NEWS FROM YOUR
OWN STATE &
COUNTY
7 he
etald
OFFICIAL UMATILLA COUNTY PAPER
COLUMBIA NEWS
By Mrs. Bob Woodward
-/yziinLiton
VOLUME XXXV
HEBM1STOX, UMATILLA COUNTY. OREOOX, OCTOBER 2. 1941
NUMBER 7
Mrs. H. J. Ott has requested that
ELECTRICITY HERE FOR EVERYONE
the notice regarding the Farm Bu
reau Auxiliary meeting be repeated
in this column. The October 3 meet
ing has been cancelled and all mem
89
bers are urged to attend the next reg
ular meeting on October 17, at which
time the annual election of officers
will be held.
Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Schaeffer of
_ -I-
Condon visited during the week end NO TRACE FOUNU
with her sister, Mrs. John Knox and
_ .
. . .
POWER COMPANY
family.
.
I OF GUILTY PARTY
Mr. and Mrs. Verne Dunham, for-
-------
MEETS EMERGENCY
mer residents of this district, now of
The first major crime in many
Elgin, announce the birth of a son
IN THIS REGION
on September 8. He is their third years was staged in Hermiston late
child and has been named John Allen. Saturday night or early Sunday
a as
Pacific Power & Light company
Mr. Dunham is at present staying morning when seven first class mail
here at the H. Garberding home pouches were stolen from the depot
has already spent more than $88,000
while employed on the local soil con between the hours of 9:00 p. m. Sat
rebuilding the former Hermiston
servation project. He spent the week-
Light * Power company system to
urday and 1:10 a. m. Sunday morn
end in Elgin with his family.
improve
service throughout the Her-
Mrs. John Mittlestadt of Albany ing. A. R. Boulware had taken all
miston-Echo-Stanfield-U matilla area
and her father, Fred Stuber of Leb the mail to the depot that evening
w ms.
anon were Friday night guests at
and supply the tremendous demand
the George Liebe home. Mrs. Mittle and locked the doors.
for electricity that has resulted from
Typical
of
the
$88,000
construction
program
Pacific
Power
&
Light
At
1:10,
the
time
when
the
mail
is
stadt is a sister-in-law of Mrs. Liebe.
construction of the army ordnance
They were enroute to Joseph to visit taken to Umatilla for distribution,
company has already completed in the Hermiston area are these
depot, according to A. M. Thrasher,
relatives and do some deer hunting.
it was discovered by Sammy Mc
new facilities built to serve Tertletown, the new 83-house addition to
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Garberding
local power company manager.
Cracken
that
seven
bags
were
miss
made a trip to Grandview on Monday
Hermiston built by the ammunition depot contractors. Substantial
Tent dwellers, those who live in
and to Outlook, Washington, where ing. McCracken, who had shown up
additions
to the P. P. & L. substation and electric distribution lines
trailers and families that built new
they attended a sale by Noel Hart, early for work, was sleeping some
serving this area were promptly completed to provide additional
houses all have electricity as the re
brother of Mrs. Garberding. Mr. and distance from the mail and was not
Mrs. Hart are leaving soon to make aroused by the robbers. The bags
sult of additional facilities the com
power facilities for western Umatilla county when the population
their home in Minnesota.
pany provided this year.
suddenly leaped from 2,000 to 15,000 as a result of defense work
Myrnie Caldwell returned Monday were destined one each for train 11,
The big 66,000-volt P. P. * L.
from a four-day hunting trip in the train 12, train 18. one for Pendleton,
here.
John Day country. Mrs. Caldwell one for Stanfield, one for Echo and
transmission line that brings power
spent the week-end in Stanfield at one for Umatilla.
here’from a system of interconnected
the home of her parents, Mr. and
UMATILLA
SERVICE
SCHOOL
FUNDS
ARE
generating plants had ample capac
Entry
to
the
building
was
made
by
Mrs. Jack Reuber.
ity to easily supply the skyrocketing
Miss Marian Ott was pleasantly prying the hasp off the door of the STATION ROBBED
SIGNED BUT NOT
demand, but other facilities here had
surprised by a group of the Epworth depot room in which the mail was
League members who gathered at her stored. Some time was spent in sep SATURDAY EVENING
to be geared to the tempo of national
DELIVERED AS YET
home Sunday evening following the
defense. New transformers of in
arating
the
first
class
mail
from
the
regular league meeting.
creased size and a big voltage regu
Floyd Wilson of Puyallup, Wash huge pile, indicating that those pull
One person is dead and two others
The long-awaited arrival of school
ington, was a visitor Tuesday morn- | ing the robbery were weil acquainted are in jail as a result of a service funds to aid in the hiring of teach lator were installed at the substation
ing at the Liebe home. He is the son with their work.
station holdup at Umatilla Saturday ers, purchasing of school books and serving the area at a cost of $13,500.
of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Wilson, former
Postal Inspector Dunham arrived evening. Dead is Bill Brown, negro, other incidentals took one step near Greatest expense was increasing ca
residents here.
Miss Helen Jendrzejewski spent in Hermiston Sunday and with the and in jail are two Cherokee Indians, er the goal this week when word was pacity of power lines in the Echo,
the week-end at home from La cooperation of other officers is in Floyd Ward, 33, and his half-brother, received from Representative Walter Hermiston, Umatilla and Stanfield
district. Larger poles have replaced
Granite, where she is a teacher in the vestigating the robbery. It has been Fred V. Stevens, 25.
I M. Pierce and Senator Chas. McNary
home economics department of the |
small ones and four construction
indicated that some headway is being
Saturday night the trio, with | that the president had signed bills al- crews have strung enough miles of
La Grande high school.
made
in
tracing
the
responsible
par
Mr. and Mrs. Claude Wilcox of
Brown hiding in the back seat, held | lowing the sums of $11,340 for the
P rtland spent the week-end in Her- | ties, although no arrests have been up the Ferdinand Hanson service sta high school and $20,160 for the grade I copper conductor to reach half-way
across the state.
miston and visited at the home of his | made.
tion in Umatilla at gun point and ob school in Hermiston.
parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Wilcox. I
Crews are now rebuilding a mile
District
61,
Stanfield,
has
been
al-
The
exact
amount
of
the
loot
will
tained $38.50. The trio then came to
Mr. and Mrs. Francis Knox of I
of
6600-volt line along the highway
I
lotted
$9,418.
North Bend were here during the probably never be known. Postmaster Hermiston where the negro bought
week-end to visit their son, Mr. and W. E. Logan stated Sunday that the several bottles of wine in a grocery
Although the above announcement through Umatilla and working on pri-
Mrs. Francis Knox, Jr., at the John amount could vary all the way from store. The men then took the Hepp is taken as official notice, local school | mary circuits in Hermiston. Echo and
j Stanfield.
Knox home.
Along the Diagonal: Late bloom $2,000 to much more. Friday was pay ner highway and apparently, spirited authorities are not spending the mon
ing flowers making a gay splash of day at the Umatilla Ordnance Depot by too much liquor, failed to negot ey until it arrives upon the scene.
CHILD CLINIC IS
color here ani there 3 . . M s. Coster and many workers were sending mon- iate a curve approximately 12 miles
with some lovely bouquets of asters ey to their hemes.
NEW
LAUNDRY
TO
out in the Butter Creek district.
SCHEDULED HERE
. . we are told of some really choice
The robbery completed a hilarious
The car, which had been stolen in OPEN NEXT WEEK
ones in bloom in the J. H. Reid’s gar
den . . . yellow leaves falling . . . week-end in this little hamlet, begin Portland earlier in the week, over
Notice has been received of an im
and large flocks of wild ducks flying ning Thursday with a triple murder, turned, killing Brown and injuring
Hermiston will welcome a brand munization clinic to be held in the
in to the reservoir. _
a service station holdup ending in one the Indians. Passersby brought them
i new business next week when the Hermiston high school October 21st,
I death and then the mail theft.
to Hermiston. State officers recog Hermiston Laundry and Dry Clean from 11 to 12 a. m. and from 1 to
SPRAGUE URGES
nized the Indians as the ones who ing establishment will open for busi 3 p. m. Any child from 6 months of
had pulled the robbery job at Uma ness. The concern will be managed by age through school age may attend
WORK CAMP HERE
tilla and placed them under arrest. Alvin Elkins. He states that his equip the clinic.
• LEMON FRUIT IS
They were then taken to Pendleton ment is modern and up-to-date.
Governor Charles A. Sprague this
Those children who received their
week requested Walter A. Duffy, • GROWN BY LOCAL • and lodged in jail. The money stolen
The firm is located in the Dr. W. first shot of toxoid for protection
L. Morgan building.
Portland, regional director of the • AUTO SALESMAN
• was recovered by officers.
| against diphtheria at the clinic held
---------
• The men admitted their acts, stat
farm security administration, to es •
the first week in September, are urg
Amidst all the turmoil and • ] ing that they had stolen the car from SHORTCUT WORK
tablish a migratory work camp near •
ed to return for their second injec
a
parking
lot
in
Portland.
They
re
Hermiston. The project would provide ❖ strife in Hermiston, Charles • |
Vaccination against smallpox
tion.
housing facilities for workers on the • Hodge, manager of the Hermis- ❖ cently came to this state from Cal BID IS CALLED
will be given to children of any age.
—
ifornia.
No
sentence
has
been
given
• ton Auto Co., comes forth with •
Umatilla Ordnance Depot
According to news reports the state
The governor also asked the state • the refreshing story of raising • in their case.
School Uses Church Basement
highway commission will call for bids
board of health to put into effect as • lemons on his front lawn. The • |
|
at
Portland
on
October
16
and
17
for
The
Hermiston Methodist church
School Cafeteria To Open Soon
soon as possible a set of rules and • species is of the dwarf type with • I
I “grading, surfacing and oiling of .70 basement is now being utilized for
regulations governing housing in the ❖ a large size fruit. The fruit, how- •
According to Supt. W. G. Kersber- mile of the South Hermiston section school purposes. Seats and other
Hermiston-Stanfield area. The reg • ever, will have to ripen fast if •
gen, the high school cafeteria will of the Old Oregon Trail highway in equipment have been installed to ac
ulations have been approved by the • it wants to miss the cold weather. •
open for business Monday, October Umatilla county.
comodate a number of students.
❖ Mr. Hodge failed to state •
attorney general.
13. The venture is operated on a “non-
This is the section from Stewart’s
The move was made in order to
• where he would market his •
profit” basis in order that students service station to First and Main care for the large increase of stu
• “crop” but will very likely •
NEW DOCTOR TO
and teachers might enjoy hot noon street corner or the First National dents brought on by the construction
• settle for one lemonade.
•
+ Bank corner.
of the Umatilla Ordnance Depot.
orscs* lunches.
OPEN PRACTICE
HERMISTON DEPOT
ROBBED SATURDAY
OF U.S. MAIL BAGS
Dr. Stewart S. Merrill, physician
and surgeon, recently of Wallowa,
will open a practice in the former
Mrs. N. W. Bloom residence begin
ning next Monday. Dr. Merrill states
that he will do some remodelling and
repainting before that time.
Dr. Merrill is a graduate of the
College of Medical Evangelists of Los
Angeles, California.
REVIVALIST
GEORGE BEDDOW
BURIED TUESDAY
George W. Beddow, 79, pioneer
plumber in this area, passed away
Saturday after a long illness. He had
resided in Umatilla county since 1898,
and was for several yers a farmer
in the Hermiston district.
Funeral service were held Tuesday
from the Bomboy chapel in Pendle
ton with Rev. Ware of Oregon City
officiating. The I.O.O.F. of which he
was a member for 37 years, was in
charge of graveside services.
Surviving are his widow, a son,
George Beddow, Jr., a sister, Mrs.
Maggie O'Connor. Battle Creek.
Mich. and three brothers. Charles
Beddow. Edgewood, la.: John Bed-
dow, Buthben. la., and Frank Bed- ¡
dow. Pendleton.
LICENSE EXAMINER
SCHEDULED HERE
Frank L. Freed is holding a series
of revival meetings at the Pilgrim
Holiness church. Services will con
tinue from October 5 to 19. Every-
: ne is invited to attend.
THREE LOSE LIEE AT HANDS
GUN KILLER
OF
A traveling examiner of operators
and chauffeurs is scheduled to arrive |
in Hermiston Thursday. October 9th.
and will be on duty at the city li- 1
brary between the hours of 10 a. m
and 5 p. m. according to a recent an
nouncement released from the Secre
tary of State's office.
All those wishing permits or li- |
censes to drive cars are asked to get
in touch with the examiner during
these hours.
The Great National Pastime
WORDDS SERIES
(
BASEBALL ©AME)
0)
46%/)
EXPRESS
~tu— * — I
MRS. CORA TOBIN
KENNETH GORSUCH
ANDM. ADAMS SHOT
One chapter in John Sota’s life
would read something like the follow
ing:
John Sota, who claims to be about
16 years of age, but who officers
thinks is several years older, came to
Hermiston about 10 days ago appar
ently seeking work. Somewhat errat
ic of nature but quite friendly, he
soon made several friends on the
streets here. Tuesday, September 23,
he found his way to the Cora Tobin
ranch approximately 3 12 miles west
of this city.
Mrs. Tobin, a kindly person, offer
ed him lodging in spite of the fact
that her own abode was extremely
limited. Mr. Sota spent Tuesday and
Wednesday roaming about the coun
tryside, visiting various farmers,
making an occasional trip to Hermis
ton. Close friends noted that he car
ried a gun at all times, Sota claim
ing that he was an undercover man
and was seeking employment at the
Umatilla Ordnance Depot.
Among others who made the ac
quaintance of Sota, were Mrs. L. T.
Murray, Mrs. Charles McKenzie, H.
V. Metteer, neighbors of Mrs. Tobin,
James Todd, local mail carrier, and
several others. To all he told a very
similar story, namely that he was
seeking employment at the Ordnance
Depot. Officers later checked this
tale but found that no applications
had been made.
|
Thursday morning, after Mrs. To
bin's son, Kenneth Gorsuch, and a
nephew, Marvin Adams, 35, had left
for work, Sota agin began his daily
tour of the countryside shooting at
various articles. According to his
later confession, Sota returned to the
ranch shortly before noon on that
day. Mrs. Tobin, who had gone into
a nearby cellar for some butter, was
followed by the would-be killer. Stat
ing that she knew too much about
him, he deliberately shot her through
the head. Then he covered her body
with boxes and shut the cellar door.
Following this act, the murderer
went to the tent which he had shared
the previous night with Mr. Adams.
He calmly waited there until about
5:30 until Mr. Adams returned from
his work from the farm of Wayne
Mulkins, where he was helping in the
haying. Adams went to the barn lot
to milk the cows, when Sota ap
proached from the rear. After a
short conversation in which Adams
inquired as to the whereabouts of
Mrs. Tobin, Sota committed his sec
ond murder. He shot Adams through
the head as he was leaning against
the cow with his head while milking.
Adams aparently was unaware of the
fact that the murder was carrying
the weapon.
Sota then proceeded to cover Ad-
ams’ body under some alfalfa hay and
calmly awaited the return of his next
victim, Kenneth Gorsuch. The latter
soon appeared on the scene and after
making some inquiry as to the where
about of the others, went to the hog
pen to feed his pigs. Sota walked up
behind him and shot Gorsuch several
times through the head from the rear.
He removed all the money and sever
al papers from Kenneth's body and
returned to the tent. Here he took a
suit of clothing and other personal
belongings.
He placed his loot aboard the Gor-
such car, a ‘29 Model A Ford coach,
and drove to Hermiston. He stopped
I for a short time on the street, going
into Hale’s Confectionery he pur-
chased a box of shells for his gun. He
then started foi Pendleton. Not wish-
ing to remain there, he took the Cold
Spring cutoff road to Kennewick,
j Wash.
He arrived there about midnight
and registered at the Kennewick hotel
| in h r the name of John Johnson. Ap
parently he did not sleep well that
i night, as he spent most of Friday
sleeping in his room. However, in the
afternoon he left his hilling place
and went to a movie and had some
thing to eat. Prior to that time he had
left his car at a used car lot in that
city.
Upon returning to his hotel room,
he was confronted by a large group
of officers. He had no time to put up
a battle and was soon safely in con-
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