centennial Dr., Eugene. Visitors welcome. For further information, call DI 4-6104. TROPICAL FISH Club meet ing at 7:30 p.m. at the home of George Elliott, 4390 Mill St., Eugene. Further information available by calling DI 3-9937 or RI 6-2313. Public welcome. Wednesday SENIOR ACTIVITY Center meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Celeste Campbell Rec reation Center, Skinner Butte Park, Eugene, for sewing, cards and crafts, including weaving All senior citizens welcome. Bring sack lunch. EUGENE LODGE No. 11, AF and AM, special meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Eugene Masonic Temple, 992 Olive St., Eugene. Work in MM degree. rr h"T New Deputy Starts Work In DA's Office A new deputy district attor ney went to work in the Lane County Courthouse Monday. Mitchell A. Karaman, 27, a 1961 graduate of the University o: uregon law school, has been 1 assigned to the criminal depart ment, Dist. Atty. William Frye said Monday. He i replaces John Osburn, who re signed last fall to enter private practice. Karaman grew up in Portland and did his un Karaman dergraduate work at the Uni versity of Oregon. A Marine Corps veteran, Karaman was em ployed in the trust department of a Portland bank before com ing to the Lane County job. Karaman, his wife Patricia and their two sons live at 925 Nor kenzie Rd., Eugene. Frye said the addition of Kara man brings his staff to full strength of six deputies. Tax Information Available Now The Eugene office of the Oregon State Tax Commission will be open week days until April 15 to help persons who have problems preparing their state income tax returns. The office is located in room 306 of the State Office Building, 165 E. Seventh Ave. During January, February and March, help will be given between 1 and 4:45 p.m. from Monday through Friday. After April 1, the hours will be changed tu 8 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. The office will be closed on Feb. 12 and 22, which are state holidays. Vital Statistics BIRTHS SACRED HEART HOSPITAL (Eurene) (Jan. 7, 1963) DUFFY Mr. and Mm. Donald Duffy, 4250 Donald St., Eugene, a daughter. PERROTT Mr. and Mm. Nick Perrott. Rt. 3 Box 2MC, Eugene, a daughter. CAMPBELL Mr. and Mr. El- win Campbell. 4660 Franklin Blvd., Eugene, a Ron. (Jan. s, irez) MORRIS Mr. and Mn. Rlrhard Morrla, 1825 Harlow Rd., Eugene. a daughter. MrKENZIF-WII.I.AMETTB HOSPITAL (Springfield) (Jan. 7, IM3) JONES Mr. and Mm. Rlrhard Jone, 4T6'1 W. M St., Springfield, a son. PETERS Mr. and Mra. Nlrholai Petera, Rt. 1 Box 180, Springfield, a son. DEATHS THOMASON Nnrman L Thoma axon, 70, of 1990 Empire Park Dr., Eugene, died Jan. 8. Services will be Friday at 10:30 a.m. In Poole Larsen Chapel with Interment In Sunset Hills Memorial Park. WINFREY Elzore Winfrey of Dexter died Jan. 7. Servicea are pending at Buell Chapel. BARRETT Kenneth Victor Bar rett, of 21W) Henderson Ave,, Eu gene, died Jan. 7, Arrangement are pending at Buell Chapel. LOVELADY Thomas Allen Love lady, 76, of 1945 N. Port St., Eugene, died Jan. 7. Services will he Thurs day at 3 p.m. tn Poole larsen Chap el with interment In Lane Memorial Park. DK KENS Elsie J. Dickens. . of 1895 S E. Barnes Ave., Salem, died Jan. 7. Services will he Thurs day at 2 p.m. In Buell Chapel with Interment In the Upper Mabel Ceme terv. RIGOS Mae Rlffffft of 955 Cham bers St., Eugene, died Jan. . Ar rangements are pending at Simon Lounsbury Mortuary. f MRS. CONNIE HELLAND To Lead Mothers Dimes March Head Chosen At Springfield Lane County March of Dimes officials have announced that Mrs. Connie Holland, 1112 Se quoia Ave., Eugene, will serve as chairman of the 1963 Spring field Mothers' March. Mrs. Helland, who is a resi dent of the Springfield school district, will direct the annual door-to-door fund raising pro gram of the annual fund drive. The mothers' march, sched uled for Jan. 30, will be orga nized by elementary school dis tricts, Mrs. Helland said, with each district under the direc tion of a "team leader." This will be Mrs. Holland's first post with the March of Dimes, although she has par ticipated in other fund drives and is choir master and on the teaching staff of St. John's Episcopal Church, Springfield. She is a ninth grade teacher at Hamlin Junior High School, Springfield, where she is the head of the social studies de partment and is faculty advisor for student publications. She and her husband have four children, Decker, Erick, Jim and Marta. Chairman of the Springfield March of Dimes drive is Robert Boehmke, music director in the Springfield school district. Water District Levy Okayed In a light voter turn out, resi dents of the Rainbow Water Dis trict Monday approved a pro posal to exceed the 6 per cent tax limitation by $21,370.10. The vote on the measure was 69 yes and 13 no. Since the wa ter district's tax base is only $7,984.83, the ejection was ncc- cssary to obtain authority to levy sufficient taxes to finance fire protection costs for 1963-64. The water district, directly north of Springfield, receives fire protection from the City of Springfield. The cost of this pro tection will be 6 mills, or $29, 354.93 for the next fiscal year. At a meeting of Rainbow di rectors Monday night, J. Wade Cowan, a lumber firm employe, was elected chairman of the board for 1963. Other board of ficers elected were Frank Light, secretary, and Ivan Bccson, treasurer. Children's Shoe Reductions Burch's Semi-Annual Sale VV: J Reg. 9.9S Entire Stock of Edwards' Iflo to BIG GIRLS' SHOES f W Reg. 10.50 k . A C Lane Legislators in Review No. 6 Elder's Interests Include Law Enforcement, UO By BAN SELLARD of the ResisterGuard One of the two Republicans which Lane County sent back to the Oregon House of Rep resentatives in the November election is former sheriff Ed Elder. He and Minority Leader F. F. Montgomery are outnum bered by the four Democrats who with them make up the county's delegation to the Legislature which convenes Monday in Salem. A big man (6-feet, 3-inchcs tall and weighing 205 pounds), Elder will be serv ing his second term in the House. In 1958, he almost chose to run for the U.S. Congress. Elder had announced his can didacy from the Fourth Dis trict for the seat then held by Charles Porter but bowed out ED ELDER AND Always a Willing Sister City's Mayor Sends 2nd Anniversary Greetings A cablegram from the mayor of Chlnju, Korea, brought good wishes to the people of Eugene Wednesday on the forthcoming second anniversary of the sister city relationship between the two cities. Mayor Lee Byong Moon of Chinju said in his cablegram to Mayor Edwin Cone of Eugene: "I wish to extend my best wishes and happiness to you and the people of Eugene on the occasion of the second an niversary. The anniversary will be Thursday. Eugene officials meanwhile were still awaiting word on whether the Korean consul-general from San Francisco will BIG BOYS' SHOES FOR DRESS AND SCHOOL to 12.95 90 SAVINGS SHOES for 90 ALL SALES FINAL... NO Exchanges or Refunds when State Sen. Edwin Durno decided to run. At 42, Elder considers himself a conservative "some where between Rockefeller and Goldwatcr" and more so than the national Republican platform. He is a serious per son to whom state problems loom big and all-important. Elder was first elected Lane County sheriff in 1952 and re-elected in 1956. He didn't seek a third term. As a former sheriff, Elder speaks for that wing of law enforcement, and in the 1961 session tried to get criminal investigation removed from the activities of Oregon State Police and given to county sheriffs. (Another Lane County legis lator, Rep. -elect Gene Hulctt, D-Eugene, a former state po lice officer, has said ho will introduce a bill to do just the opposite this session take all SON STEVE, 13 Chess Challenocr visit Eugene -to help observe the sister city anniversary. Jack Collins, administrative assistant to City Manager Hugh McKmlcy, said Mayor Cone has received a letter from In Han Paik, the consul-general, ex pressing interest in the city's invitation for him to visit Eu gene. Paik said in the letter he would let the mayor know by telegram, by Tuesday, whether he is free to accept the invita tion. There was no word by noon Tuesday, however. If the consul-general visits Eugene, Collins said he will be invited to address the Junior Chamber of Commerce Distin guished Awards banquet, planned for Thursday night. CORRECTIVE 4V SHOES j bSys REG. 9.95 to 12.50 NOW ttsasg in EVERY DEPARTMENT MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN GIRLS' DRESS SHOES Reg. 7.95 fo 9.95 i90 1 90 and criminal work aw ay from sheriffs and give it to state police.) Elder also has had a lot of -interest in other law enforce ment legislation, including fish and game. This next session, he is pro-: posing a compromise on an old legislative battle what to do about the Pioneer Ceme tery on the University of Ore gon campus. The university's attempts to move the graveyard so it could use the land always has ran into a lot of opposition. Elder's compromise would be to "float" a building above the cemetery which would be kept in a memorial park man ner. The proposal has gener ated much discussion, which pleases Elder. He points out that he has spent long hours of discussing the plan with many people beforo ho made it public and feels fairly sure that his plan, or a large part of it, eventually will be a reality. Elder was born in 1920 in Montana. He has lived in the Eugene area since 1926 and graduated from high school in Santa Clara. Ho is married and has three children. Ho works for Oregon Auto mobile Insurance Co. in Eu gene. During the 1961 Legislature, Elder was one of several who incurred the wrath of some when he suggested that "more investigation" should be car ried out on the circumstances surrounding the printing of a story in "Facets," a Univer sity of Oregon campus publi cation. Elder said he was con cerned over "how much these professors tolerate these stories if they inspire them or if the students inspire them." He had carefully studied the issue, he said, and wasn't happy about what he had found. This is typical of Elder. Ho is serious and concerned about legislative matters. , Police Probe Attack Report A Eugene man is reported In "good" condition in Sacred Heart Hospital Tuesday as a result of a back injury received when he was allegedly assaulted and robbed by two men Sunday evening. William Frank Stone, 60, ot 132 W. Eighth Ave., told Eu gene police the incident oc curred about 11:10 p.m. Sunday as he was walking in an alley in the 800 block between Olive and Charnelton Streets. Stone said tho two men, de scribed as between 18 and 20 years of age, came up behind him, cursed him and knocked him to the ground. Hia wallet, containing $58 in cash and as sorted papers, was taken by the two thieves who then ran off. CCo OOFF MlAMItaT ClIHOMU ' MM
