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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 16, 1921)
Me The Weather Maximum yesterday 60 Minimum today 30 DFORD Predictions Fair. Delly Sixteenth Tear. Weekly Fifty-First Year. MEDFORD, OKEGOX, SATURDAY, APlilL lii, 1921 NO. 22 SCORES KILLED INURED STORM Tornado Sweeps Southern States From Texas to Coast, While 4 Record-Breaking Blizzards Cause Death, Suffering and De struction in Middle West Cascualty Lists Steadily Mount ing Iowa and Nebraska Towns Snow Bound With Train and Wire Service Paralyzed Arkansas Completely Wiped LI'iTLE ROCK, Ark.. April 10. More than fifty persons were killed and hundreds injured in the tornado which swept southeast Arkansas late yesterday according to dispatches re ceived here. ' . ; . .auaaiJUl LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 10 Tor nado reports receivod by the Arkansas Gazotto up to an early hour this morn ing give a total of thirty-nine persons dead as a result of the storm in south western Arkansas and Cass county, lexas, last night. Twenty-six of these wore said to be whites and number of them were unidentified. DALLAS, Texas, April 16. At least seven lives were lost in northeastern Texas late yesterday, in a tornado, which, after sweeping sections of Smith, Wood, Gregg, Cass and Uowle counties, passed into Miller and Hempstead counties, Arkansas, where more than a score of persons were re ported killed. Scores of persons were reported Injured in the affected area of Texas. Six of the Texas fatalities were at Avinger, Cass county and one at Atlanta. LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 10. A rapidly mounting death list that may exceed fifty, dozens of persons Injured and property damage as yet unestl mated are results of a tornado that cut a wldo swath across parts of Miller and Hempstead counties, Arkansas and Cass county, Texas. Reports coming into Little Rock from the storm' area augmented rather than diminished the extent of the damage and because of paralyzed wire communication officials were of the opinion that several days might elapse before the full extent of the destruc tion Is definitely known. Apparently the heaviest loss of life and property was caused in the two Arkansas counties. In the rural sec tions of upper Miller county, near Tex arkana, eleven persons are known to have been killed and a large number injured. Near Hope, in Hempstead county, press dispatches stated that from 15 to . 20 persons were killed and scores in jured by the storm, which swept the entire length of the county. The storm approached within a few miles of the town, according to reports here. Prescott is another town in Hemp stead county that may have been struck by the storm. A brief message received late last night said there were several bodies there, but It waB not known just where the fatalities oc currcd. . Wires Are Down CHICAGO, April 16. Telegraphic communication In the west and south ern sections of the country are prae- tically paralyzed today, according to reports received by telegraph compan ies here this morning. The reports show there was no com munication whatever between Chicago and Omaha and that the wires are in bad condition all along the line reach ing from Denver southeastward and including Dallas, Texas; Little Rock, Ark.; Shreveport, La.; Memphis, New Orleans, St. Louis, Nashville, Chatta nooga, nirmliiRham and Cincinnati. The weather bureau reported the storm to be moving southeastward. Chicagoans awoke thjs morning to face a gale of high velocity, accompan ied hy a cold driving rain. Small dam age is reported this far north. Worst Storm of Winter DENVER, Colo., April 16. The GETS A NOTE FROM WASHINGTON. April 16. Run ning through his mall today. Chair man Kahn of the house military com mittee, swung back suddenly In his rhair and the cenial smile, character istic of the Californlan, got away from him. "The nerve of the vagabond." shouted the chairman as his office force looked up in amazement. From a big envelope, apparently addressed by an American and mailed In Germany, brought to Mr. Kahn a Clipping from a German newspaper. HUNDREDS ARE UNPRECEDENTED I Many Towns in Texas and Out, Rocky Mountain regions today were slowly recovering from the effects of the worst storm of the winter, which yesterday covered the district with a snow covering ranging from 11 to 14 inches, blockaded railroads and para lyzed wire communication in most di rections from Denver. Train service to the south, annulled last night, was expected to be resumed today. Wire service, however, was not expected to return to normal Im mediately because of t ho largo number of poles torn down by the wind and weight of the snow. Some damage to livestock was antic ipated when the outlying districts can be communicated with. Temperatures below freezing occurred last night In most parts of the state. DUDUQUE, la., April 16. Dubuque is snowbound and struggling to-extrl cate Itself from the effects of one of the most severe blizzards experienced in this section of the country at this time of year for almost a decade. Seven inches of snow fell during the night. CHICAGO, April 16. As the- storm wore on today the rain turned into snow, still accompanied by a high wind. One automobillst was killed when his machine skidded on the slip pery pavement and crashed into anoth er automobile. 18 Head In Texas TEXARKANA, Texas, April 16. With eighteen known dead, three score or more injured, ten probably fatally in tho terrific storm which girdled Miller county late yesterday and swept to the north and east, re ported casualties early today were re garded as still incomplete. Telephonic communication with the devastated territory is entirely cut off; in instances the wires forming im passable entanglements across the roads, littered with uprooted trunks of trees and wreckage. DES MOINES, la., April 16. All April records were broken by the snowstorm which began last night and is sweeping over the entire state of Iowa today. Towns Wiped Out HATTIESBURG, Miss., April 16. One woman was killed and at least twelve persons were injured in a tor nado which struck Sontag, 16 miles east of Brookhaven, today. Ten houses were wrecked. BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 16. Re ports filtering into Birmingham over badly crippled lines of communication indicate that the town of Ralph, Tus caloosa county, was almost completely wiped out by a cyclone early today and that Suliigent, Lamar county, suf fered a like fate. In these reports, which lack confirmation, the number of injured runs into the scores. KENOSHA, Wis., April 16. This city was hit by the worst storm since 1881 last night with snow twelve Inches deep on the level this morning and drifted in many places to more than ten feet. Traffic was paralyzed in the city. BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 16. Ten persons were killed, more than 100 injured and scores of homes wrecked in a series of storms which were widespread over northern Ala bama today. Seven deaths were re- (Contjnued on page six.) SLACKER BERGDOLL containing an account of the trial of two Americans who had attempted to kidnap Grover Cleveland Bergdoll, tile Philadelphia draft evader. "Its from BerKdoll or I'm a Dutch man," Mr. Kahn said, and then the Joke of the thing caused him to laugh. "But It simply goes to show, he added, "that we ought to find out how he managed to escape and that he ought to be brought bark to this country and pill in Jail where he belongs." AND m Babe Ruth Whangs Out His First Home Run of the Season NEW YORK, April 16. Babe Ruth made his first home run of the season today. The long clout came in the sixth inning, when he, drove the ball ovor the fence in the New York- Philadelphia game at tho Polo grounds. Harris was pitching for the Athletics. Ruth was given a big ovation. New York won 11 to 5. 'I BY SENTENCE Former Bank Presdent Now Witness in Grants Pass, Keeps Up Cheerful Demea nor Shows Interest in Owen Jury Is Selected. His bend shaven i-Ji-an in accord ance with stato prison rules, W. II. Johnson, former cashier of the de funct Dank of Jacksonville, held as a witness in the civil notion of the Ktnin nntirti" hnnrA l.v M Tti-nm. well against Ben M. Collins, Grnnts i-ass auio aeaior, cnimeo in me Jose phine county jail Friday afternoon. A ten-year sentence in tho penitentiary lias not changed the philosophical -.,,., linnb hnml Un fu n tinn i-ont 1 v as light hearted ns a high school boy. jonnsun was Bcuieu ni a. inuiu 111 mi: '.Tosophlno county Jail with two boys, "held for minor offenses, and ...an Americanized Chinamnn when the in- tervlower called. 'How are you?" he was asked. "Fine I Never felt better and had les.iV" was tho brisk reply, as he walked to tho iron door. "Id thorp ntivthlniF vou want.' fur ther queried the interviewer. "I want my three meals that I nm entitled to. I only get two In here. I'm entitled to three. If they aro o-nlnir to make me work, 1 want my throe meals a day. I'm going to ask Roberts about It when I sec nun. i r........ aim nut nml Ktomilnir at tho best hotels? 1 told them ho would talk Charlie out of something, and 1 irhi Hp's a slick one when it comes to anything like that. It would tickle mo If he would walK away irora r-Hni-ilp. It surmised mc when they got him as far as Medford." John son was apparently higmy lmorcsicu in tho court proceedings jnvuivuiK Owen. Tt,nUnn wn hrnucht into court, as a witness against Ben Collins, in the civil action, ana ins entrance nuuti ed considerable attention from the spectators. Ho took a Beat St the counsel table for tho plaintiff, and sharpening a lead pencil commenced to figure, going through a bundle of old chocks, to be used as exhibits In the case. Mrs. Johnson camo from jncKsor.- ,.in in sea her husband, and :icin several conversations with him. Johnson was told that menus iit talking of preparing a petition to.- his release from the state prison. "That's all right, oui wny man '.. inhnnon. "After they gel a man In Jail, they want to gel him out, and tnars nara o ao. cninnti.,n nf n iin-v in the civil ac tion In which Ben M. Collins in de fendant and the state nans iioura plaintiff was begun before Judge F. M Calkins Friday afternoon at Grants Pass. The first three Jurors examined had lived in Josephine county for ovor 20 years. The de fense was represented by Attorneys Ous Newbury of Medford and Jesse Johnson of Orants Pass, and the plaintiff by Attorney Gcorgo M. Itob erts of this city. Tho civil suit Is an outgrowth of the failure of tho Bank of Jackson ville for the collection of two promis sory notes; one for 1265, dated April 5. mi 5, and for tho collection of a second promissory note dated Febru ary 21, 1919. and an alleced ovor- '.I....4- n C11?Qfln n tntn of 12262. SO. Tho entire afternoon session was devoted to the securlnB or a jury, mc rhief query being if the Juror would give the same credence to the testi mony of Johnson as any other wit ness. DAVE SHADE NEARLY PORTLAND, Ore., April 16. Dave Shade, California welterweight, won a ten round decision from Harry Schu man, Denver, here last night. Shade had Schuman groggy on many occa slons. The California lad floored Schu man with a right cross In the third round, JOHNSON DOWN HEARTED EMERGENCY TARIFF BIIL 13 PASSED House Puts Through Tempo rary Tariff Measure and Adjourns Until Monday Prompt Action by Senate Is Expected ; Mondell Says Sales Tax Bill Hopeless. WASHINGTON, April 16. Voic ing his opposition to a sales tax, Rep roseiUatlve Mondell of Wyoming, the republican leader, predicted today that no lnw taxing sales would be on acted at this session of congress. WASHINGTON, April 16. With tho combined emergency tariff and enll-dmnpiiig bill put through, the house was in adjournment until Mon day to permit tho selection of minor ity committee members, particularly those on the immigration committee before tho immigration restriction bill is reported out. When Representa tive .Mondell, Wyoming, republican lender, proposed yesterday that the house meet today to receive a report from tho immigration committee, Representative Garrett, Tennessee acting democratic loader, objected because tho minority members of tho committee had not been selected and asked that the report be delayed. An agreement was then reached to adjourn until Monday. 15 Itamocriits Rmik Away Passed In tho house yesterday by a vote of 62 9 to 112, only eight re publicans and 15 democrats break lng away from the party alignment on the measure, the Young emer gency tariff and anti-dumping bill now goos to tho senate with republi can leaders hopeful of its passage there next week. Action on the measure in the house came at the end of a session enlivened by demo cratlc protests that the republicans In standing for the passage of the bill precisely in the form put through at the last session, were bowing to the "dictation of the senate," tho minor ity criticism followed a flat declara tion by Chairman Fordney of the ways and means committee that the senate would accept no amendments. With the house in adjournment the senate still had before it today the Colombian treaty with republican opponents of rntiflcaton preparng to contnue ther attack. Senators Poin dexter, Washngton, and Kenyon, Iowa, were prepared to speak on the pact. Labor Hoard Men anted WASHINGTON, April 111. The three vancancles on the railroad la bor board- were filled today by Pres ident Harding by the nomination of Walter L. McMenlmcn of Massachus etts, deputy president of the Brother hood of Railway Trainmen, to repre sent the labor group; Samuel Hlg gins of New York, former general manager of the New York, New Ha ven and Hartford railway, to repre sent the management group, and Ben W. Hooper, former governor of Tennessee, to represent the public group. , INEW YORK, April 16. Dr. Fred erick Davis, commissioner of concil iation of the department of labor has been directed to follow wage negotia tions between the American Ship Owners' association and the Marine Engineers' Beneficial association to prevent a further breach, It was learned today. WASHINGTON, April 16. To pre vent the drainage of naval reserve oil lands hy drilling on the outskirts of the reserves, Secrolary Dnnby has de cided to lease drilling rights inside the reserves over a small area to private conccins he announced to day. K. 1. Tcwis Selected WASHINGTON. April 16. K. I Lewis of Indianapolis, chairman of slon, Is understood to have been se lected by President Harding for one of the vacancies on tho Jnter-state commerce commislson. Harvey Confirmed WASHINGTON', April 16. Nom inations of George Harvey of New York to be ambassador to Great Britain and Myron T. Herrlck of Ohio, to he ambassador to France, were confirmed today hy the senate. The vote on confirmation of Col onel Harvey's nomination ws 4 7 to 20, it was announced. Sitka, Alaska, was settled by Rus sinus In 17K0, White Man Wounded By Negro; Citizens Prepare Rope Party SI'ltlXGFlEI.I). Mo., April 16. Clifford Elinor, a negro, was shot and instantly killed in a downtown street hero' this morning and an unidentified white man finally wounded by a stray bullet. I.ee Harold, a ne gro, was iniiuendiately arrested and placed In the county jail. Mob violence is feared. CHILD ABOVE I Judge Ben Lindsey Declares He Prefers Sentence to Vio lation of Confidence, But Asks for Mercy From Court Decision Next Week. DENVER, Colo.. April 1 Attorneys for Judge Hen 11. Mndsoy of the Juven ile court today were granted three days tinio in which to fllo a motion asking suspension of a contempt of court sontenco imposed on Judge Lindsey in 1915. . The extension fol lowed an oral statement to tho court by Judge Lindsey. "I don't want tho court to think," said Judge Lludsoy in his oral state ment In court In his behalf, "that I object to execution of this Judgment unless some good logul reason is heard In this case. Hut I do ask that I bo shown tho same consideration that has frequently been shown In this court In many criminal cases: That sentonco be suspended or that the fine bo re mitted. "In view of tho technicalities In tho caso I think the court could afford to err on the side of mercy. Tho opinion of the supreme court and I want It understood that I respect the Judges of that court and intend no disrespect for them now decided four to threo in affirming the lower court's decision. In Michigan, tho supreme court has held that it would be a crime to com pel dlvulgence of confidences of chll dren from juvonllo judges. "I want to say while I have bcon given tho privilege of making a state ment that I have never said I would not submit to an execution issued by this court. So that thore may be no misunderstanding I wish to repeat what I said was that I would rather take tho consoquoncos of any penalty than violate' tho confidence of any child. And I -hope that 1 shall not be deemed In further contempt of thlB court If I say hero that In tho future as In tho paBt tho confidence of any child reposed In mo shall contluuo to remain inviolate" The Judge told of the advantages of keeping such confidences which he said had frequently resulted. He said that he had been aided in capturing criminals through the confi dences of children. Not long ago, he said, a boy told him of how he had been forced to rob a 'bank. "Through that confidence and thru keeping it I was enabled to locate the serious offenders in the case," said the Judge. In concluding Judge Lindsey said: "If word goes out from UiIb court that confidences of children nro no longer safe with me then I might as well give up my work. And while I respect the law in this case I think there Is a higher law and I ask that tho fino bo remittod or the sentonce suspended." The court granted the request of Judge Lindscy's attorneys that they be allowed to flic a formal motion in line with tho Judge's request that remit tance of sentence be allowed. The final disposition of tho case Is expected next Saturday. S. GOMPERS JOINS NEW YORK, April 16. Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, and Mrs. Ger trude Gleaves Nouscholer, whoso en gagement was announced last night, were married here today in a hotel. Tho ceremony was performed by Supreme Court .lustlco Robert F. Wagner. Only a few close personal friends of the bride and bridegroom were In attendance. These were guests at a bridal breakfast imme diately afler'lhe ceremony. CONFIDENCE OF CQUR POIHIER CLAIMS I. MAJOR CR0NKH11 AP ROSENBLUTH TOLD HIM TO Soldier Accused of Slaying Superior Officer at Camp Lewis Makes Sensational Confession Declares Captain Rosen bluth Planned Murder Told Defendant Where to Go, When and Where to Shoot and Plot Was Carried Out in Every Detail Tacoma Authorities Puzzled by Case Uncertain How to Proceed. TACOMA, April 16. Roland I. Po thler, charged with slaying Major Alexander Cronkhlte at Camp Lewis in October, 11118, confessed to federal authorities that ho was ordered by his superior officer, Captain Robert llosenhlulh, to bring out a loaded gun and "get Cronkhlte,' it was an nounced today by Prosecutor .1. W. Seidell, who disclosod five alleged confessions made by Pothler. "1 Joined Major C'ronkhito on the maneuver grounds at Camp Lewis," the confession of Pothler, made in Jail at Providence, It. I. on March 24 last, reads, "and when about two feet behind him I londed my revolver with three shells. I fired ono shot into the open field and as the major was turning around In my diret'tion I fired my second shut at the major, hitting him in tho right breast. A complete description of all tho incidents lending up to the shooting aro given 111 tho confession, Mr. Kel den said. After explaining that Capalin llii- senliluth first approached him four or five days before tho shooting, tho confession states: "Kill MnJor Cronkhlte." "On the next day or the nlKlit there after, I again met Captain Hosenbtulh and he asked mo If 1 was going out with tho school of roeonnaisanco. and I said that I had heard nothing about it. Ho told nio It wns for all the non commissioned officers and that he didn't seo uny renson why 1 should not go. "I said 'if that is so, I guess I nm included with them.' He then asked mo if I remembered what ho said to m the other niKht about filing a pistol. 1 answered 'yes.' He then asked mo If I had any Idea what It wns for and I answered 'no.' llo then said, 'I -want to Ret Major Cronkhlte.' I nsked him whnt he meant, and he said 'I want to kill him.' "I nsked hhn what his reasons were for wnntlng me to kill the major and ho said 'because wo want to get him out nf the way.' " The confession thon stntes, as given out by Mr. Selden, that lEosenbluth told Pothler precisely what ho was to do and promised him full protection no mnttcr what might arise. Chooso Place for Crime. "Rosonbluth then said," the con fession In the hands of the prose cutor recites, "that ho had looked over tho maps and had found a good location for the criino. Ho said whon we got to tho right placo, ho would toll me. "I asked him whero ho wanted mo to shoot Cronkhlte, and bo said 'of courso you will bo standing on his light side nnd It won't bo a bad Idea to got him about horc' pointing to a spot oven with hta heart. "I nsked Itoscnbluth what I was to do after I had shot Cronkhlto, and 'ho said 'jou never mind. I will be somewhere around nnd when I see him fall, 1 will run up nnd grab him. Then I will yell for a doctor and got him down there nnd wo will go about It Just as If he shot himself. If there Is any questions asked 1 will tell them he shot hlmsolf accidentally.' "I was to say nothing itusenbluth told mc. Plan Works Perfectly. "Everything happened as sched uled, tho confession snys, and Major Cronkhito was shot In the right breast as ho stood on the mnneuver grounds. After tho shooting, Pothler describes tho scene as follows: "As Cronkhito foil T heard another shot from behind whero I was stand ing, nnd Captain Rosonbluth enme rushing upon tho scene. He picked up Cronkhito and dragged his body so that It lay In a position parallel with tho road. Rosonbluth then drew his pistol from its holster, tho flap of wJileb wns unbuttoned, nnd shot a nolo through a tobacco can nnd said: 'Do not forget about this being tnrgct practice and that the mnjnr shot him self accidentally. If any questions aro DANIELS, MOVIE STAR, 10 DAY JAIL SENTENCE FOR SPEEDING SANTA ANA, Cal., April IS Bobo Daniels, Los Angeles motion plcturo actress, who last night entered tho Orange county Jail hero to begin serving a ten-day sentence for speed ing, may bo wasting her titno so far ns it npplies on her sontenco, It de veloped today. The district attorney and tho sher iff pointed out there woro no commit ment papers in Miss Dnnlels case, ns eho had appealed from the sentence imposed in the township justice court nnd her ease was now in the hnnds of the superior court. HE KILLED E BECAUSE asked about this, let mo do the talk ing and you keep still. , Instructions Followed. "Captain Kosenbluth then lookod ovor Major Cronkhlte and said 'I ' think ho is dead.' I later wont before -tho board of Inquiry and testified tho -way I was told to do by Rosenbluth. Proscutor Selden said ho has five separate statements mndo by Pothler and turnod over to him by federal au thorities. Theso vary in somo details ho said. f ; Still 111 llni-k. The board of Inquiry at Camp Low is. which Investigated tho death of Major Cronkhlte, decided that he was killed by a bullet from his own pistol. The testimony was that ho was shoot ing at a tobacco can, which Pothler, In his confession, says was hit by a bullet from Uoscnhluth's gun. - No persons wero present at tho tlmo 1'othier's statements declare, except the three men. Pothior and Rosen bluth who aro now charged with mur- ler by federal authorities, have been turned over to Mr. Seldon for prosecu tion, but ho has not yet filed Btate charges ngainst thorn. "Despite tho alleged confessions. I am still somewhat In tho dark," Mr; Selden said today, "and I do not know how to procoed." The federal charges will have to lio dropped because It was found that tho spot upon which Major Cronkhlte died had not been deeded to tho Unit- was still, under stato authority. Mr. Solden snld that ' the -confessions woro In tho form of sworn state1 inents. "Thoro Is no hint of a mo tive In tho confessions ns to why Ros enbluth should have desired tho death of Cronkhito," ho said. ; "Pothler nlso gives as his only rea son for killing Cronkhito that ho was obeying tho order of a commanding offlcor. This to my mind is a weak point, nnd it should bo elearod up beforo stato charges aro filed." MAN ARRESTED FOR I RAISING $1 BILLS SPOKANE, April 16. George M. Martin, who served a term In the state penitentiary following his conviction; on a chargo of robbing the Spokana State bank of this city in 1914, was to be given a hearing before a , United Slates commissioner here today on a charge of violating United States cur rency inws. Martin was arrested here last night by secret Bervlce officers, in posses sion, they Bald, of equipment for rais ing $1 bills to $10. They declared h told thorn that he had made the equip ment for another man. . PRESIDENT DECLINES ABERDEEN. Wash., April 10. President Harding will not accept the) Invitation of Pacific Northwest edi tors to attend their meeting at Mount Rainier this coming summer, accord ing to a special dispatch to the World today from its Washington cones, pondent, Tho president said he would bo unable to get that tar awar from Washington by reason of .the extra session of congress, which ho thinks will last throughout the sum mer and well up to tho time for the convening of tho regular session. Ha expressed his regret. - 1 Upon learning of this. Miss Daniels instructd her attorney to dismiss her appeal and obtain commitment papers from tho Justice court as quickly as possible. Tho district attorney and ' Sheriff said that it Justlco Cox, who Imposed sentence wns agreeable, they had no objection to Miss Daniels' service of sentence running from tho time sha entered tho Jail at 11 o'clock last night. Moanttlmo, they declared, . Mlsa Daniels, who remained In Jail, wna "morely a guest nf Orange county," f