Entered tit the Pont Office at Attiena, Oregon, as Second-Class Mail Matter
VOLUME 49.
ATHENA, UMATILLA COUNTY, OREGON, FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 16, 1928
NUMBER 11
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Excavation Will Commence
Monday If Possible, At
City Park.
"' The swimming pool project for Ath
ena which is in charge of . Athena
Weston American Legion , J'ost has
advanced to the stage where prepara
tions for beginning the excavation
work at the city park, next Monday
morning are being made.
Practically all of the excavation
work will be "donated, it is under
stood. This will inlcude manual
labor, tractor and team service, and
the force is expected . to be large
enough to rush the excavating
through to completion in a short time.
Mr. Crawford, architect for the Tum-a-Lum
Lumber company, accompanied
by Contractor McLeod was in Athena
Monday, from Walla Walla, and sub
mitted plans and specif iations for
construction of the pool to the com
mittee. The plans call for a pool
40x75 feet dimensions and 9 ' inches
to 8 feet deep. ': -
Construction is to be of concrete
throughout with steel reinforcement.
At one end. of the pool the plans call
for a 40 foot space allotted for dress
ing rooms and showers. The entire
pool is to be circled with a concrete
walk, four feet in width.
Contractor McLeod submitted a bid
of -$3100 for constructing the pool
complete, exclusive of the excavating
and plumbing.
Amnesia Victim's Story
Interests Walla Walla
WALLA WALLA. Charles Ble
witt, of Pendleton, who claims to have
lost his memory for 50 years and to
have just recovered it, should have
no difficulty in providing his ident
ity, acorcding to several pioneers
Blewitt supposedly was killed by In
dians in 1877. The body was exhum
ed and brought to Walla Walla for
burial about six weeks later.
W. H. Ingalls, Waitsburg pjoneer,
said he knew Blewitt well when a boy:
Joe Ed Painter and Harry Reynolds
recalled him as a youth and Will S.
Clark, who was with Blewitt in the
fight against the Indians, remembers
him well. Painter, Reyolnds and
Clark believe Blewitt was killed..
Registration Fee$ to
Be Collected on the
First Day at U,ofO.
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, Eu
gene. Registration fees at the Univer
sity of Oregon will be collected on the
opening day of spring term, March 26,
it is announced by Earl M. Pallolt,
registrar. Previously fees have not been
collected until three weeks after the
term has opened. The fee will be $20
this term, and will include charges for
tudent body dues, the $5 building as
sessment voted by students last year,
physical education fees, medical- atten
tion, subscription to the Oregon Daily
Emerald, and other items.
An increase of $1 in the physical edu
cation fee has been added, and in re
turn students will not have to pay to
play tennis on the new concrete courts
Three other courts are also to he
opened up at once, it is announced.
Previously there has been a charge of
ten cents an hour for tennis.
Tn order to save confusion and wait
ing on registration day, the University
has arranged to receive payments of
fees on Saturday, March 24. Labor
atory and other incidental fees will be
paid as usual three weeks after the
University opens.
; ; UNIVERSITV OF OREGON, Eu
gene. Amos Burg, Portland, junior in
the school of journalism, has been
elected to membership in the Rev?ii
Beers, campus humorous society. Burg
is already a member of the staff of thn
Emerald, and is well known in Port
land, where he has had considerable
aewgi'nppr material published
Bean After Nomination
R, E. Bean of Freewater has an
nounced his candidacy for re-election
as county commissioner with the fol
lowing platform "Present commis
sioner, continuation of business policy
in county affairs." Mr. Bean has
been a member of the county court
for the past two terms.
In Needy Circumstances
A family named Grey, residing at
corner of Fourth and Current streets,
is in need of assistance. The mother
was recently confined, and has been
taken to a hospital for treatment. It
is said the husband has work at
Hermiston as soon as his wife re
covers sufficiently for him to leave.
Clark and Woman
Both Held Guilty
Of Bidwell Murder
WALLA WALLA. Preston Ray
(Slim) Clark was found' guilty of
murder in the first . degree, with
death penalty, and Mrs. Bessis Mae
Bidwell, his alleged paramour, was
found guilty of murder in the second
degree, which carries a penalty of
ten years to life, by a jury in superior
court yesterday. The jury took the
case at 5:25 Monday afternoon, reach
ed it rerdict about midnight,' and re
ported at the opening of court at 9
o'clock Tuesday morning.
Both defendents took the verdicts
in a seemingly composed manner.
Clark glanced around, then looked
down. Mrs. Bidwell did not raise her
head. They were taken immediately
to the county jail when later Clark
had another "spell." Sentence will be
imposed later.
H. B. Noland, one of the attorneys
for Clark, stated that a new'trail may
be asked for his ; client. Lack of
money may prevent an appeal, he
hinted. E. L. Casey, attorney for Mrs.
Bidwell, said he had not decided
whether a new trail will be asked for
his client. '
; Under the law, motion for a new
trial must be filed within two" days
after the jury verdict is received.
Fred Lasater was foreman of the
jury. He handed a sealed envelope
containing the findings of the jury to
the bailiff who in turn gave it to
Walter Kimmerly, clerk. Kimmerly
first read the verdict finding Clark
guilty of first degree murder, with
death penalty, and the jury was poll
ed, each of the members saying it
was his verdict. Next the verdict
against Mrs. Bidwell was read, and
the same procedure was followed.
The case was a hard fought one.
Mrs. Bidwell and Clark, who boarded
at the Bidwell home, were accused
of placing poison in the food eaten
by Alpheus Bidwell, husband of the
woman, on December 30, 1927. The
following day, neighbors having call
ed attention to the officers to cer
tain matters, Mrs. Bidwell and Clark
were arrested, and confined in the
county jail. ' - ' "
A Larger Outfit For
Athena Street Work
Mayor Stephens has demonstrated
that a light grader is not sufficent
for improvement of upper Third
street from the end of the macadam
surface, north to the O.-W. R. & N.
tracks, and will have it finished by
employing a larger grading machine,
pulled by a caterpillar.
For several years the condition of
the north portion of Third street,
during the winter and early spring
months has been so bad that traffic
over it has practically Ijeen suspend
ed. To improve conditions there, Claud
Dickenson was employed with a light
grader and horses to do the work,
but the equipment was found to be
unsatisfactory. The street will be
leveled up as best as possible for
temporary use, until heavier machin
ery can be secured. .
.... i. ....
Rainfall Discloses
True Grain Conditions
Steady rainfall of several hours
duration has disclosed the real grow
ing grain conditions in this part of
Umatilla county, and to say the least
the condition is a "spotted" one.
Some farmers who thought their
growing grain had escaped the
freeze find they will have to re
seed, while others who thought the
crop was gone, find they have a good
stand.' Other fields are hit here and
there to greater or less extent. Some
fields are npt injured, apparency, in
the least, while others are completely
wiped out. '
North of Athena, the freeze-out is
slight while to the south-west, on
reservation land, much reseeding will
have to be done.
Funeral of Angus McKay
Angus McKay, stepfather of Mrs.
W. J. Gholson of this city, mem
tion of whose illness was made in the
last issue of the Press, died at Walla
Walla, and the funeral was held there
Friday. Mr. McKay, who was 94
years of age, died as a result of a
fall in which his hip was fractured.
William . Winship, brother of Mrs.
Gholson, came up from Salem to at
tend the funeral as als did his
daughters Miss Audrey Winship, and
Mrs. Mildred Clayton who was ac
companied by Mr. Clayton.
Hite Comes Back
Weston Leader: W. H. Hite, who
has been engaged in railroad work
for 39 years, is the new Union Pacific
agent, at Weston, and with Mrs. Hite
is occupying the living, rooms above
the depot. Mr. Hite comes to Weston
from Granger, Washington. He is
no stranger to the old timers, havinE
served as station agent at Weston 36
years ago.
Aviation to be Important Topic at U. of O. Meet
r i :-; risk
,sr - - 1 k 4 r if 1
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..'W,ril-, .Jiaur ',
Above, Tex Rankin, head of Rankin Air School, Portland, leading
aviation expert, who will address the session of Chamber of Commerce
secretaries at the University of Oregon, March 19 to 24. Lower (left),
A. L. Lomax, who with C. L. Kelly (right), will present a survey of all
aviation facilities in Oregon. Mr. Lomax and Mr. Kelly are professors
of business administration and are well known for previous business
- surveys. " ,
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, Eu
gene. Aviation in all its phases will
be studied intensively at the annual ses
sion of the secretaries of commerce of
Oregon, it is announced by F. E. Folts,
head of the school of business admin
istration of the University of Oregon.
The session will be held during the
week of March 19 to 24 on the campus.
J. G. (Tex) Rankin, headof the -Rn
kin flying school of Portland, will bo
one of the leading experts who will be
present for the week, it is announced.
Rankin will come down here in his
new five-passenger plane, which will be
placed on exhibition on the campus,
near to where the school is4eing held.
A talk by Rankin on Thursday, March
22, has already been scheduled, and the
Portland expert is also expected to hold
several conferences and give demon
strations. A complete survey of flying fields
and aviation facilities of the state will
be complete in time to put before the
conference,' it is announced by A. L.
Lomax, and C. L. Kelly, professors of
business administration. In this report
Mr. Lomax and Mr. Kelly will also
include figures on estimates for passen
ger and mail lines in all parts of the
state,
C. S. Dudleyj secretary of the na
"tional Association of Commercial Or
ganizations, will be present, to give the
Oregon men data on work . in their
groups. C. W. Tillinghast, of Sacra
mento, who is assistant secretary and
treasurer of the ' national body, will'
also be present and have a prominent
place on the program.
Importance of radio today will be
the subject of Richard Haller, head of
the Oregon ian station, KGW, Portland.
T. A. Stevenson, of Tacoma, will speak,
and Jack A. Haredar, of Boise. Idaho
vill be present again.
' A record enrollment in the session is
already assured, says Dean Folts.
Boy Scout Summer
Camping Grounds
Have Been Selected
High School Students
To Be Informed of
Life At University
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON. Stu
dents in the Athena high school, and
in schools all over the state of Ore
gon will be given first hand'informa
tion on university life by members of
the Greater Oregon committee of the
University ; of , Oregon during the
coming spring vacation, March 18 to
24. Final appointments to commit
tees in twelve districts of Oregon
were made by Ronald Hubbs, Silver
ton, chairman of the group, at a re
cent meeting.
In many cities programs and ex
hibitions will be staged for the
students while full information on
what the university has to offer will
be made available.
High school principals throughout
the state have shown a willingness
to cooperate in the work and are ar
ranging dates and details for student
speakers and programs.
Ray Dudley, of Athena, is a mem
ber of the committee working in the
fourth district, which is composed of
Umatilla, Morrow, Gilliam and Wheel
er counties.' Others in the group and
the towns in which they work are
Vawter Parker and Marjorie Clark,
of Heppner; James Raley, Pendleton;
Harold Blackburne, Arlington; Ivan
Neal, Condon; Nan Crary, Echo;
Harper Barnard, Fossil; Wilber Shan
non, Helix; Florance W'oughter,
Hermiston; Elva Balseiger, lone;
Harold Johnson, Freewater; Terrece
King, Mitchell; Harold Kester, Pilot
Rock; Virginia Key, Weston; and
Sylvannus Smith, Jr., Stanfield.
"The World War" Coming
The Standard Theatre has been
donated to Athena-Weston American
Legion Post for the evening of April
11th, when the Legion will present the
thrilling and authentic camera record
of the greatest war in history, "The
World War," as filmed through the
courtesy of the United States War
office and the navy department. ' The
great picture comes in nine reels, and
the Post will devote the entire pro
ceeds of the evening to the swimming
pool fund.
Lillian Gish Stars In
"The Scarlet Letter'
The Standard Theatre will give a
special showing of Nathaniel Haw
thorne's "The . Scarlet Letter," star
ring Lillian Gish, next Wednesday
evening. Miss Gish is supported in
this super photoplay by Lars Hanson
and a fine Goldwyn cast. Arrange
ments have been made whereby
regular admission prices will obtain
at the showing of Hawthorne's classic
story on the screen.
Tomorrow night one of the new fine
pictures of the year will be shown
when "The Crowd," directed by King
Vidor, will be at the Standard. The
manager of the Standard this week
received word from the Metro-Gold-wyn
office that this picture is being
held over in the larger cities for exr
tended runs. It has not yet had its
premier showing in Portland, and the
Standard has beaten up-state theat
res to it.
Popular Bebe Daniels comes to the
Standard Sunday night in her latest
Paramount picture, "Swim Girl
Swim." Mirthful, clean cut comedy is
all this picture stands for and you
will like it.
On Bearcat Gridiron
Willamette University, Salem. A
lamentable vacancy in the ranks of
Bearcat gridiron warriors, will be
noted next year when Reeve Betts,
junior from Athena, is lost by grad
uation. Betts is now engaged in
spring football and holds out as cent
er. During the past week he has
supplemented athletics with the in
formal initiation of a score of pledges
into Sigma Tau, local fraternity of
which he is manager,
Disease Attacks Deer
GOLD BEACH, Or. Scores of deer
in the wilds of Curry county are dying
from some mysterious malady, ac
cording to Elmer E. Miller, predatory
animal hunter in this district for the
United States biological survey. Mill
er reports that in recent days he hag
found the carcasses of two large
bucks which have -apparently died
from the disease, and that his brother
has discovered the bodies of 14 others.
An incentive to increase in member
ship of Boy Scout Troops under
jurisdiction of the Bule Mountain Boy
Scout Council, is the selection of sum
mer camping grounds on the Walla
Walla river above Milton. ,
An inspection of the camp site was
made Wednesday afternoon by the
Blue Mountain. Council oficials and
delegations representing the different
troops of the district.
Representing Athena ; Boy Scout
Troop No." 19, were Scoutmaster Le
Roy, Messrs. 0. 0. Stephens, E. C.
Rogers, C. L. McFadden and A. W.
Logsdon, and these gentlemen were
greatly pleased with the location of
the camp.
Returning to Milton, those who had
inspected the camp were entertained
at dinner, and after the dinner hour
discussion pertaining to the' Boy
Scout movement took place. r
It will be an easy matter to in
stall a swimming pool at the , new
camp,, utilizing the flow of water
from a small stream on the grounds.
A mess hall will be built this spring,
and later it is expected communities
will finance the construction of a
cabin for its home troop. By this
method eventually the camp would
be provided with full housing
facilities for the troops.
The "Camp Fire Girls
Planning a Big Affair
WALLA WALLA. All Camp Fire
Girls of the city will take part in the
annual Grand Council Fire, March 17,
at 8 o'clock at the Armory. This
affair will b"e given in celebration of
the sixteenth birthday anniversary of
the national organization of Camp
Fire.
It is expected that 400 girls of
Walla Walla and other groups in this
district .will take part in the cere
monies at the Grand Council Fire are
expected from groups at the follow
ing places:. Prescott, Pomeroy,
Waitsburg, Dayton, Lowden, Touchet,
Pendleton, Athena, and Milton-Free-water.
Miss Florence Craven, Camp Fire
executive, will have charge of the
ceremonies, and will be assisted with
the program, by the 22 guardians,
and six Bluebird leaders. Miss Edna
Hanna of the Malen Burnett School
of Music will have charge of the
music. .
A patriotic pageant will be present
ed by a group of torch bearers, and
fire makers as a part of the program.
Approximately 100 new members will
be initiated into Camp Fire, at this
time, and several hundred national
and local honors will be awarded to
those qualifying for them.
Wet Grounds Halting
. Work At Ball Park
Wet grounds has halted work of
putting the baseball diamond in con
dition for the season's games there.
Weather that has not propitious for
practicing-has retarded all teams lin
ed up in the Big Six League circuit,
so that when the opening games are
played on April 8th the players will
be but little advanced in form.
Otis Liueallen of Adams, says the
players there have little practice, and
the same is true of all teams in the
league.
Catcher's mask, mitts, shoes, bats
and other paraphernalia for the Ath
ena team, was received the other day
at Rogers & Goodman store, and all
that is needed to put them in use is
favorable weather.
A New Bridge Club
A new Bridge club of twelve mem
bers was organized last week, when
the ladies were invited to the home
of Mrs. E. C. Prestbye, where the
organization took place.
The first meeting will be at Mrs,
Ravella Licuallen's Thursday March
22nd with the following members:
Mrs. E. C. Prestbye, Mrs. Arthur
Douglas, Mrs. Lawrence Pinkerton,
Mrs. Sheldon Taylor, Mrs. Dean Dud
ley, Mrs. Glenn Dedley, Mrs. Forrest
Zerba, Mrs, Ravella Lieuallen, Mrs.
James Lieuallen, Mrs. , Max Hopper,
Mrs. C. L. McFadden and Mrs. Taul
Lieuallen, ..
Steve's Anniversary
A goodly number of the patrons of
Steve's Grocery were on hand Satur
day between the hours of three and
eight o'clock p. m., when they were
served cake, fruit and coffee in honor
of Mr. Stephens' eleventh anniver
sary of engaging in business in Ath
ena. An interesting event of the eve
ning was the awarding of the prizes
givn to several lucky customers.
Campfire Girls
The "Wauna" Campfire Girls met
at the Boy Scout Hall March 12. They
talked -of Birthday Week and decided
to go to Walla Walla March 17,
leaving Athena at 6 o'cock p. m. They
will take part in the Grand Council
Fire which is to be held at the Armory
at 8 o'clock.
Ill SHERIFF
JOHNSON GAR
After Three Months Lost,
Chevrolet Is Recovered
By Owner.
vAlvin Johnson js now the owner of
two Chevrolet cars, and has use for
only one. Just before Thanksgiving,
his Chevrolet, driven by his daughter,
Mrs. Mantague, was stolen at Pend
leton. Within a few minutes after
the car was stolen, Mrs. Montague
reported the theft to officials, and
that was the last of it until the other
day, the Sheriff's office at Yakima,
Washington, notified Mr. Johnson
that the car was there. In the mean
time Mr. Johnson had purchased a
new Chevrolet.
But that is not all. According to
Lee Johnson, for over three months
the Yakima officials who found the
car four days after it was stolen have
been working to find the owner.
They traced the license plate found
on the car to Klamath Falls whero
it had been stolen. Then they learned
from the factory that the machine
had been assembled at the Oakland
plant' and sold to a Milton dealer, but
the Milton dealer had went out of
business. Thrown off the trail again,
but Milton was the clew that caused
the Yakima sheriff to write Secretary
of State Kozer, who found in hia
files a letter written by Mrs. Mon
tague reporting to him the theft of
the machine, and he in turn gave the
information wanted by Yakima.
Evidently the car had been driven
straight ftom Pendleton to the point
near Yakima where it was found in
some brush, on the fourth day niter
the theft. When found there was
sufficient gas to run the car into
Yakima and when recovered by lir.
Johnson, it was in good condition.
Lee Johnson highly praised the ef
forts put forth by the Yakima sheriff
to find th owner of thie-eari He says
the Yakima ofifce was never notified
of the theft, and that Walla Walla
had no record of it from the Pendle
ton officials.
A Clinic For Well
, Children In Athena
Parents are invited to bring their
children to the clinic that is to be
held in Athena on the morning of
March 22. The clinic will begin
promptly nt 9:00 A. M. The local
physician and dentist will have charge
of the examinations.
The clinic will include all well
children up to six years or school
age. Especially are the children,
that are entering school next year
urged to come. These clinics are be
ing held all over the county and
State and any child within the age
limit is welcome at any clinic.
All children must be accompanied
by either the mother or father or
some other responsible person. These
clinics are for the purpose of bring
ing to the attention of the parents
any possible remedial defect that
might exist. The parents are then
urged to take the children to their
own family physician for advise and
treatment. Remember the date March
22 in the morning and continuing or.
as long as necessary.
The clinic is to be at the school
house, in the Domestic Science room,
and in the meantime those wishing
information may call on Mrs. E. C.
Rogers, the local chairman.
General Hospital Benefit
Enter Madame, the play to be given
in the Mac-Hi Auditorium March 22nd
at 8:15 P. M., is being sponsored by
the Womans Improvement. Club of
Milton, and the Pilgrim Class of the
Federated Church. This play fs offer
ed by various groups in creating a
worth while entertainment fo? those
who contribute "their small bit" to
the Valley General Hospital. The
schools represented in this play are:
The Hazel Teall Reynolds School of
Expression and Dramatic Art, with
local artiste; also the Adah Losh
Rose's Wonderful Italian Ballet, a
real treat; and the Wa-Hi Orchestra
of 14 pieces led by Hal Tilley. Last
but not least, the satisfaction of giv
ing to a worthy cause is given everyone.
The New S. D. Club
The members of the new S. D. Club
met at the home of Goldie Miller
March 13. At the business meeting
the club's constitution was read. The
girls decided to add two new namei
to the membership roll, the two mem
bers to be taken into the club at the
next meeting, which will be held at
the home of Mary Tompkins, March
22. Refreshments were served and
table decorations were carried out in
green to conform with St. Patrick'?
Day motif.