Sintered at the Post Office at Athena, Oregon, aa Second-Claea Mall Matter
VOLUME 49.
ATHENA, UMATILLA COUNTY, OREGON, FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 27, 1928
NUMBER 17
LEARNS
HE MUST HANG
Judge Holds That Verdict
of Jury Fixing Death
Is Mandatry.
Walla Walla. Preston Ray (Slim)
Clark must die on the scaffold at the
state penitentiary on Friday Jiane 8;
according to sentence pronounced in
W.-erior court by Judge John L.
Sharpstein. Clark was convicted of
murder in the first degree, with
death penalty, in connection with the
death of Alpeus Bidwell, who was
poisoned December 30, 1927. Mrs.
Bidwell, widow of the dead man, is
now serving ten to 30 years in prison
for murder in the second degree.
Clark's only hope lies in an appeal
to the state supreme court and while
one has not been determined upon, it
is possible it will be sought, Clark's
attorney, H. B. Noland, stated.
Judge Sharpstein pronounced sent
ence after denying the motion for a
new trial. In the last affidavit in
support of the motion for a new trial,
objection was made to some of the
arguments alleged to have been
made by counsel for Mrs. Bidwell.
Judge Sharpstein held that no ob
jection had been made at the time of
the trial, hence the present objection
was too late.
Clark was ordered to stand up.
His attorney asked if the judge held
that the verdict of the jury, inflict
ing the deathpenalty, was man
datory, and Judge Sharpstein stated
that he believed it was . mandatory,
and that he had no other course to
pursue. " Had it not been mandatory
he stated, it would have made a dif
ference in sentence. Clark's attorney
then asked for a delay as long as pos
sible in the execution date to per
mit of plans for an appeal, and was
filed, an order would be signed stay
ing the execution.
Judge Sharpstein . then ordered
Clark' taken to be turned over to the
warden of the penitentiary by the
sheriff and executed on June 3.
Mrs. Hager, Pioneer
County Resident Dead
Mrs. Nellie Hager, a pioneer resi
dent of Umatilla county, died at her
home near Gibbon, Sunday, at the
advanced age of 81 years. She had
lived in Umatilla county for over 40
years, most of that time at the old
homestead on the banks of the Uma
tilla river. She passed away after
six days illness from pneumonia.
She and her husband R. C. Hager,
had been married 59 years on Jan
uary 19 of this year. Mrs. Hager
was a kindly woman, who will long
be remembered by her many friends
and fishermen, who have passed
many times before her door in quest
of trout to be found in the famous
Hager "riffle."
Mrs. Hager is survived by her
husband; one son, John Hager, of
Gibbon; two daughters, Mrs. Lee
Drake of Astoria, and . Mrs. Bert
Geer of Toledo, Oregon. Funeral
services were held at Pendleton,
Tuesday, interment taking place in
Olney cemetery."
Scouts Will Select
Sjte for Their Cabin
a-
Athena Boy Scouts will go to their
summer camp grounds on the Walla
Walla river, south of Milton tomor
row for the purpose of selecting the
site for their troop cabin, which is
to be constructed in the near future
Funds are being raised by Athena
business men to pay for building the
cabin, the estimated cost of which is
$150, and a subscription paper is now
, being circulated for signatures.
The Rotary Club of Walla Walla
is behind the building of the kitchen
and mess hall for the Scouts at the
summer camp grounds, and will
finance this part of the camp con
struction. In all nine buildings
are expected to be completed this sea
son. : j
The Wheat Market
On the whole, wheat markets, both
domestic and foreign, were stronger
last week, although more unsettled
than the week previous. Weather
conditions in the United States and
Canada were unfavorable for spring
planting. Wheat stocks in Canada
are reported 43,000,000 bushels more
than a year ago and in Argentina
10,000,000 bushels less.
Chapter Will Entertain
McKenzie Chapter O. E. S. will en
tertain the members of Helix Chapter
at Masonic HaH next Wednesday eve
ning, at which time all local Chapter
members are requested to be pres
BacJrWhen Athenal
-iWas Centerville
In the Late Ws
:v,. r; '
D. F? ."Mansfield has been r.ontribut-
ing some interesting pioneef, history
to the columns of the East; Oregon
ian pertaining - to - early days in and
around Centerville, ; now Athena. We
quote from . Mr.;.Mansfield's pioneer
reminiscenc$stif .
. " AthenaTfrfSt called Centerville,
was beguwHir 1878. Later, a man
named Kose bought 20 acres of land
there from Uncle; BillWiHoughby
and through his influence "thename
wits .chanced to Athena;
S. Kirk. Mose Woodward, who lived
farthest West of any of the settlers,
as his place was at v hand Hollow;
the Sturgis and Taylor families; Al
Johnson: Bill Willoughby, who
bought Dave Taylor out, after which
Taylor moved to Gerking Flat be
cause he thought the Athena region
was getting too thickly populated;
George Reed and John Adams.
"Of these. Al Johnson is the only
settler who still lives on his origin
al homestead. Mr. Johnson is past
80 years old. He moved to town for
a time but returned to his old resid-
ence. Mr. Johnson, wno is one oi
those eood old pioneers who com
mand the respect of everyone, is a
fiddler of no mean ability and can
wheedle sweet strains from that instrument.
"Other old residents included
Uncle Joe Lieuallen, father of J. T.
Lieuallen of Adams and OSorge Lieu
allen of Athena. George Lieuallen
lives on the old home place which
first belonged to his father. There
was also William Scott, father oi
Joseph N. Scott. Grandpa Gerking
and his sons were among the early
settlers and Gerking Flat was named
for Grandpa Gerking.
"There were also the families of
Robert Conpock, A. R. Price, Jack
Crigler, John Stamper and T. J.
Watts. The latter was the father
of Homer Watts and M. L. Watts,
prominent Athena residenets, and
Staffords.
Fnn sorial life in old Athena days,
dancing was our greatest diversion.
We used to start dancing at o ciock
and dance until morning. Fathers
and mothers used to take their
children to dances with them, we
danced to the music of the fiddle and
somtimes had an organ also, ine
old-fashioned square dances were
danced, and a caller called the
One of our callers
was Jimmy Carden, of Pendleton.
Picture Program At
The Standard Theatre
Crawford. James Murray and
House Peters will be seen in the im
portant screen production of Kose
Marie," at the Standard Theatre to
iirVit. Murray will be re
membered here as the young lead
ing man in King Vidors ine
Crowd."
firmlav ni ffht. Zane Grey's "Ne
vada" will be presented at the Stand
orA with the. new screen favorite,
Gary Cooper, in the leading role,
playing opposite lneima ioaa.
novf Wednesday evening the
A Ul v".w ' "
Standard has selected for its mid
week special, the comedy-drama,
"Partners Again.
The standard's benefit merit for
the swimming pool fund has been
erosion for Wednesday. May 16th,
when a glorious mid-week novelty
program will be presented. The
novelty program numbers include the
thrilline screen showing oi -ju.uuu
Miles With Lindbergh," "The Yoke
of the Past" showing farming irom
its very beginning up to the present;
"History of the Flag" and "Secrets
of the Deep," a big program that is
sure to please every one.
Two Physicians Die
Tm nhvsirians who had practiced
medicine at Pendletoen, died over the
week-end. Friday at Pasadena,
California, Dr. D. J. McFaul passed
away. He had been a leading physi
cian of Pendleton for many years,
going to that city from Adams. Mon
day, Dr. E. B. Waffle died at Astoria,
where he went from Pendleton sever
al years ago, and opened an office.
Frost Danger Great
Desnite the cold, backward season,
Walla Walla valley fruit is making
almost normal advancement. Apple
VniHa are showine color and cherries
are past the full bloom stage, and
in the Milton-Freewater district tne
are shedding their petals. Just now,
the susceptibility of fruit to frost
damage is at its height.
Repairing Pavement
r,itv Marshal Tavlor and a force
of men were at work Wednesday, re
moving the broken slabs of pave
ment at corner of Third and Main,
which were broken up last fall to
make repairs to a water main. A
rock base will be made and soon the
standard bitulithic surface will be
added.
James A. Scott Passes On
Humorist and Cartoonist Known To
Press Readers As "Scribbler."
The funeral of James A. Scott was
held Monday at 2:30 p. m. at the
Christian church in this city, the
ceremonies being conducted by Rev.
M?Quarry of Milton. , A quartet
furnished appropriate music, Mrs. D.
T. Stone singing a solo.
Mr. Scott, who was with his sister,
Mrs. Susan Gerking, took critically
ill on the train en route from Long
Beach, California and arriving at
Portland, his nepehew, Joseph N.
Scott was notified who drove down
from Pendleton, taking his uncle to
the Good Samaritan hospital, where
on April 21st he passed away. He
had been in failing health for many
years but thought he could stand the
trip back to his former home, to
visit friends, many of whom remem
ber him as a clever writer and car
toonist of much local favor in Athe
na's earlier days. His contributions to
the Press over the name of "Scrib
bler" were keenly appreciated in the
lang syne.
Endowed with a vein of humor, the
writing of Mr. Scott was turned on
local events of the day which he
cleverly emphasized after a bur
lesque manner with cartons. During
the time he was writing for the
Press, The Morning Oregonian was
running a department in which it
printed biographical sketches of Ore
gon newspaper men together with
their photographs. "Scrib" immedi
ately introduced his famous "News
paper Gallery of Own-With Apologies
to the Oregonian," in which he car
tooned the late C. S. Jackson of the
Oregon Journal, then of the East
Oregonian, astride his single tax
hobby horse; Clark Wood of the Wes
ton Leader; John Lathrop of the
East Oregonian; J. Watermelon Red-
dington of the Heppner Gazette;
Frank Hull of the Milton Eagle, and
others.
Locally, he often mentioned the
"Two-Jinks," Dudley and Taylor;
Charles Henry and "Quill" Gerking
were victims of many a funny poke
of his pen. He satirized Wood's pro
clivities for begging tobacco and his
efforts at ranching in Franklin
county, Wash. He put Boyd astride
a cayuse and bucked him off while
in the act of shooting a crow, mis
taking it for a grouse. He cartooned
Hull in a boxcar, enroute to Salem
to lobby for county division, and
kept the town laughing at the
escapades of a couple of his friends
down on "Butter River," (Butter
Creek.)
James A. Scott was born in Shelby
county, Illinois, in June, 1849, died
April 21, 1928, aged 78 years and
10 months. He was one of a family
of nine children the only surviving
one being his sister, Mrs. Susan
Gerking, who for several years past
has faithfully attended her failing
brother. .
His father, Andrew Scott, died when
James was a small boy and he made
his home with his mother, Martha
Jay Scott until the time of her death,
18 yearsi ago. He never married, and
lived with his sisters, two of whom
died at Long Beach a year ago.
He lived in the states of Illinois,
Missouri and Texas, coming to Ore
gon in 1884, where he lived until
1905, when he moved to California.
For more than 20 years his home has
been at Long Beach. Besides his
sister, he is survived by six nephews
and nine neices. He was baptized in
the old Christian church in Athena
some thirty years ago.
Stockholders Vote To
Keep Weston Bank
At a meeting of the stockholders
of the Farmers Bank of Weston
Tuesday it was decided to keep the
bank in operation, when 255 shares
of stock out of a total of 300 repre
sented, 203 were against liquidation
with the First National Bank of Ath
ena and 51 shares were voted in
favor of the liquidation proposal of
the board of directors of the Weston
bank, made to and accepted by the
First National.
Pnilnwina' the stockholder's meet
ing, a meeting of the board of di
rectors was held. George Kellough
j J J '
resigned as president ana airectui,
and Lance Kellough cashier, and C.
t. Pinkerton. assistant cashier, re
signed as directors, but retained their
positions at the bank, was followed by
the election of J. H. Key as presi
dent and J. M. Banister and Marvin
Price, directors. These with Frank
Price, Joseph Wurzer, Geo. W.
Staggs and Sim J. Culley, comprise
the new board of directors.
Firat. National officials and the
Athena public generally are pleased
ti,of tha neighbor institution has
VllCA u vuv -C5 ,
been reorganized to continue busi
ness.
Trust Powers Granted
First National Bank
tv, virat. National Bank of Athena
has been advised by the Federal Re
rv RnarH that it has been grant
ed permission to act, when not in
contravention of state or local law to
act aS trustee, executor and adminis
trator of estates, registrar of btock3
and bonds, guardian of estates, as
signee and receiver.
The First National has been grant
ed the further right to act in any
other fiduciary capacity in wnvn
state hanks, trust companies or other
corporations which come into com
petition with national Danns are pci
mitted to act under the laws of the
state of Oregon. The exercise of
these rights are subject to the pro
visions of the Federal Keserve aci
and the regulations of the Federal
Reserve Board.
Mr. LeGrow is pleased to make
the above announcement for the local
hank at this time, from the fact that
in the past those wishing to repose
fiduciary matters in trust were re
quired to look to outside institutions
for requisite facilities.
. From Island of Jersey
The East Oregonian reports that
the dairy herd at the Eastern Ore
gon State Hospital received an im
portant addition Saturday miprrang
when four new Jersey cows arrived,
imported direct from the Island of
Jersey.
W. H. Doughtrey For
County Commissioner
W. H. Doughtery, pioneer farmer
and stockman of Echo, is the repub
lican candidate for county commis
sioner before the primaries, from
the west end of the county. Mr.
Doughtery, in company with John S.
Vinson, former postmaster at Free-
water, and also well known pioneer,
was in Athena Wednesday.
Mr, Doughtery has a wide acquaint
ance throughout the county, and was
importuned to seek the office of com
missioner by the people of the west
end, irrespective of political party
affiliations wholly through recognition
of his capabilities as a business
man, farmer and stockraiser.
For twenty years, Mr. Doughtery
was manager of the stockyards in
Portland. His influence in the west
end of the county has left its im
pression vividly on the upbuilding and
progress of that section for many
years, and the people there believe
the time has come for them to have
representation in county affairs and
that Mr. Doughtery is the man to
represent them.
John S. Vinson
John S. Vinson, well known pioneer
of the "east end" was in Athena
Wednesday and called at the Press
office. For many years he was post
master at Freewater and conducted a
store at that place. Sometime ago
his store was destroyed by fire, and
he retired from the mercantile busi
ness. Mr. Vinson has passed the al
lotted three score and ten, but is yet
just about as young, as he used to be;
wears the same smile, smokes thn
same brand of tobacco as always, but
in a new pipe. Come again, John.
Pendleton Boxing Card
Firht fans will attend a five-bout
boxing card at Pendleton tonight
Topliners are Harry O'Brien and
Danny Lewis in a ten-round go at
150 pounds. Tommy Gardner and
Willie Green, bantams, are scneauiea
fnr i rounds: Steamboat Jackson
and Brownie Buskirk, at six rounds
and two other four-round prelims ari
on the tapis.
Month To Seed 80 Acre
James Duncan was in town Wednes
day from his farm south of Athena.
Mr. Duncan says it required just a
month to seed 80 acres on his place
this spring, on account of bad weath
er, which otherwise the two men and
13 head of horses would have com
pleted in three days.
Leave For Kalispell
Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Brower, (Jen
nemae Read) have sold their; new
home in Pendleton, and will leave
shortly for Kalispell, Montana, where
they may decide to reside.
Athena Takes a
Game From Helix
Well Played, 7-4
Two glorious innings were all that
was required for Athena to place
Sunday's game with Helix safely
away in cold storage; the score was
decisive, too, 7 to 4.
The innings above referred to were
the first and the seventh. In the
first canto, after Banister had retired
Helix hitless, Geissel first up for
Athena was tossed out to Holmgren.
Lee Banister followed with a single,
stole secondv and scored on Shick's
two-ply swat, i Shick took third when
Holmgren' messed up Kretzer's
roller. Harden fanned. Toole sent
one crashing between Nelson's shins
and Shick romped home. Harris
struck out. Two hits, two errors, two
runs.
Helix was blanked in the second.
Ditto Athena. Opening in third,
Helix made her bid for the game,
when Vaughan, 'first batter up took
first when he was hit on the arm. He
stole second, Pierce drew a pass and
both scored on Tucker's two-base
hit. Two in, nobody down and
Tucker anchored on second. Garrett
went out, G. Banister to Kretzer.
Scheyer singled, scbring Tucker.
Holmgren went out Shick to Kretzer,
and B. Holmgren faded from the
picture, Kretzer to Shick. Two hits,
three runs, no errors.
Toole went in to pitch for Athena
in the fourth and McPherrin took
over the mask and chest protector
from Baker in the fifth. Athena
tied it up with a score in the sixth,
when Harden socked out a three-
bagger and scored on Toole's sacri
fice. One hit, one run, no errors.
Helix could do nothing with Toole's
slants in the sixth, Holmgren and
Nelson fanned and B. Holmgren flew
out to L. Banister. Athena opened
the lucky seventh with G. Banister
going out at first, and Geissel being
stopped, Nelson to Holmgren, after
circling the bases on a terrific drive
down the third base line, which his
Umps declared foul. Then Mr.
Pierce, he of the stone age, got a
fossilized crink in the good.ol' left
wing and issued transportation to
Lee Banister. Whereupon Mr. Shick
immediately brought his willow ker
smack against Mr. Kelley Pierce's
next offering for a home run drive
Kretzer was safe on second when
B. Holmgren dropped his fly out
in right. Then Harden pranced
up to the plate, facing Mr. Nelson,
who had gone into the box in place
of Mr. Pierce, whanged the first
ball pitched for two stations, Kretzer
scoring. Toole was safe when the
ball got away on error at short,
Harden scoring. Harris was thrown
out at first. Two hits, four runs,
two errors.
Wally Holmgren scored for Helix
in the eighth. He went to first on
being hit and scored on B. Holm
gren's two-bagger. One hit, one run,
no errors.
Score by Innings
Athena .....2 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 7
Hits 2 0 1 0 1 1 2 0 7
Helix 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 04
Hits 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 25
Batteries Banister and Baker,
Toole and McPherrin; Vaughan and
Pierce, Nelson, Montgomery.
Errors, B. Holmgren, Nelson, Tuck
er, Shearer; L. Banister, Shick, G.
Banister, McPherrin. Runs batted
in, Shick 2, Harden. Two-base hits,
Shick, Harden, Holmgren. Three
base hit, Harden. Home run Shick.
Sacrifice, Toole. Left on bases, Ath
ena 4, Helix 3. Struck out, by
Banister 3. Toole 6; Pierce 6,
Montgomery 3. Winning pitcher
Toole; losing pitcher Montgomery.
Umpire, Martin.
HOSTESSES ENTERTAIN
TWO BRIDGE PARTIES
Mrs. Henrv Dell and Mrs. W. P.
Littlejohn were hostesses at a series
of two afternoons of bridge, Thurs
day and. Friday of last week. Spring
flowers were used profusely lor
decoration. Thursday five tables
were at play with the following
ladies : Mesdames, G. H. Bishop or
Freewater, C. O. Whiteman, Walla
Walla. .1. F. Kershaw. H. I. Watts,
Frank Ames, H. A. Barrett, C. M.
Eager, Lloyd Michener, B. B. Rich
ards, W. S. Ferguson, F. S. LeGrow,
VreA Gross. D. T. Stone. Arnold
Wood, Alex Mclntyre, Fred Pinker
ton, F. B. Boyd, Lew McNair, R. A.
Thompson and M. W. Hansell. Mrs,
Barrett won high score and Mrs. Mc
Nair consolation. Friday afternoon
four tables of bridge were at play
with the following present. Mes
dames Bryce Baker, E. C. Prestbye,
A W. Douglas. A. W. Logsdon, Max
Hnmur Tjmrrence Pinkerton. Clar
ence Toole, Harold Fredericks, Shel
don Taylor, Dean Dudley, James
Lieuallen, Paul Lieuallen, i. ju mc
Fadden, Claude Dickenson and Miss
Hilda Dickenson. Mrs. Prestbye
held high score and Mrs. Pinkerton
consolation. A dainty two course
luncheon wa served by the hostesses
on both occasion.
THER JOSIAH
ILL RECEIVED
Cast Presents the Comedy
In Very Acceptable
Manner.
The annual school nlav. "Brother
Josiah," presented at the High
acnool auditorium Fndav evening
was well liked by the audience,
which wanned up to the clever act-
ing of the players, meeting the situa
tions or the plot with generous applause.
The play is an esneciallv well
written comedy in three acts, and its
presentation by the cast revealed
careful rehearsal and coaching on the
part of the director, Miss Mildred
Bateman.
The comdy roles were given the
right members of the cast when Clif
ford Wood, Wilford Miller and Mar
guerite Moore were selected. The
leads fell into the capable hands of
Weldon Beil, Jessiedeane Dudley and
Ray Johnston. Ethel Pittman, Al
berta Charlton, George Gross and
Eldon Myrick were splendid in their
parts, and Curtis Duffield made a
perfect butler.
Extras in the cast for Act I, were
Dorothy Geissel, Marjorie Wilson,
Helen Hansell, George Pambrun, Oral
Michener and Walter Huffman. Roy
DeFreece, originally cast for William
Le Blanc, was compelled to drop out
on account of illness, Ray Johnston
taking the part.
A large audience witnessed the
play. The Athena Orchestra was well
received in the rendition of music
for the occasion, its personnel being
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Pinkerton,
Fred Kershaw, Lawrence Lieuallen,
Harold Frederick, Roe Eager, Kohler
Betts, Lee A. Meyer and Justin Har-
wood.
National Forest Week
Observance at School
National Forest Week will be
observed with a program at High
School auditorium this afternoon at
2:45, when Athena Boy Scouts, the
high school department and scholars
of the 7th and 8th grades will par
ticipate. The glee club and school will give
song numbers appropriate to the oc
casion, and the principal address will
be given by Wade LeRoy, who will
speak on "fire control and forest perpetuation.
The Boy Scout portion of the pro
gram will be given by John Kirk,,
who will have "utilization" for his
subject; Carl Calvert, "farm wood-
lots and wind breaks;" Stafford Han
sell, "Flood control."
The program will be for the pub
lic as well as for the school and the
Boy Scouts, and it is hoped that
citizens generally will avail them
selves of the opportunity to attend
the exercises.
Chicken Thieves Caught
Get Two Years In Pen
Athena poultry raisers will rest
easier when they learn that Harold
Clark. 20. of Freewater. and Archie
Preston, 22, of Walla Walla, captured
last week by Sheriff Cookingham,
are on their way to the pen at Salem,
to serve two years each.
The men were apprehended by
Cookinertam at the door of a produce
house in Walla Walla, and caught in
the very act of selling stolen poultry.
Brought to Pendleton, Clark and
Preston were lodged in the county
jail and confessed to stealing chick
ens at Athena, Milton-Freewater and
in the Dayton-Pomeroy districts.
They waived the bringing of in
dictments by the grand jury, and
Tuesday morning appeared before
Judge Fee in the circuit, entered
of cruiltv to information filed
by the district attorney, and were im
mediately sentenced to each serve two
years in the penitentiary.
Kelley and Willos Pay
James Willos and Ellsworth Kelley
paid the death penalty Friday morn
ing at ths Oregon state penitentiary
for their participation in the prison
break from that same institution on
August 12, 1925, in which two -guards
were killed. Kelley was the first to
mount, the callows and the trap
dropped from under him at 8:31. He
was pronounced dead at 8:43. Willos
dropped through the trap at 8:53
and was dead in 12 minutes.
Athena at Adams
The Athena and Adams teams in
the "Big Six" league will play at
Adams Sunday, afternoon at 2:30.
Last Sunday Adams defeated the
Eagles, 11-10, and Weston lost to
Milton-Freewater, 17 to 5.