IF YOU WANT ALL THE NEWS OF MORROW COUNTY WHILE IT IS NEWS, READ THE HEPPNER HERALD. WE PRINT IT FIRST
V.
VOLUME X
HEPPNER, OREGON, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1923
NUMBER 25
HEPPNER
AT
TOLD BYlTELEGRAM MAN
OXCE PEACEFUL COMMUNITY
NOW TOK.V BY DISCORD
Supposed Preacher Who Organized
Klan Said to Lack Or
dination Papers
Oregon newspaper readers do not
nejed to follow the news stories from
Oklahoma to get plenty of thrills re
garding Ku Klux activities according
to the following story written by a
member of the Portland Telegram
staff who was sent to Condon re
cently to get the facts about the re
ported trouble in that town. Oregon
seems to have a few pretty good
thrills of its own. The story is re
produced here because Heppner and
Condon are next door neighbors and
we are all more or less interested in
each other's activities:
The simple cell of a yeast plant is
about one three-thousandth of an
inch in diameter, but in the form of
a Ku Klux germ, given a little time
to ferment, it is suffiient to make
a peaceful community rise up and
divide into armed camps. That is
the situation here today, where I un
dertook to delve into motives under
lying the so-called "shooting up of
the Klan hall" and the abduction of
Frank Smith by persons, some of
whose identities are as yet a mys
tery. The first and most interesting fact
I panned was that the alleged Klan
tiall is not a Klaa hall at all, but the
Congregational church parsonage, a
modest but comfortable dwelling
owned by the church organization,
for many years the home of peace
loving and God fearing ministers,
and now again about to be occupied
by the church's newly appointed pas
tor, the Rev. James N. Pendleton,
who comes from Idaho.
The former preacher, Charley, has
been discharged by a vote of the
congregation. The trustees do not
believe he was an ordained minister.
All Once Peaceful
It is a tortuous story and the
church angle will be given in this
installment. Prior to a year ago in
Condon no ripple was seen on the
surface of local religious harmony.
The few Catholics in the town main
tained a little hospital, the Protest
ants contributed to its support, as
'the Catholic citizens also contributed
to Protestant and nonsectarian proj
ects. Protestant business men con
tributed to purchase an operating
chair for the little hospital and the
American Legion took up a collec
tion to buy an X-ray machine. It
was the only hospital in town and
was sufficient to the need.
There was no Catholic school In
town, but the sisters at the hospital
would, if applied to, give evening
lessons in a few special courses. I
found a leading business man who
had learned bookkeeping in that
way. Neither in politics nor religion
was there any sign of ferment. There
is harmony at the Court house. The
offices have no Catholic incumbents.
STAR THEATRE
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
OCTOBER
Metropolitan
a.
Play
14
People
14
S SHOWS IN ONF 2
DRAMA AND VAUDEVILLE
ALL NEW PLAYS - - - - - - - VAUDEVILLE
Entire Change Each Night
BIG FUN SHOW
L
APPROACHES CLOUDBURST IX
SOME SECTIONS
Big Hail Fell North of Lexington;
Damage Not Heavy in
Any Section
An unusual storm visited Morrow
county last Wednesday evening
sweeping over many sections of the
county in a terrific downpour of rain
which did minor damage to roads and
fences in a widespread area. .
At the Carty ranch in Juniper
canyon it is said that no such down
pour of rain had been witnessed
since that section was first settled
more than 40 years ago. On the
ridge west of Carty's a heavy hail
storm accompanied the rain and W.
B. Barratt, who spent the night at
Carty's and was forced to leave the
canyon road and take to the ridges
to reach Lexington the next morn
ing, says that hail was still pil,ed
against buildings and fences many
inches deep as he drove through late
in the forenoon Thursday.
At Lexington a flood from Black
horse canyon swept through the town
but aside from leaving mud and de
bris on the streets and partially
flooding the Barnard filling station
but little serious damage resulted.
Mrs. Harrison of Boardman, an
agent for the New York Liife Insur
ance Co., was spending the night at
the Duran home in Lexington when
a telephone call from the Duran
ranch in Blackhorse warned them of
the coming water and Mrs. Harrison
and Mrs. Duran hastily donned their
clothes and gave the alarm to neigh
bors on the lower grounds. Mrs.
Harrison says they waded water knee
deep before they finished their mis
sion. Ranches along Willow creek be
tween Lexington and lone perhaps
suffered most, some fields being
flooded and hay damaged. Some
damage was also done to the high
way in a number of places whore
water from the gulches swept across
the macadam leaving much mud
and debris. The railroad track was
also flooded in a few places.
Some damage was also done to
roads and ranches on Rhea creek and
heavy rains were reported from all
sections of the county.
Heavy thunder and lightning ac
companied the storm in Heppner,
which is an unusual occurrence in
thi3 section for mid-October.
M!1S. ELLA B. YOUNG ENDS
HER LIFE B OWN ACT
Mrs. Ella B. Young, 60 years old
and a well known resident of Hepp
ner for several years, ended her life 1
last Tuesday afternoon while suffer
ing from despondency by drowning
in Willow creek near the Gale creek
bridge.
Mrs. Young who was the mother
21-23-23
All
New
Plays
Planning to Get Out the Woman Vote
I 0 YOU tsnw i
5j
w X-Ik Hi I A ffml
The women political leaders are coming to the fore and are canvassing
the country from const to coast to get n line on the political views of the wom
en voters. Mrs. Elliot Cheatham of Atlanta, Ga., director of nine southern
states and the District of Columbia, visited headquarters in Washington with
the exhibit which she will use at county fairs in the various states this fall to
Interest women In voting.
GOT DEER ON LONG SHOT
WHILE ON HUNT FOR GILLIAM
Orve Rasmuss, Lou Bisbee and Dr.
Farrior made up one of the searching
parties that went out last Monday
morning to search for Len Gilliam,
who was lost in a dense fog on Black
mountain Sunday )c evening. As it
turned out, Len didn't need anybody
to find him, for as soon as daylight
came he smelled coffee and bacon
odors drifting through the fog and he
made a bee line for the spot, which
happened to be the Joe Hays ranch
on Butter creek about 15 miles away.
Orve and Lou and, Doc therefore fail
ed to find their man but they did
find a fine big four-point buck, which
they brought home with thorn after
Lou's trusty rifle had laid his buck
ship low. Orve says the buck was
all of 1000 yards away when Lou
sighted it and going lity? an army
airplane, but all that was a mere
bagatelle to Lou. Doc had remark
ed on the way up the creek that
morning that he had heard many
such stories from deer hunters but
he'd be doggoned if he believed
them but after Lou's demonstration
he was forced to revise his opinion.
Any reader who doesn't believe thi
story can ask Orve.
of Mrs. A. J. Westoff, had been sub
ject to spells of despondency for
some time and about two weeks ago
made an attempt on her life in her
room in the Ayers apartments on
Chase street by taking chloroform
and a few days prior to that she had
tried to buy a revolver at a local
hardware store.
Tuesday morning Mr. Westhoff
took her to the Westhoff home where
she could be looked after. She left
the hou.y in the afternoon and was
last seen at the postoffice, probably
going from there direct to the creek
where she threw herself into a shal
low dam a short distance below the
old foot bridge at. the Harry Cum
mings property. As soon as she was
missed from the house Mr. Westhoff
started a search for her, and it waB
he that found the body. Coro
ner Case was at onc,e notified
and assisted in removing the body
from the water.
Mrs. Young is survived by two
children a daughter, Mrs. A. J.
Westhoff of Heppner, and a son who
resides at Palm Beach, Florida.
The funeral was held Friday aft
ernoon from the Methodist church,
Rev. F. R. Spaulding conducting the
services.
Thrown From Wagon by Team
Joe Hayes was thrown from 1
wagon last Wednesday when the
Wightman farm team ran away an':
was somewhat bruised but not se
riously injured. Teams are beeom
ing so scarce on Heppner streets t ha
the equines perhaps feel that thej
ned to create some excitement oc
casionally just to let the buzz wagon:
know they are still on the Job.
- "?Krv
6.M.8LAKELY WILL RUN SHEEP
ON ISLAND OF UNALASKA
G. M. (Mart) Blakely is ono of
the directors of a new Oregon cor
poration called the Western Pacific
Livestock company, which has been
organized for the purpose of stock
ing Unalaska, one of the Aleutian
group,,, with breeding ewes. It made
its first snlpment of selected stock on
the steamer Oduna, which sailed
from Seattle the other day. Tho trip
will take about eight days. The
ewes, which were selected by Mr.
Blakely, are halfbloods, Lincoln and
Merino cross. The rams wore select
ed by Peter L. Jensen, and are full
blood Romneys.
The company expects to become
one of the greatest producers of wool
and mutton in the world. It holds a
concession on the Island of Unalaska
from United States government to
exceed half a million acres of per
petually green grass, which is free
from predatory animals and all other
pests which are detrimental to the
growth of sheep. This concession is
free for three years, thereafter the
foe is not to exceed that charged on
the government reserve.
Peter L. Jensen, an experienced
and successful sheep man of Top
penlsh, Wash., accompanied by Mrs.
Jensen, will reside permanently on
the island. Mr. and Mrs. Jensen are
heavy investors in the company.
Mr. Blakely, who is a well known
successful Bheep man, is making the
trip to render any assistance that
may be necessary to get this project
under way. Mr. Blakely will return
in about 30 days.
Contrary to the gpneral opinion,
the climatic conditions are moderate.
The island lies 1700 miles westerly
from the mouth of the Columbia
river, in the same latitude as Mid
dle England, and is tempered by the
Japan current.
The company will continue to ship
as conditions permit, until its foun
dation flock of 10,000 ewes are
placed. Fossil Journal.
ROttYOUB.
OWM WITH
RX11ACMXX
""""iiViililBr -
BiaSiP jS
FORMER HEPPNER IN
KILLED IN GUN FIGHT
JAP GRIFFITH KILLS SHERIFF
IS HIMSELF SLAIN
Baker Scene of Double Tragedy Lnst
Thursday Morning; Moon
shine Cause
A dispatch from Baker to the Ore
goniau under date of October 10th
says:
J. E. (Dad) Griffith, 6 5, crazed
with drink, swore he would "get the
police force" for the arrest late yes
terday of his son, E. M. .Griffith and
the latter's wife, on a liquor charge;
and today Al Hugglns, deputy sher
iff of Baker county, 23, lies dead as
a result of that threat. Griffith, shot
twice by Waldo Vaughan, police
chief, died at 4:55 A. M., three and
one-half hours after Huggiins.
Although the corner's jury at
noon today found that Hugglns met
his death at Griffith's hands and
that Vaughan was justified In kill
ing the latter, liquor was sllentlv
indicted as responsible for the flash
of guns that took the life of Ex
Convict Griffith, and left a brld,e of
little more than a year to mourn the
loss of her husband, killed in the
performance of his duty.
Whole District Terrorized
The affair occurred at 1:30 this
morning, after officers, attracted by
the noise of Griffith, hMieved drunk,
who from the lobby of the Central
hotel, which he operated, cursed,
challenged and threatened to kill the
.entire police force, had terrorized
the district. Griffith fired more than
a score of shots from his position of
vantage. At what they believed an
opportune moment Hugglns and
Vaughan rushed the door of tho ho
tel. Hugglns dropped Inside the
door with a bullet through his' heart,
and an instant later bullets from
Vaughan's gun bored Grffith's abdo
men and forehead and all but fin
ished him.
County authorities are holding
Lang Carleton, who, drunk with
Griffith during the night, it is claim
ed, had persistently urged and in
cited Griffith to kill. "Get good aim,
Dad. Don't let them put anything
over on you," are statements credit
ed to him by officers.
Mining Days Uncalled
Not since the day's of the old min
ing camp has Baker witnessed such
a clash between officers and their
citizens.
It is generally believed here that
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVORS
HOLD ANNUAL BANQUET
Members of the Christ Ian endeavor
society of the Methodist church held
their annual banquet In the church
parlors last Friday evening when
about 30 covers were laid and a most
tempting dinner was served. Pre
ceding the dinner a short program
was given, which consisted of a vocal
solo by Dorothy Pattlson, violin solo
by Stanley Peterson, musical reading
by Bernice Woodson and a musical
strut by Stanley Peterson and
Charles Notson. Games followed
dinner and tho young people present
all report having had a fine time.
THANKS !
JfK T 4K this spare to thank the public for
their hearty support the past nine months
we have been in business. Such support has en
abled us to hammer prices down and place our
products within reach of all.
It'e are pleasing new customers every day.
Tell your Jriends.
IVe thank you!
BIG WHEELER GO.
SOLD TO PORTLAND
GILMAX-FREN CH PROPE RTX
' CHANGES HANDS
One of Finest Stock Plants In Thl
Section and Contains
31,500 Acres
The Gilman-French com pany'a
nfnehes have been sold at last. Theso
34,500 acr(es the cream of alt
Wheeler county's magnificent stock
raising land changed hands Octo
ber 1st for a consideration of about
a half million dollars.
B ytho terms of the transfer S. F.
Wilson, Portland capitalist, becomes
owner of the land. At the sam(e time
tho land was leased by tho Oregon
California Livestock company whoso
headquarters are at Klamath Falls.
C. L. Jamison, livestock superinten
dent of the company, is now superin
tendent of the Oilman -French
ranches. J. B. Younce is to remain
with the new company as general
ranch manager. All ranch foremen
and employes have been asked to re
main with the new company and no
change is expected. The new com
pany assumed control October 1,
The Oregon-California Livestock:
company will commence shipping;
stock to their now leasing immediate
ly) and the ranch will be stocked tc
its utmost capacity this fall.
It is understood that the sale ot
the Gilman-French company's ranched
will greatly assist the liquidation ot
that company's bank assets at The
Dalles. Rumor Btates that the bank,
which la In the hands of a receiver,
will now be able to pay all depssitors
in full and about three-fourths tot
stockholders.
Something like $25,000 delinquent
taxes on the Gilman-French land will
likely be paid at once. Another deal
for the GIlman-Frencn timber that
was reported pending was thus in
terrupted by th(e sale of the complete
holdings to Mr. Wilson. Fossil Jour
nal. Huggln's fearlessness was responsi
ble for the ill-timed rush.
Griffith is believed by local offi
cers to have killed three other m,en.
and it is said he served 14 years at
Salem for murder in Morrow coun
ty.
Griffiths was raised on what is
now known as tho Guy Boyer ranch
on Hinton creek a few miles east
from Heppner on tho highway and
spent his early life here. Ho married
a Heppner girl of good family but
because of dissojute ways sho di
vorced him after a few years and he
went to Malheur county, where he got
Into trouble and was sent to tho peni
tentiary at Salem for ono year on an
assault and robbery charge. After
serving 11 months ho was released
and went to Idaho wliero ho engaged
In the sheep business and for a few
years made good but again got Into
trouble and shot a man for which
lie is said to have served a long
term.
Reports reaching here several
years ago were that he was also once
charged with murdering a sheep
herder who had worked for him but
that was never proven. Old timers
who knew him well say that the re
port that he nerved time for killing;
a man In this county Is not true.
THE CENTRAL MARKET
G. B. SWAGGART, Prop.