PAOTC SIX i
MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MKPFORD, OTiEC'OX, TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1017
AMERICA'S MOST AMAZING MURDER MYSTERY
TUNNEL GUARDS
BELGIAN NATION
ACTUALLY DYING
BY STARVATION
Last Reports Received by the Bel
gian Relief Commission Picture a
Nation Dyinp. in Prison German
U-boat Attacks Our Relief Ships-
Diminish Rations One-Half.
lty L. HARI'KH LEECH.
WASHINGTON, July 24. Holglum
Is actunlly Bturvlng to death starv
ing stubbornly and gallantly, even de
fiantly, but dying.
Last reports received !y tlio Bel
glnn relief commission picture a na
tion dying in prison. The greatest
crime In history. the murder of a na
jion by hunger is now in progrosB.
Dentil by Torture.
Tlio plight of the children of Israel
under the blackest of tho Pharaohs
who ruled in tho Nllo valley was
abounding prosperity compared to the
slow torture of 7,000,000 of human
beings.
Due to Gorman submarine attacks
on the relief ships, the ration now din-,
penned by the relief commission
amounts to one-half tho amount of
food necessary to keep an Idle man
barely ailvo.
Over 2,000,000 riolglans receive
practically no other food.
Prices of native food aro out of
reach. Eggs aro .10 cents apiece and
other things In proportion. .The aver
ngo working man with a family is now
earning loss than $1 per day. His
purchasing powor Is trifling. As a re
sult tho midday moal of men in the
mines, fields and factories consists of
sliced cattle beets.
Jlciilli Ituto Itupldly Mount.
In ono Helgiiin industrial plant the
dentil rntes nniong the workers for the
first three jilSnths of 1917 was throe
and ono-hnlf times the averngo for the
same threo months of prcncdltig years.
Tho rcslstanco'-to sickncHS has been
rut to one-third' normal. Ninety-five
per cent of the workers showed loss of
weight, and 35 per cent lost from 10
to 4 0 pounds ench.
The men die from the simples mal
ady. A severe cold or grippe means
certain death.
"On April 1 there was a general
striko in ono Belgian province. Tho
men niado no demands and had no
grlevonco against tholr employers.
They simply quit hocauso they wcro
too weak to work, s. :n .
In one llclgluD province tho attend
ants at the public, soup kitchens In
creased from 60,000 to 400,000 from
February 1, 1017, to March 31.
White PlMguo Hi (vidliig.
Tuberculosis la spreading rapidly.
In ono town of 30,000 the deaths for
tho first three months of 1017 wore
double tho number In tho samo period
of into.
Great Britain, her colonies and the
allies me still contributing enough
money lo keep the nnnplo from starv
ing, but tlio submarines have mado it
lmpofslblo lo deliver tho food.
Germany is tho only nation In 40(1
years which has refused to be respon
slble for the feeding and lives of peo
ple in conquered territory. Instead,
she began by plundering the Belgians
of most of their grain mid livestock
nud still keeps up n system of fines
liliil extortion.
Intelligent Belgians place tho re
sponsibility squarely on Germany's
submarines, but some of the starving
people are beginning to think they
have been deserted by the allies.
Germany endeavors to emourago
this belief by propaganda.
Nevertheless. Belgium stlll defies
her tyrants. Their "morale" Is un
impaired. Since the German "depor
tations" began last October not one
Belgian town has given up to the Ger
man slave drivers its list of men of
working age. Thousands of the slaves
herded Into cuttle cars by the German
soldiers have laid down their lives or
starved in prison camps rather than
work for their enemy.
RIGHTS TRANSFERABE
NOIITII YAKIMA, Wash., July 21.
Indian rights In free water given by
act of congress for 4 0 acres of each al
lotment, passes to other owners with
the transfer of the 1 1( ! to the land
and, where allotments have been sub
divided, the free water Is to be divid
ed between them III proportion lo
their Irrlgnblo area, according to a
tloclsloli by the Indian department, on
authorisation wlilrli has been pending
for two years. Many thousand of
ocroii In Iho Yakima reservation aro
affected by the ruling, which will
make possible a speedy determination
of what iHiid Is entitled to free water
and the making of nrrangeiiieiits for
jiurchnso of additional water needed.
Gagged by Strange Law, Iowa Citi
zens Leave State to Talk Auout
Murder of Eight County Faces
Bloody Feud Preacher ChatrjJ
With Ax Crime is "Paper De
fendant," Charges Detective Wil
kerson, Central Figure in Dramatic
Circle.
By CHESTER M. WRIGHT.
VILLISCA, Iowa, July 24. Amer
ica's most amazing muiC r has split
this town and county Into two hoslllo
camps, and brought tho imminent
danger of hloudy feud.
Excitement Is running so high to
day two womon have died of shock,
and Vlllisca citizens are traveling to
Nebraska, 100 miles, in special cars.
so they can discuss their sldo of the
case in safety.
I have heard accusations hurled
against state officials, and the .legis
lature charged with conniving at the
passage of a law designed to halt fur
ther investigation into the killing of
eight persons to shield a power in
politics.
1 "Horleii of Ax Murders.
All this turmoil grows from the
most atrbcl'ous of the series of "ax
murders" that have startled, this
country In the past few years Iho
slaughter of Joseph Moore, his wife,
their four children and two children
of a neighbor, Joseph Stilllnger, In
1912.
A traveling minister, Rov. Lyn
George J. Kelly, Is In jail, formally
charged with the ax crime.
But the central figure today 1b a
free-lance dotectlvo, J. N. WUkerson,
who charges Kelly is an Innocent "pa
per dofendunt" whose conviction is
designed to shield tho real criminal.
WUkerson, known to hnlf the com
munity as "Wllk," dashes thru town
in a big touring car, and busiiicsB
stops wlille the townspeople crane
tholr necks to watch.
Ho is tho cause of tho "anti-Wllker-
hoii law," rushed thru tho last legisla
ture In Its closing hours. Under It he
has been barred from public (.peaking
on tho "ax murder' case. Htnco tho
excursions to Nebraska, where 3000
lowans have hnhrd him ill Boyd's the
atre, Omaha.
WUkerson Is shortly to dofy the
Iowa attorney-general by speaking In
Dcs Mollies, state capital, and plans a
campaign for the repeal of tho law.
Spooking (YuhkIc. J
WUkerson, engaged first by friends
of the dead man, then by the county
and later working Independently, !o
gnn his public speaking crusndo after
failure to seenro indictment on his
ovtdenee.
During his speeches WUkerson op
enly used tho name of P. F. Jones In
connection with tho case. Jones Is
bank president, implement dealer, for.
mer assemblyman and for two terms
wns state senator. Ho has been Meth
odist Sunday school superintendent
2ti years.
Joe Moore, ax victim, formerly
worked for Jones. Then ho went Into
business for himself, whereupon Jones
gavo him a banquet.
Jones sued WUkerson for $60,001),
alleging slnnder, but lost his suit. Re
cently WUkerson and three othors
were nrrcstod, charged with conspir
acy to steal documents from the Jones
safe. Wiltkersotf was freed on $IO,OUf,
bonds while big Joe Peterson cried,
"tiinko It $1(10,000, judge."
The present murder charge accuses
Kelly of the murder of "l.ona Stillln
ger and seven othors." This wording
lias aroused Joe Stilllnger to righting
pitch. Lena Stilllnger was 1 1 when
sho mot her death, the oldest of tho
six slain children.
Was It Ax Muiiler.
It Is Wllkersons contention that
tho murder hero was done by the man
who committed the Bluo Inland, III.,
ax murders and that he was paid for
the murder by someone who wanted
Joseph Moore statu.
"Blaekle" Mansfield was at one
tlmo under arrest In Kansas City, but
was released. Two yours after the
Yllllma murder Mansfield's wife and
child were slain with nil ax ut Blue
Island.
Mrs. Mansfield had sworn out a
warrnnt charging "Bbukle" with
abandonment. It was the similarity
of circumstances surrounding the two
murders, WUkerson says, that started
him on his present line of action.
Kveryono connected with the
strange case talks freely. "Come
right In" was Jones gr'eeting. He
seems unroncerned, except for his
wife's falling health. He ridicules
WUkerson calls him a man with a
"typnotlc eye," who has duped his
followers.
"Business was never so good,' he
said by way of emphasising his popu
larity. "And our Sunday school at
tendance as never hotter. It aver
ages 2T5."
Vivo Vear, Nome Timidly.
It Is five years since the tragedy.
hut tho whole country Is In a fever of
excitement. There nro few "neu-
train." "Half and half Is about how
the "Jones side" describes sentiment.
"Ninety per cent are with us," say
WUlkerson follows.
Even tho church peoplo join in the
feudal rivalry and antagonism.
A wide automobile rond has been
worn in front of the little white homo
whore tho murders took place. Once
thero was but a path, but tourists
have come from many points to see
tho place.
"I'll stay to the finish," says WU
kerson, "even It they put mo In pris
on." "It will all come right In the end;
it must," declared Jones.
'I'll spend my Inst dollar if I have
to," says Joe Stlllingor.
Meanwhile tho people watch and
wait, whllo the rich, expanding fields
of growing corn wave their war bride
greeting to familiar home folk and
passing strangers with Impartial
grace. i
GERMAN FLYERS
SEEK AMERICANS
AMERICAN TRAINING CAMP IN
FRANCE, July 2 1. German nerlal
squudiillas apparently hnvo pcrslat
outly sought to locate the American
troops Blnce their arrival here, but
without the slightest success to date.
Counter-sqiiadrillas have been so
watchful that Germans have been un
ablo to approach the encampment and
have boen boaten off each time they
crossed the French line. Ono of these
aerial buttle look placo yesterday ev
ening and ano, tier this morning. Both
woro at points at a considerable ills-
lanco apart and far removed rrom the delegates sent by the council of work
Amorlcan camp. They wcro w itnessed I men's and soldiers' delegates to con
by chapco by American officers who 1 for with the labor parties of entente
wore touring the country In nutonio-1 countries have arrived in England,
biles. About 1,1 airplanes were en-1 They will be the guests of the labor
gaged In the first flght and probably , party for a few days and then will
a dozon In tho latter. proceed to Paris.
"A-l J
DODGE
Eaton (& Cimphell, Seattle
"our experience with
Xerolene has been en
tirety satisfactory."
ZER
lb
The Standard Oil
Endorsed
& PI
y hi ATTEND CONFERENCE
eJ.KWLKERS'ON,
Here nresliown leading figiut.s in
Yilism'et feud, growing out of amaz
ing ax mlU'der mystery, together with
IMistec uschI by lletectlvo Wilkel'son
in advertising migration to Omaha,
el., for moss meeting forbidden in
Iowa, mid sketch showing how mur
ders of eight, persons were committed.
10
SPEED UP CONGRESS
NKW YORK', July 21-Letters lo
the iMlilorsoUM)0 Amuricnn news
papers known (o f'nvor nirre ,sive
prosecution of flic Wur were sent to
day by tlio nalioiml security league,
asking them to iipenl to their rend
ers to write to senntors and ron
irressme niirgin" tlie speeding up of
Hie war program. .
"Hod lupe mid personal jealousy
aro delaying Hie efficient, cundiiol of
the war," (be. letter says in part.
"Two weeks delay lost the (inllipnli
fighl. Kvery hour wasted imperils
our cuiise.''
RUSSIAN DELEGATES
LONDON, July 24, The Russian
FORD
X 4
UnWfnal Auto Co., Spokane
"have been using Zerolena
for several months A-l
quality.'
BUICK
J. P. Lauppe, Sjcramrnro
"We have found Zerolene. to be a M(i
factory lubricant for tiuick Automobile."
MERCER
Mercer Pacific Owl Agc'y,
San Ftancwco ZrolpnfB
baa proven very Mti
factory."
Eza
for Motor Cars
by Leading Car Distributors
ENE
Iw"im the rrconb of their icrvire d
rrtmntj showthftt Zcrolcnc. correct
. rrtnwd from California aiphalt-boM
injur. g,vr prrtrct luhnca
tion lrv Mar, more pow
er, least carbon deposit.
Pfslrtl frmwhrrt. and at our
ten-He sutiocs.
STANDARD Oil COMPANY
Ma.
CALLED BY GEORGE
LOiN'DOX, .Tnly 24. Premier Lloyd
GeorRe has written a letter to William
O'Brien, leader of the independent na
tionalists, expressing regret at the un
willingness of O'Urien to nominate
representatives of his party to the
convention of the Irish party and ask
ing him to recede from his stand. The
convention, says the latter of Mr.
Lloyd-George, has been called in a sin
cere effort to see if an agreement can
not he reached between Irishmen and
happier relations brought about be
tween Ireland and Great Urltain.
"With the object in view," the pre
mier continues, "I know yon are In
ful sympathy and I most earnestly
hope you will respond to this appeal,
an appeal whlcii I understand has
come from many others, to help to
ward securing the success of the con
vention." Mr. O'Urien In (he course of a
lengthy reply, says tho type of con
vention selected defeats tho object in
view with fatal certainty by leaving
the great mass of Irish nationalists
aimost.wholly unrepresented and by
conferring the power of a majority
upon a party of politicians who have
notoriously lost the confidence of the
Irish people a party, moreover,
whose do facto leaders have devoted
all their energies for years to malting
conciliation with our northern follow
connrymcn impossible."
MONEY
Paid for
Second-hand
SUITS
Will pay
Five Dollars
and up for good
second-hand suits.
Will buy odd
coats, hats
and shoes
Phone 467
AUTO TIRES SET
I make ft specialty of auto tire set
ting anil wheel repairing. Also all
kinds of Mackamltlilng and horse
shoeing. At tho old stand, outk
Itivrrstde.
Tom Mefriman
Captain Grover Todd of Company i
is In receipt of a telegram from Col
onel Dentler, commanding army offi
cer of the First district, western de
partment, notifying him to Inform tho
Southern Paclfc that on or before
August 1, 'the army troops which have
een guarding the railroad property In
D oseburg and Winchester, Oregon and
vicinity wif'blc withdrawn.
Company I, Third Oregon Infantry,
which has been In the federal service
for several months, with headquarters
in Med ford, has been guarding the
railroad property at these points, and
Colonel Dentler's order nieans that
with Roseburg and Winchester left
out Captain Todd will have much less
territory to guard, and will thus have
more men to guard' the remaining
tunnels, bridges and other Southern
Pacific property between Roseburg
and the other side of the Slskiyous.
There has been much conjecture as
to whether the war department will
continue Company I in this guard pa
trol service much longer, or If tho
company Is taken away to mobilize
with its regiment in tho near future at
Palo Alto, California, other federal
troops will bo sent hero to talio Com
pany l's place. So far no information
can be learned on this situation.'
WkoleWKeat.M6re,
Nutritious than Bread
KRUMBLES Is the
first wheat food that gives
you all the delicious
Savor of the wheat- a
'Sweetness that grows
richer and richer the
more you chew it.
One Cent a DisK 6S
KrumMes
AJ1WW
Ready to Ea
m iii c? -v
Did You Buy a Liberty Bond?
1XVKSTITXOVIXOXHOKOUI '111,110 WHITK" KIAMONDH.
We'll nllmv you
During the last I n
from 10 per cent
MARTIN J. REDDY
JIAI.ITV FIUST
I'hono One-O. Visitors Always Welcome.
DENN&Y&CO.
Fruit Marketing Agents 1
Specializing in the dis
tribution of northwest
ern boxed fruits.
I M.E. ROOT, Representative
Medford, Phone 294
5 Main Office Chicago, III. Western Office Payette, Idaho
F. II. HoRue, Western Manager,
F
The gross receipts from the about
50 national forests of Oregon, Wash
ington and Alaska, comprising the
North Pacific district of the forest
service, for the fiscal year ending
June' 30, 1917, were 1644,937. 57, ac
cording to a report Just compiled In
the office of the district forester, Geo.
II. Cecil of Portland, who la in Med
ford today. . '
Refunds due to excess payments for
timber or forage were made to the
amount of $8,701.39, leaving the ac
tual receipts for tho year $fi36,176.18,f
which Is noarly $150,000 greater than
tho receipts for the year 1916.
Of this amount $450,000 was de
rived from the sale of national forest
timber In the district and $168,00(J
from grazing permits. Special use
permits brought in $11,000. The re
mainder came from power sites, tim
ber Battlement and timber and grazing
trespass.
The Whitman national forest In
eastern Oregon leads the district -In
the amount of receipts from all sourc
es with a return of $119,533.20 and of
this amount $107,500 was derived
from the sale of timber.
Tho Crater national forest stands
second with a total return of $95,
597.69. Ninety-two thousand dollars
of this came from thto timber salo
business.
KRUMBLES is tho
whole of the wheat with
all of the protein, the
phosphates, the mineral
saltsand bran the things
the decttrs say a!l grow
in? children need.
.").MI on jour 1,111611)' Horn).
years flno Diamonds havo Increased
to 15 per cent per year.