OREGON HISTORICAL
PUBLIC AUDITOr I U :.:
PORTLAND. CHE.
SOCIETY
Volume 58, Number 49
Dick Howard Takes
Own Life With
Razor at Bastile
Former Itinerant
Veterinarian Was
50-Year Resident
"Dick" Howard, 50-year county
resident and for several years a
roving veterinarian, ended his life
at 12:45 Monday morning by slash
ing his troat with a razor at the
county jail. Despondency over his
confinement and charge of contrib
uting to the delinquency of a minor
was believed to have provoked the
act.
Other jail inmates, Harold Cox, El
don Gentry, Ralph Brumfield and
John Steel, discovered the body
shortly after the act was committed.
They had retired, but Cox heard
Howard's body fall and went to in
vestigate. Their calls brought Homer
Hayes, city police chief, as he was
on his way home, and Hayes roused
James Archer, janitor, who opened
the jail;
Dr. A. D. McMurdo, coroner, de
termined the facts at a jury investi
gation Monday afternoon, when tes
timony of jail inmates was heard and
they identified the razor used by
Howard. The jury, Harry Duncan,
W. B. Tucker, Creed Owen, W. L.
Blakely, Fred Lucas and Alex Cor-
nett, determined that Howard came
to his death by his own hand after
hearing the testimony and viewing
the body at Phelps Funeral home.
Many old-time friends of Howard
have expressed belief that he was
innocent of the charge placed against
; him. It was the first time he had
ever faced arrest so far as is known
locally, and he held a good reputa
tion for moral integrity up to the
time that circumstances caused his
arrest. His case was to have been
heard by the grand jury which was
to have convened on Monday last
week, but postponement was caused
by the recent automobile accident
of Judge C. L. Sweek which prevent
ed his attendance. Prospect of longer
jail confinement on that account
was believed to have influenced
Howard's act.
Funeral services were conducted
at 10 o'clock yesterday morning from
Phelps Funeral home in charge of
Heppner Lodge 69, A. F. & A. M.,
of which Howard had long been a
member, with interment in Masonic
cemetery.
Renne Julian Howard was born at
Placerville, Cal., May 1, 1859, to
Renne Julian and Ruth (Young)
Howard, both natives of Kentucky.
He was aged 78 years, 9 months and
6 days. He first came to Morrow
county more than 50 years ago, and
had resided here most of the time
since. He married Emma French in
this city in 1891, and the family home
was made here for many years while
the children attended the local
schools. Mr. Howard worked l much
of the time at common labor, but
for several years as an itinerant vet
erinarian he was a familiar sight
driving his . one-horse buggy about
the county.
Surwiing are the widow, Emma
Howard of Portland; daughters, Mrs.
Byron Summers of Wapato, Wash.,
and Mrs. Francis Griffin of The
Dalles, and sons Jack and Marion
of Portland. The daughters and son
Marion attended the funeral services.
'Heppner Round-Up'
Outstanding Paper
"The Heppner Round-Up," news
paper of Camp Heppner, has con
sistently rated four stars by "Happy
Day," official publication of the
CCC's. Efforts of Charles Evans and
Nick Talalaeff, two staff members
on the local paper, have earned them
certificates in journalism from the
national publication.
George Ely was in town Tuesday
from lone.
Heppner,
120 PERSONS AT
DINNER AND MOVIE
Co-operative Selling Theme
of Wool Growers' Event; Prob
lems Talked in Afternoon
One hundred and twenty persons
were served at the wool growers din
ner at I. O. O. F. hall last Tuesday
evening which preceded a moving
picture showing the productoin end
of the wool industry. J. G. Barratt,
past president of Oregon Wool Grow
ers association, as toastmaster intro
duced the principal speakers of the
evening, James M. Coon with the
co-operative division of the Farm
Credit administration; Dewitt L.
Barnes with Pacific Co-operative
Wool Growers, and Alex Cruik
shank, also representing the Farm
Credit administration. Short talks
were given by several local men.
The dinner was prepared and ser
ved by San Souci Rebekah lodge
The theme of the dinner meeting was
the advantages of co-operative mar
keting of wool. A number of Uma
tilla county people were present.
In the afternoon a large assem
blage of wool growers met at the
Elks hall for a closed meeting to
discuss problems.
Wettest Snow Brings
1.25 Inch Moisture
"The wettest snow ever seen in
the county," as averred on every
hand, covered Morrow county Sun
day morning and measurement that
evening by Len L. Gilliam, local
weathe observer, showed its mois
ture content to be .81 inch. Up to
Tuesday evening Gilliam's measure
ments i showed the total so far for
the month at 1.25 inch.
While the snow at Heppner was
wet, it was still wetter in the Swag
gart butte section where E. H. Miller,
looking after a measurement station
for the soil conservation service,
made a reading of 2.05 inches of
moisture for the three days, Friday,
Saturday and Sunday. Similar re
ports of heavy precipitation come
from all parts of the county, with
two feet of snow now reported in
the timber. Unfrozen gound every
where is in excellent shape to re
ceive the moisture, reports say.
Mrs. James McCabe
Dies; Rites Saturday
Mrs. James M. McCabe of lone
died at the Corda Saling home in
this city yesterday from complica
tions following 'child birth. Funeral
services, in charge of Phelps Fu
neral home of this city, will be held
from the Christian church in lone,
Saturday, at 2 p. m., Alvin Kleinfeldt
officiating. Interment will be in lone
I. O. O. F. cemetery.
Jennie Malinda Patterson was at
White Salmon, Wash., August 2, 1912,
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geo.
I. Patterson. She was married to Jas.
M. McCabe at Hood River, Feb. 29,
1932. Besides the husband and in
fant daughter, Sally Joan, born last
Friday, she is survived by her fath
er; mother, Mrs. Antone Poulson of
Mollala; sisters, Alice Patterson of
Portland, Mrs. Helen Sparks, lone,
Mrs. Muriel Palmer, Heppner, and
brothers, Ray Patterson of Portland
and Arthur Patterson of Heppner.
DETAILED REPORT COMING
The soil erosion control meeting
which attracted 150 farmers to Lex
ington grange hall last Thursday has
been reported in detail by LeGrand
H. Guild, agronomist with the local
sail conservation service. Space was
not available this week to present
it, but readers may look for it in
next week's issue. It should be read
with interest by everyone in the
county.
IS GRANGE SPEAKER
Rev. R. C. Young will speak at
the lecturer's hour at the meeting
of Lexington grange slated for 7:30
Saturday evening, announces Mrs.
Alta Brown, lecturer.
Ralph Akers was a business visit
or in the city Tuesday from lone.
Oregon, Thursday, February
Conservation Goal
For County About
16 Pet. Reduction
231,915-Acre Total
to be Broken up for
Individual Goals
Morrow county's goal of 231,915
acres under the 1938 agricultural
conservation set-up will amount to
about 16 per cent reduction in acre
age of normal soil depleting crops,
announces E. H. Miller, chairman of
the county committee.
Mr. Miller, Frank Saling, commit
teeman; Joseph Belanger, county
agent, and Jack Parsons, assistant
secretary of the county agricultural
conservation committee, attended a
meeting of representatives of east
ern Oregon wheat raising counties
at Arlington Monday when figures
for the various counties were re
leased. The county goal figure will be
broken down immediately into the
individual farm goals and the figures
will be released to individual oper
ators as fast as obtainable.
As soon as each operator learns
the exact goal for his farm he will
be able to determine exactly the re
muneration he will receive for the
year's compliance and the exact units
of conservation practice to be per
formed to earn his allowance, said
Mr. Miller.
The 16 per cent reduction figure
will enable operators to estimate
quite closely the amount that may
be received by compliance with the
program, he said.
Mrs. Miller Huston
Passes at Albany
Mrs. Miller Huston, formerly of
Heppner and Eight Mile, died sud
denly about 9:30 Monday night at
the family home in Albany, accord
ing to telegraphic word received by
E. R. Huston, uncle. Funeral ser
vices were set for 2 o'clock this af
ternoon at that place.
The Miller Hustons, with Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Huston, parents of Mr.
Huston, removed to Albany from
here a little more than a year ago
Mrs. Huston was formerly Miss Ag
nes Boyd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Tom Boyd, who spent most of her
life in Heppner, attending the local
grade and high school. Besides the
husband she is survived by seven
children.
Howard Suicide
Second of Record
at County Jail
The suicide of Dick Howard at
the county jail last Monday was
the second in the anrals of local
county jail history, reports C. J. D.
Bauman, sheriff.
A good many ye, in go a China
man held on a muder charge took
his life by hanging himself with
his suspenders to the iron grill of
the jail door. He was held in con
nection with the murder of a
Chniaman over in Grant county,
and was said to have received $50
for taking his life, as this amount
was found on his dead body tho
he was known to have been with
out money the night before. The
late E. M. Shutt was then sheriff.
The case was subsequently drop
ped. Harold Cox, who found How
ard's body, as a boy was present
when the firs tsicide's body was
removed from its gruesome posi
tion on the jail door, he informed
the sheriff.
MILL WORK HELD UP
H. O. Wray returned from Yakima
this week to supervise erection of
the new sawmill. Excessive mois
ture which has made the mill site a
sea of mud has delayed operations,
however.
10, 1938
Coming With Band
Billy Darby, who will accom
pany his 8-piece dance band
from Portland for the annual
61ks celebration of Washington's
birthday.
Elks Plan Big Time,
All Day Event, 19th
The annual Washington birthday
celebration of Heppner lodge 358,
B. P. O. Elks the evening of Febru
ary 19 will be featured by the com
ing of Billy Darby's 8-piece dance
band from Portland for the ball in
the evening. Initiation and special
entertainment for the men in con
nection with the afternoon lodge
session, and afternoon entertainment
for the ladies is included in the
day's schedule, says R. B. Ferguson,
chairman of the event.
"Everything points to one of the
biggest times Heppner lodge has ev
er enjoyed," says Ferguson, "and
we want every member of the lodge
on hand for all features."
Ferguson said that Bill Darby's
band had been retained for the ball
only after a thorough search of the
best bands available, with the idea
of getting the best, and he promises
a treat in this feature. Of course, all
other features of the ball will be
in keeping, he emphasizes.
Checks Arrive for
16 Pet. Bank Dividend
Disbursement of depositors' fourth
dividend of 16 per cent from de
funct First National Bank of Hepp
ner started Monday from the office
of J. L. Gault, receiver, with arrival
of checks that morning. Those hav
ing dividend checks due may get
them by calling at the office on the
third floor at Heppner hotel.
This dividend brings the total li
quidation to depositors to date up to
75 per cent, previous dividends hav
ing been paid, 14 per cent in No
vember, 1933; 20 per cent in Febru
ary, 1934, and 25 per cent in De
cember, 1935.
Liquidation of this trust is nearly
completed, announces Mr. Gault,
though a further dividend is expect
ed to be declared before the trust
is finally dissolved. Among last of
the larger remaining assets is the
bank timber land for which negotia
tions of sale are now under way
with federal governmental agencies.
WILLIAM JOHNSON, JR.
William Johnson, Jr., 70, died Tu
esday night, in Portland, according
to word received by Mrs. Johnson
who is confined by illness at the
home of her son, J. O. Rasmus. Mr.
Johnson, native of Missouri, was
prominent in Portland civic circles
and served as representative in the
last state legislative session from
the 13th district. Besdies Mrs. John
sin, he is survived by a daughter,
and a sister, Mrs. Nettie Stevenson,
both of Portland.
Thornton Dunn chooped his left
hand severely with an axe while cut
ting wood at his home in Heppner
Saturday. The injury necessitated
several stitches.
Elmer Griffith was in the city from
Morgan yesterday, being treated by
a local physician for neuritis.
Subscription $2.00 a Year
Unpaid Water Bills
Total Lowest in
Years as Dads Meet
Road Approach to be
Mapped; Channel
Improvement Seen
Heppner's city dads found cause
for rejoicing Monday evening when
the watermaster's report showed
delinquent water accounts at the
lowest point in years, slightly more
than $500. Throughout recent years
the ever mounting total of these ac
counts was a constant source of con
cern. They were double the present
amount when, near the close of last
year, action was taken permitting
partial payment of back accounts if
current account were paid, and not
ifying users that current accounts
unpaid by the tenth of each month
would result in discontinuance of
service. The water committee and
watermaster were commended by the
council for their fruitful efforts in
making the good showing.
Bringing up to date and recodify
ing all city ordinances was looked
upon with favor by the council,
which announced intention of taking
advantage of League of Oregon Cit
ies' service in doing this work. Ac
tion was delayed, however, pending
improvement in the financial con
dition. It was announced that arrange
ments had been made with Harry
Tamblyn, county engineer, to com
plete the survey for changing the
upper Willow creek approach to the
city via South Court street, looking
to completion of the work in the
spring. , :
Just to facilitate handling of any
labor troubles, should they come to
Heppner as they have other towns
round about, possibility of passing an
ordinance to prevent picketing of
any business by persons other than
those who had actually been em
ployed with the business for thirty
days in the three-months' period
immediately preceding the picket
ing act, was discussed, and the city
attorney was instructed to write
League of Oregon Cities for a sam
ple ordinance, if such be available,
to make action here uniform with
that taken elsewhere.
Mayor Jones, whose absence by
illness prevented his having part in
the action, commended the council
for its recent purchase of a new
pick-up automobile, and that the
machine shall have proper care as
well as continue to reflect the pro
gressive spirit behind its purchase,
he instructed the watermaster and
police chief, principal users, to keep
it in first class running condition and
clean in appearance.
Mayor Jones also announced that
negotiations were under way with
he local CCC camp to start improve
ment work on the channel of Wil
low creek through the city in the
near future. A signed agreement had
been sent to Washington, he said,
and if approved, would permit the
work to go ahead within a short
time.
Paralysis Fund
Approximates $800
Before leaving for Portland yes
terday, J. L. Gault, county chair
man, reported that the President's
Birthday infantile paralysis fund ap
proximated $800.
A benefit by the high school this
evening, presenting the school band,
playlet and choruses, is expected to
bring the fund for the county above
the $800 figures
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mason
brought their baby to Heppner yes
terday for treatment at a local doc
tor's office. The infant had been
very ill with erysipelas but was quite
improved yesterday.
Omar Rietmann was up from lone
Tuesday to take Mrs. Rietmann and
baby home from Heppner hospital-