Polk County observer., September 15, 1908, Image 1

County
. MM B 9 k
PUBLISHED SEMI-WEEKLY
VOL. XX
DALLAS, POLK COUNTY, OREGON, SEPTEMBER 15, 1908.
NO. 31
FIRE DESTROYS RESIDENCE
Dwelling House of G. R. Allen Burned
to the Ground Contents Are
Saved.
, Xbe residpnoe of O. R. Allen, lying
in the outskirts of Dallas, south of the
Willamette Valley sawmill, oaught
. flre yesterday afternoon and was
almost totally destroyed.
The flre Is supposed to have started
from a defective flue and the flames
had gained considerable headway be
fore it was discovered and an alarm
turned iu. The blaze was first seen by
the men who were working in the
lumber yard. They hurried at once to
the scene and had all of the furniture
and other household goods carried
out to places of safety before the flre
department arrived.
Even with the enormous start that
the flre had gained by tbis-tlme, it
might have been possible to nave
eaved the building had it not been for
the fact that it was located so far out
that it took several valuable minutes
of time to fasten together sufficient
lengths of hose to reach from the
nearest hydrant in the lumber yard to
the burning house. When the firemen
were at last able to reach the house
with a single hose, the entire upper
story was practically destroyed and
the flames had already commenced to
consume the lower part of the structure
and to kindle on the outbuildings.
Although it was evident that the
Special at the Vaudette Tonight
" The James Boys in Missouri "
WEINHART'S MALT
TEA
An absolutely NON-INTOXICATINO beer. Contains
less than one-half per cent alcohol. Guaranteed
under the Pure Food and Drug Act, June 30, 1906.
Recommended by the medical profession' for its unex
celled tonic qualities.
FOR SALE AT
HENLINE'S
WOODMAN HALL
ONE NIGHT ONLY
Thursday, September 17
THE PLAY OF THE HOUR'
Her One
The "Directoire Gown" worn by Miss Stanley de
signed by Hale Bros., San Francisco.
"CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS
says a noted proverb. Following out this line of reasoning
we are missionaries to the good of the general public. We
will call at your door for yoor soiled linen and will return it
clean and white as Mt. Hood snow. We laundry Carpets,
Bugs, Blankets. Qailu snd Lace Curtains. -Will wash sod .
press your suit. In fact, anything that is done In s first
class laundry. Despite the Tast superiority of our work our
prioes are the lowest. Phone in your orders to the DALLAS
STEAM LAUNDRY. Mutual Phone 197.
A. E. THOMPSON Dallas, Ore.
"THE SCHOOL OF QUALITY"
Tenth and Morrison, Portland, Oregon A. P. Armstrong. LLJL, Principal
C'e occupy two floors 65 by 100 feet, have a $20,000 equipment,
employ a large faculty, give individual instruction, receive more call
for office help than we can meet Our school admittedly leads all
others in quality of instruction. It pays to attend soca sn institution.
CSaU a Basiaess Xaas "Keep hammering- 7 everlastingly oa thorough
It win win oot ia tbe end." Sai4 aa Leaeatert Tba aaality af iaatrae-
given ia yoor school makes it the standard of its kind ia the Northwest"
COpen all the year. Students admitted at any time. Catalogue free.
Any Wok. aar rwspapar. say iminsss aaaa ia Portland.
bouse was hopelessly damaged, they
found It an easy matter to check the
flames and prevent them from spread
ing and destroying the buildings
near by. The loss will not be heavy,
as little of the furniture was injured
and Mr. Allen carried full insurance
on the honse.
Mr. Allen was not at home when the
fire occurred, being employed in car
penter work in Washington county.
The unexpected catastrophe proved a
severe blow to his wife, who was almost
prostrated for a time.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen have been in
Dallas only a little over a year, having
moved to Oregon from Pennsylvania.
The house which was burned was
purchased by'them only a few months
ago. '
Opening Date Postponed.
Owing to the necessity of improve
ments in the schoolbouse and the de
sire of many of the children to remain
in the hopyards and prune orchards
until the close of the harvest season,
it has been decided to postpone the
date for opening the Dallas public
school from Monday, September 21, to
Monday, September 28. In addition
to the increased school room afforded
by the temporary building, which is
being erected just south of the main
school building, the school board has
seoured and will have installed at
once, a complete equipment of new
seats and desks similar to those in use
in the business oolleges of the state.
POOL ROOM
Great Sin
HAS PROVEN A SUCCESS
Merchants Protective Association ' Is
Proving a Benefit to Business
Men.
The second regular monthly meeting
of the fletail Merchants' Protective
Association of Dallas was held in the
County Courtroom in the Courthouse
yesterday evening.
In a general discussion of the work
ot the Association since its establish
ment, the members present declared
without a dissenting voice that the
plan bad thus far been a success.
While it is true that the new system
has resulted in many unpleasant epi
sodes during the past two months, it
has, on the whole, brought about a
better and more friendly understand
ing between the merchants of Dallas
and their patrons than ever before.
One of the surest signs of its success
was seen in communications from
merchants of Black Bock and Falls
City, requesting membership in the
association and intimating their
intentions of bring about a similar
organization for those two places.
The establishment of the new system
in Dallas Is already having its effect
on other neighboring towns, and from
all sides come reports of proposed
organizations of a similar nature.
In reply to the communications
from Palls City and Black Bock, the
secretary of the Dallas association
was authorized to say that the local
organization would gladly co-operate
with a similar association in those
places and would agree to exchange
black lists with them, so that the mer
chants of both organizations might
share equally the benefits of speedy
and sure collection of accounts which
is afforded by that system.
SEASON AT ITS HEIGHT
Hop Picking Will Continue Through
This Week Crews Large In
All Yards.
The hop picking season is now fairly
at its height and the season in this
neighborhood will probably last
throughout the present week and, in
some yards, extend into the week fol
lowing. The crews in the yards about Dallas
are large, but thus far it has not been
found necessary in the most of these
places to limit the time or picking, as
the driers seem to be able to handle
the hops almost as rapidly as they can
be picked.
In the yards about Independence
however, the reverse seems to be the
case. It is reported that more than
1100 were on the grounds at the Krebs
hopyard last Tuesday and that on the
following day nearly 400 of them left
for their homes in Portland. The
throng ot pickers was so large that
they could be permitted to pick only
about four or five hours a day and the
expense of living was greater than the
amount of their earnings.
The pickers in the yards about Dal
las are nearly all residents of this
neighborhood, the majority of pickers
from outside places, Portland, Oregon
City, and the Indian reservations, hav
ing engaged to pick in the yards
about Independence.
Changes in Normal Faculty.
The Monmouth State Normal School
opens this year with the personnel of
its faculty considerably changed. A.F.
Campbell, after being employed in the
school for over 15 years, has resigned
his position and gone to tugene,wnere
be will take up the practice ot law.
Mrs. Ellen M. Pennell will also go to
Eutrene. where she will have a posi
tion in the Department ot English in
theUnlversity of Oregon and will have
charge of the ladies dormitory. Mrs.
Pennell leaves behind her a record or
ten years of faithful and efficient work
in the Normal School. Froressor 1 a
Robinson has gone to Chicago, where
he will take work in the Chicago Uni
versity, and Miss Loretta Smith has
accepted the position ot Librarian at
Weston. The new additions to the
faculty are A. L. Briggs, formerly
president of Draia Normal, and Pro
resaor Fargo, of the Pendleton High
School.
Vsadette Opeaed te Public
The moving picture theater on the
corner ot Main and Oak streets passed
last week from the hands ot Iu old
management into the control of W. N.
Brown, who has had the building
remodeled to accommodate twloe as
many people as before, Installed new
equipments, built a neat and attrac
tive entrance, and In a word, lifted the
little theater out of the t cent class and
placed Hon the footing of a 10 cent
theater, with a much longer and better
program and many more conveniences
for la patrons. Like other cities of
the Pacific Coast at this time, Dallas
seems to be Infected with the myster
ious germ of tnorlog picture mania,
and tbe little Vaudette, as the newly
established theater is called. Is admir
ably adapted to satisfy the demands
of tr a public for this form of arnase
mect. "
W. R. Crsvea aod Hood Cravea
have returned to their claims oa Sal
asoa River, where tbry will be engaaed
la laying la their supplies prepara
tory to spending the wiater there.
DIES BY HIS OWN HAND
Coroner's Jury Attributes George Sel
by's Death to Suicide Under
Temporary Insanity.
Crazed with sickness and weeks' of
brooding over the fancied unfriendli
ness of bis neighbors, George Selby, a
well-to-do rancher living about three
miles west of Dallas, met death by his
own hand Thursday afternoon, hav
ing first fired his bouse, barn and out
buildings. Such was the purport of
the verdict rendered by the coroner's
jury Friday afternoon.
The whole truth of the strange trag
edy will probably never be known, but
enough testimony has been brought
to light to prove substantially the
theory of suicide and discredit the
vague rumors of murder that were for
a short time afloat.
Selby was a man about SO years of
age and came to Oregon from his
native state, Virginia, about 25 years
ago, settling on a small tract of land
which he purchased from Judge Boise,
where be lived until the time of bis
death. His sole means of livlihood
was from the sale of cattle and or
wood which he cut on his farm. An
investigation of bis bank account
shows that after selling his livestock
during the Fallot each year, he depos
ited all of his money In the bauk,
drawing upon it only occasionally for
the purchase of the necessities of life.
There is no evidence of bis having
kept money in any large amount in
his house.
The story of his death, as gleaned
from the fragmentary testimony given
at the inquest Is as follswe : On Wed
nesday evening Selby called at the
home of George Medley, bis nearest
neighbor, and seemed to be very
despondent, complaining that he had
not slept for more than a week. He
declared that he had no friends in
Dallas and that all his neighbors were
working against him, and bitterly
upbraided Medley because he had
stopped visiting him, accusing him
(Medley) of being "just like the rest."
Medley endeavored to soothe him,
telling him that be was sick and sug
gesting that be come to Dallas for
medical attention, but Selby refused
to do so. Finally, however, he gave
Medley a dollar and told bim to get
some medicine for him when he came
to town the next day. His actions
were all very strange, according to
Medley's testimony, and all of bis
conversation was flighty and incoher
ent. Medley came to Dallas on the
following morning and was still
here when the catastrophe occurred.
At about 12 :4S, W. W. Miller passed
by the Selby farm, driving into Dallas,
and be says that everthing about the
place was apparently all right He
did not see Selby and drove on without
stopping.
About an hour later Mr. Walter and
Mr. Reed, Sel by's nearest neighbors
excepting George Medley, saw an
immense volume ot smoke rising from
the direction of his farm andf sur
mising that the house was on flre,
hurried to the scene as rapidly as
possible. When they arrived, the
house, barns, cowshed and several
outbuildings were reduced to piles or
embers. The woodshed which stood
nearest the house, was only partially
consumed. Selby was no where to be
seen, and it was some time before they
discovered bis remains amid the
smoking ruins of the bouse.
J. A. Coo vert's son hastened to
Dallas and notified Coroner R. L.
Chapman who drove to the scene
of the fire immediately. When he
reached the farm, the fire bad died
down sufficiently for him to walk
across the ashes and embers to the
ruins ot the bedroom, where the
remains of the dead man's body were
located.
His bead and limbs had been almost
entirely consumed, and only a few
fragments of the spinal column, the
pelvic cavity, shoulder blades and a
few charred portions of the viscera
remained. Nearby lay a Winchester
rifle with one exploded shell in the
chamber. This shell bad evidently
been fired before the beat bad become
sufficient to discharge it, since the cap
was dented.
The melted portions of bis pocket
book, and melted slugs ot money,
amounting to about ao, were found
near his body. All of these circum
stances seem effectually to remove
evidence of a motive for murder and
to point strongly and conclusively to
suicide. It is believed that tbe deceased
ia a Ot of Insane despondency fired
the outbuildings and bouse and then
shot himseir, expecting the Dames to
destroy all traces of bis body.
Selby bal no relatives la Oregon
and the authorities were for a time at
a loss to know with whom they should
communicate ia regard to the disposal
or his property. Mr. Stuart, on of
his neighbors, however, safcl that he
believed that the deceawd had rela
tives living la or o-ar Clio toe, Henry
County. Missouri. Letter were mailed
at oooe to the Sheriff ot Henry eouoty
aod to one Dr. rUlmoe, reeidiog la
Clinton, Infof miog theta of the ooeur
reao aod asking Information eoa
oernlog the whereabouts of bis rela
tives. If aoy there were, resiJiog la
that eoaaty.
Farther do regarding the relatives
ot the dead man was received from an
unexpected source Sunday. Judge
L. D. Brown, local correspondent to
the Portland Journal, sent a report of
the tragedy to that paper Friday. On
Sunday morning he received a tele
gram from the Journal informing
bim that the address of Selby's rela
tives could be secured by communi
cating with S. C. Jackson, Enoch,
Middlesex County, Virginia. Mr.
Brown placed the telegram in the
bands of the Coroner, who mailed a
communication to Mr. Jackson at
once.
The Selby estate consists of his 60
acre farm near Dallas, a herd of
about 60 head of oattle and other live
stock, and an account with the Dallas
City Bank, amounting to nearly (400.
STATE CERTIFICATES ISSUED
Nine Polk County Teachers Have
Made Grades Required For
State Papers.
The results of the recent examina
tions for state certificates and diplomas
have just been made public by State
Superintendent J. H. Ackerman. Tbe
total number of manusoripts examined
was 2570. Eighteen applicants received
state diplomas, valid for life, among
whom was Miss Ruby Reese, of Mc
Minnville, formerly a teacher in the
public school of Dallas. Forty-four
state certificates, valid for five years,
were issued, and 18 other applicants
made the required grades and will be
granted diplomas as soon as they
have the required teaching exper
ience. The reraalnderof tho applicants
entered for the first or second trial, as
the law allows a teacher three trials
In which to complete the examinations.
The Polk county teachers who were
granted state certificates are : Ada L.
Belshe, Florence Bowden and Roma
G.Stafford, of Monmouth; Edna H.
Hayes, of Dallas; Edith E. Mont
gomery, of Falls City, and Lydia
Wyraan, of Independence.
Those who have secured the neces
sary grades and will receive state
papers as Boon as they have the
required teaching experience, are:
William E. Smith, of Monmouth; L.
Carmen Sears, ot McCoy, and Phillip
F. A. Boche, of Monmouth.
Eight Cent Sales Reported.
It was reported from Independence
Friday that 8 cents had been bid for
110 bales of choice clusters. Tbe offer
was said to have come from Horst &
Co., of London. If this news is cor
rect it practically establishes the open
ing market for late hops on tbe 8 cent
basis, which agrees with the predic
tions made by many hopmen. No
actual transactions In tbe later variety
have been announced yet. Baling has
only begun and it Is not probable that
any complete crop has been baled yet
Five lots of Fuggies were reported
sold at Salem, Friday, 62 bales belong
ing to J. O. Fletcher, at 7 cents, and
22 bales by Crotsan at 7i cents.
Enough samples of the new crop have
been received to show that the Oregon
yield of 1908 Is the finest that has been
grown In many years. Whatever
prices rule in the Paciflo Coast market,
Oregon hops should sell at the very
top. Telegram.
Strong Company Coming.
On Thursday night, September 17,
Miss Florence Stanley will appear at
the Woodmon Hall in "Her One Great
Sin," a play that has been attracting
wide and favorablo attention on tbe
Pacific Coast this season. The Com
pany which is to play In Dallas comes
with exceedingly high recommenda
tion from the newspapers ot the cities
where tbe play has been recently given,
snd their appearance In Dallas will
doubtless be greeted by a large audi
ence. One of the special features
announced by their advance agent,
will be the appearauoeof Miss Stanley
d u rl n g the play, in the d i rectol re gow n,
the famous "sheath dress," which has
lately occasioned such a flood of com
ment of varying nature In the United
Slates. 9-15-lt
J. H. Kruger Fined For Fraud.
J. B. Thompson returned Sunday
from Corvallia, where he attended the
trial of J. H. Kruger, accused ot
obtaining money under false pre
tenses. Krugerlswellknowntbrougb
out tbe Willamette Valley, where be
has been working as a sales promoter
for se vet al years. He was arrested in
Med ford last week and brought to
Corvallls by Deputy Sheriff McDevItt
on a warrant sworn out by several
prominent business men of that city
whom he was alleged to have defraud d
of about (250. Although clearly
proven to be guilty, the minimum On
of only (20 was Imposed. Tbis be
promptly paid and was released.
Will Organise a Rraablieaa Clah.
A meeting will be held In the Court
house, Wednesday evening, for lb
j purpoM of organising a Taft aod
Sherman club. AH Republican of
1 Dallas and vlciolty are arged to be
present and lend their assistance to
make tbe meeting a eoocesa.
"Mnoslag" aoderwear for ladbs
and children, also ontoa suits the
tost satisfactory llo of underwear
oa tbe mark. W ar ageou for
Dallas. Tbe ! Hive Store.
NEW GOODS
New Arrivals in
SHOES
DRESS GOODS
UNDERWEAR
BLANKETS
KINGSBURY HATS
Campbell
CASH
Electricity for Lighting
Is only expensive to people who are
wasteful and careless. To you, who
are naturally careful, it does not
come high.
It is economical because it can be quiokly turned off wnen not needed.
With gas or kerosene there is the temptation to let light burn when
not needed to save bother of lighting and adjusting. In some homes
the elootric light bills amount to only one or two dollars per month.
You can probably get some kind of artificial light for less money
than eleotrio light, but does It save you anything when it limits op
portunities for work and recreation ruins your eyesight smokes
your walls mars decorations and increases household work. You
could probably save a dollar tomorrow by going without your meals
but It wouldn't be economy. It is not so muoh what you save, but
how you save that counts.
WILLAMETTE VALLEY CO. RATES Residence on meters, per
Kilowatt 15o ; Residence, flat per month, lflcp 600. RATES FOR
BUSINESS HOUSES 25o per drop and 6c per Kilowatt up to 10 drops;
over 10 drops 20o per drop and 5o per Kilowatt up to 40 drops ; over 40
drops 170 per drop and 60 per Kilowatt. A drop figures 16cp or less.
For power rates apply at the office. We are always ready to explain
the "ins and outs'' of the lighting proposition to you, call on us or
phone to us, we are never to busy to talk business.
Willamette Valley Company
E. W. KEARNS, Manager for Dallas.
Office on Mill street, Just north of the Court House. Phones Boll 421,
Mutual 1297.
DALLAS
Places an education within the reach of every ambitious
young man and woman. The earnings of vacation will pay a
full years' expenses.
Offers advantages equal to those of any similar school in Ore
gon. Courses: Classical, Scientific, Elementary Academic
and Musical. Special work for those preparing to teach.
TERM OPENS SEPTEMBER 23.
For Catalogue and Information address the president,
C. A. MOCK
Clean. Fresh Groceries
We carry the Famous DIAMOND
MVV" brand of Extracts, Spices,
Coffee, Tea and Canned Goods.
Fresh Bread Every Day
cijcrM'mW Sv. CfiVrT nan a
.111111111 a afiw
BUILDERS ATTENTION
In connection with our Lumber and
Shingle trade we are now handling
LIME , PLASTER, CEMENT. BRICK
and SAND. Lowest possible prices
on all building material.
THE CHAS. K. SPAULDING LOGGING CO.
A good erhrtl oone better. Well established reputation. Sooeeeaful gTsd
aatea. hkiilful. palotkioff teachers. Ul ampeaaea low. Many otber
adveatagea. Let as tell you about them. Wrila tor catalogue.
SALEM OREGON - W. I. STALEY, Principal
Hollister
STORE
COLLEGE
Dallas, Oregon
M. M v-aw-v w