Medford mail tribune., January 12, 1923, Page 1, Image 1

"If,
Mail Tribune
The Veather
Prediction Rain
Yesterday's mavimum 43
Today's minimum 32
Weather Year Ago
Precipitation 05
Maximum 54
llnlmum
.22
OhIIv Seventeenth Year,
rt'eekly Fifty-Second ycur.
MEDFORD, OREGON", FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1923
tfO. 249
MEDFORD
1
CYCLOPS OF
BASTROPTO
HAVETALK
Capt. Skipworth, Idtitified As
Nightrider, Asks for Confer
ence With Officials Mayor
of Mer Rouge' Testifies-
Kelly Harp Clings to Klan
Oath Threatening Letters
. Made Public.
BASTROP, La., Jan. 12. State's at
torneys announced early today that
Captain J. K. Skipworth, exalted Cy
clops of the Morehouse parish Ku Klux
Klan, has requested a conference with
Attorney General Coco and his assist
ants In connection with the hooded
band atrocities in this parish.
Captain Skipworth is said to have
requested the conference in order t'i
go into the full details of the operation
of the Morehouse klan since its organ
ization and at the same time to estab
lish that the operations of the black
hooded band were not undor the su
pervision of the klan.
Assistant Attorney General Guion
confirmed the report that Captain
Skipworth had made overtures to the
attorney general's staff and said that
his request would be granted. No
date was fixed for the conference, it
was said. It was probable it would be
held Immediately.
BASTROP, Lo., .Ian. 12. Robert
T. Dade, mayor of Mer House, today
named Dr. li. M. McKoin, Captain .1.
K. Skipworth, Kelly Harp and Kd
Ivey as members of a Ku Kux band
which held up and disarmed Watt
Daniel, W. C. Andrews and 'Harry
Neelis, Mer House citizens, near the
Village of Galllon, La., several months
" prior to the kidnaping and murder of
Daniel and Thomas F. Richard last
August.
"What was the " .purpose ' of the
trip?" George S. Gulon, assistant at
torney general aBked.
"Wo started up to Investigate a re
port that a negro was running a gam
bling house In which white persons
were permitted to gamble with ne
groes." "Did you find that condition to ex
ist?" "No, the house wns dark." -Bringing
his narrative to the hold
ing up of the three men, Dade con
tinued: "Ncclis, Daniel and Andrews had
stopped their uutomohilc up the road
and were sitting In the ear. Nome of
tile men approached and asked (hem
who they were."
"Were they whipped?"
".No, there was no violence, but
their guns were taken away from
them."
"Was there anything else contem
plated or suggested?" was asked.
"There was some talk of giving
them n whipping, but I said 'fellows,
Lthat will not do. I have known those
Fboys all the time and I cannot stand
for that.' ';
Dade said the men were lectured.
"Who gave them a lecture?"
"Captain Skipworth."
"What kind of a lecture?"
"A moral one on drinking and
gambling."
"Did Kelly have anything to say?"
"Ho spoke his mind. Ho said they
were his friends and he did not want
to see them punished.",
"How wns the party organized to
go on this gambling crusade?"
"I ran into them In front of the
bank In Mer itouge.' They n.sked me
to go with them. They were n three
automobiles."
"Where did you get your hood and
gown ?"
"ISdward Ivy gave it to me. He
used to live in Ilastrop." He had an
extra gown in his car. . There were
some men in the ears I did not know.
Laurie Calhoun was there, I believe." j
"Did they pick up anybody else In
Mer Rouge?"
"Yes, sir. Dr. JleKoln."
"He provided himself with a
mask?"
"Yes. sir."
"All of you were masked?"
(Continued on Page six.)
MOON TO SWING TWIXT EARTH AND
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., .Ian. 12.
Harvard astronomers made arrange
ments today for observations of the
darkening of Venus tomorrow morn
ing when the moon will swing between
that planet and the earth. This oc
culatlou will be visible In most parts
of the country.
San Francisco will see nothing of
Ihe spectacle Vhich will take place
below the horlion there.
Venus and the moon now are al
Harvard Head Firm
In Upholding Stand
On Negro Exclusion
NEW YOIIK, Jan. 12. Pres-
ident Lowell of Harvard unl-
vorsily in a letter to Roscoe
Conk ling Bruce, prominent ne
gro graduate of tho university,
published in tho New York
World today, defends the exclu
sion of negro students from
freshmen dormitories.
Mr! Lowell declares that
while tho negro is. entitled to
the same opportunity for educa
tion as the white man "we do
not owe It to him to force him
into wjiito circlos where they
are not congolial."
51 r. Bruce's recent request
that a room bo reserved in tho
freshman hall for his son who
is preparing to enter Harvard
was denied.
10 KEEP MENIAL
Prussian Territory on Baltic Is
Scene of New Row Ger
man Police Fired Upon
French and British Fleets
En Route Allies Protest.
PARIS, Jan. 12. (By the Asso
ciated Press.) Tho French and Brit
ish governments are preparing to
send warships to Memel, the former
east Prussian territory of the Baltic
Internationalized by the treaty of
Versailles w ith the purpose of main
taining order, in view of tho invasion
by the Lithuanians. Dispatches re
ceived by tho French foreign office
today indicate that the Lithuanian
irrgulars, who crossed the fron
tier earlier in tho week have reach
ed tho outskirts of Memel and ex
changed shots with tho German
guard. .
The large lumber port at Memel
which has been under temporary au
thority of a directorate composed of
Germans since the signing of the
Versailles treaty, has no other, mili
tary protection than a couple of hun
dred French soldiers, part of a bat
talion, sent thnro during liifl peace
negotiations of 1919.
While the Germans predominate
In tho town, the Litunlans are in far,
greater number in the Immediate out
lying districts and tucro arc fears In
French official circles that tho ir
regulars may overwhelm the- local
forco and create a difficult situation.
The French and tho British have
made a diplomatic protest to the
Lithuanian government at Kovno.
The reply was that every effort was
made to prevent tho irregulars from
crossing the frontier.
Latest reports, however. Indicate
that a rather strong force haB not
only succeeded In crossing 'the fron
tier but has reached tho town.
LONDON", .Ian. 12. (By the Asso
ciated Press.) The curious specta
cle of tho French and Germans fight
ing a comon enemy on the frozen
shores of the Baltic is expected from
todav's developments in the topsy-
turvey European situation as a re
sult of the Lithuanian advance on
Memel. The Memel police, compos
ed for the most part of Germans and
Kronen troops, entrenched in the out
skirts, will resist the LItuanlan raid
ers, acordlng to advices received
here.
The British-government has asso
ciated itself with the French in pro
testing to Lithuania against tho ad
vance on Memel and a British cruiser
has been dispatched there.
E
most at their nearest point to the
earth, and Venus is only a fortnight
removed from the period of its great
est brilliancy.
As seen through a telescope, the
eastern sky will show two thin cres
cents In conjunction, that of the
moon nearest the earth. To the un
aided eye Venus will appear to hang
like a bright spot on the moon,
first on the eastern limb of the cres
cent, and as It emerges In contrast
with the darkened limb. i
D UNITE
FROM LITHUANIA
Iowa's Preacher-Hangman Sheriff Now in
Bad as Booze Robber. and Bootlegger
Ur.C.3otih the.
PREACHEC HAK'fjMA
DAUGHTER. OF THE
DES "MOINES. Overwhelmingly defected for Congress, deprived of his pulpit and stared at with
morbid curiosity eveiywhcre he goes because !.e has handed two men. Polk county's foldior-prcachor-sherifT,'
Wiufred E. Robb, will continue to preach "Universal Love" from every pulpit and lecture plat
form that is open to him.
Robb, a wartime chaplain bversoas,and a Democrat, was carried iito office on a high tide of
popular acclaim in the year of the Republican lamWIide. Then the tide tt mcd. It became his duty to
hang Eugene Weeks and Orrie Cross, who murdered an aged grocer, George Fosdick, and terrorized
his motherless daughter, Mary. . '
Robb refused to turn the job over to a deputy, and gave up his pastorate to avoid embarrassing
the congregation. Many of his foimer friends deserted him. He received a crutdiing defeat for Con
gress. But he insists his faith in humanity has not weakened.
On Saturday, Dec. 30, Robb was arrested in' Des Moines, Iowa, charged with the thoft of f 30,000 worth
booze, and also was accused of lie.lllng 70 quarts of liquor to a wealth '. I)93Molnes citizen.
AMERICA TO BE
FRIENDLYTODO
NOTHINGABROAD
Sees No Hope for Early Action,
and Administration to Let
Europe Do Own Thinking
and Settling German Pro
test On Occupation Ignored.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12. Dcvol
opiuonts in tho reparations crisis, In
which further complications looms
with the declaration of Germany that
sho is "not In a position to make ac
tual reparations to thoso powers"
participating in the Ruhr occupation,
found tho American government to
day apparently still without hope of
any Immediate opportunity for help
fulness in tho situation. ,
A course dictated by tho friendliest
sentiments toward Franco as well as
the other allied powers has been and
will continue to be followed.
In the meantime, it is tho admin
istration's purpose, it was snld au
thoritatively, to avoid any action that
might further complicate matters or
lead to noedless misunderstandings.
In this connection it-was reiterated
that there was no immediate inten
tion of recalling Knland W. Bow-i
den, American unofficial observer, In
the reparations commission, despite
agitation In congress for his return
' Holding the lluhr occupation to be
"In contradiction of the treaty of
Versailles and international law,"
the German government in a formal
protest left at tho state department
late yesterday by Dr., Ottor M'ied
foldt. ' The German ambassador de
clared that as long as the alleged vio
lations obtained "Germany is not In
a position to mako actual repara
tions to those powers who have
brought about this state of'affalrs."
The German government, the protest
said, "did not Intend to meet viola
tions with violations nor to reply (o
tho breach of (tho treaty with a with
drawal from ihe treaty."
SEATTLE NOT AS
BAO AS STATED
RKATTLK. Jan. 12. The Klnie
county HXitnrt Jury which ban 1eon in
nnfluinn fur f ho hint nx ufikii tm'fH ti
ff.'! tiny allcfrod virt comlitlonH In He
at t m roiurnoa n report .hup ycHicr
tluy afternoon In which U unn dc
clarod that law nforcomnt eomll
tiona In the rlty "are not worne than
at rprtnirt limps In tho dam!' and thnt
general charge "a Ionic tho lino of
vlre were exaggerated,
. i -
L
BY LADY KILLER
HAS LODGE ALIBI
SEATTLE, Jan. 12. Introduction of
testimony in the trial of Clara Eliza
beth Skarin. churned with thn miminr
of Ferdinand Hochbrunn, wealthy real
estate dealer, was concluded at noon
today and attorneys prepared to begin
their, final arguments to thn Inn- nt
the afternoon session of court.
Attorney Edward Von Tnlinl iif.
long friend of Hochbrunn and accused
by Miss Skarin In direct testimony
yuBiuniuy or oemg an accessory after
tho fact in the slaying: was called nu
a rebuttal wltnoss bv thn utnin tin
denied that he had conspired with the
gin to conceal tho fact of his elleni'
death and asserted that on tho night
of October l.'l whon Miss Skarin
charged she met him. a few hours
after the slaying, he was attending a
lodge meeting. ,
The state luter called John J. Sulli
van of defense counsel, who corrobor
ated Von Tolid'a statoment that he
attended a lodge meeting that night.
The meeting, however, he said, did not
convene until eight o'clock. Mis
Skarin had testified -she met tho at
torney between six and seven o'clock.
Mr. Von Tobel also denied thnt ho
had met Miss Skarin in the Plaza,
San Francisco in February, 1922, as
she testified yesterday.
Miss Skarin recallod to tho stand In
rebuttal, admitted that after tho slay
ing of Hochbrunn which she had tes-
tinea was done In defonso of her
honor, she went to tho bnck porch of
tho house and walked about, scuffling
her shoes to give the Impression that
Hochbrunn was walking about In his
slippers. ,
She said she heard people talking
and went to the back porch to see If
they had heard tho two shots fired
during her scuffle with Hochbrunn.
Kr. Alexander Uock Hohlnson, a
medical diognoHticlan and pathologist,
answered two long hypothetical nuos
tions proiwunded by dofenso attornoys.
SALIC.M. Mass., Jan. 12. Tho city
council voted unanimously lust night
to prohibit all "parades, meetings
and demonstration," on tho part of
the Ku Klux Klan In this city.
ALBANY, (in., Jan. 11. my the
Associated Press I'se of tho mu
nicipal auditorium for a big public
meeting announced by tho llev. Hoy
K. Davis, official spokesman of the
Ku Klux Klan in this section of tho
tate, for Friday night, was denied
by the mayor and council at a called
meeting today.
Luijesie. WeeA'' -
PIONEERS HONOR
MRS1A.BARB0N
90TH BIRTHDAY
Lived 70 Years in Southern
Ore. Banquet and Social
Sessions Miss Allie Han-
ley Toasts C. S. Butler for
Public Gifts.
ASHLAND, Jan. 12. There was a
notable social gathering of southern
Oregon pioneers and their families in
Ashland Thursday In honor of the
OOtlt birthday anniversary of Mrs. M
A. Uarron, tho occasion also , mark
ing the 70th anniversary of tha guest
of honor's residence In this commit
nlty, as well as a formal expression
of appreciation on tho part of the
pioneer sons and daughters of tha re'
cent gift to them by Mr. Cl. H. Butler
of the Pioneer t'uhln in Lithia Park
Tho cabin and tho fine -new commu
nity clubhouse adjoining were both
thrown open for the roeeption and
entertainment of the guests who
came from many parts of Jackson
county. At twelve o'clock tho com
pany were served with a splendid
banquet In the main assembly room
of tho clubhouse. The many guests
ctitue loaded with bounteotiH baskets
of every delicacy and bad been ar
ranged and were served by a commit
tee of Ashland ladies to whom much
of tho credit is due for the success
ot tho entire program of the day. At
tho handsomely appointed and beau
tifully decorated tables a program of
appropriate tousts was given, F. 1).
Wugncr presiding. Mr. Irving E, Vln
lag responded to "Our Pioneer
Mothers" and paid a fitting and most
eloquent tribute to pioneer moth-ers
In general and to tho guest ot honor
In particular. A most beautiful floral
tribute to Mrs. Uarron was presented
by Mrs. Alice Pell, following which
.Miss Allie Ilanlcy of Medford toasted
Mr. Ilutlcr and praised him for his
several public gifts and especially
that or the pioneer cabin. Other pre
sentations Included a mammoth flve
story birthday cake, five stories high
and baked In sections by fvo differ
ent ladles of Ashland. It looked
almost us big ns .Mt. Ashland and was
decorated by Mrs. A. II. Itussell, SI
years of age, and a pioneer of 1852,
who happily described . TO ycjirs of
Intimate, ucaualntance and friendship
with Mrs. Itarron. Mrs. I. D. Apple
gate, one of Ashland's first school
teachers, brought a round of applause
In presenting a "vanity case" to thi
ninety-year young guest of honor.
Mrs. Uarron devlerously carved the
love cake and each of the nearly a
hundred guests were served with n
portion. Music and social Intercourse
served to pass away tho remainder of
a most delightful day, which will go
down among the social annals of the
pioneers as long to lie remembered.
Those present Included Mrs. Sf. A.
Uarron, Mrs. Mary Dunn, Mrs. A. II.
(Continued on Page, Five)
Seed Sending Graft
In Congress Ends
After This Year
WASHINGTON', Jan. 12.
l'roo seeds today received a fi
nal death blow in the sonate
and tho llttlo packets for tho
garden and flower beds, mailed
annually by members of con
gress to their constituents will
stop nftor next year.
On a point of order by Speak
er Lodge, the senato rejected
an amendment to the agricul
tural appropriation bill by Sen
ator Hoflln, democrat, Ala
bama, to provide $300,000 for
continuation of the fcee soed
distribution. Tho Amendment
recently was heaton In the
house.
FLEET
VOLSTEAD
Thousands of Cases of Liquor
Are Landed As Customers.
Flock to Bargains Big
Supply for Eastern Cities
Wealthy Ring Backs Viola
tions Dry Aides Helpless-
HIGHLANDS, N. J., Jan. 12 (Hy
tho Associated Press) Tho great
rum fleet of 22 vessels which bobbed
up yosturduy - off Sand,v Hook whllo
was being re-organized, was still
standing off the Ambrose channel
lightship today, ready for business as
usual.
While prohibition forces wero tuk
lug to New York four small bouts
captured lust night, while attempting
to land liquor from tho mother ships,
tho rest - of the welcoming fleet of
fifty were preparing to race back and
forth botween tho rum carriers und
shore.
Although observers ushore esti
mated that thousands of cases had
been landed Inst night, tho rum fleet
presumably hailing from tho Ba
hamas, had a vast stock still to dis
pose of to bidders, putting out from
this resort and other , places along
the coast. .Liquor landed last night
was reported to have been sent by
motor truck to New York, Philadel
phia, Washington and other cities.
Whiskey, gin, champagne and wine
all wero offered for sale, and keen
competition has developed among the
skippers of the rum ships.
As the bootlegger runs alongside
In his power boat, hu scans signs
hung over tho sides of the mother
ships and decides from which ho will
purchase. Tho signs inform tho bot
tle fisherman that Scotch whiskey of
such and such a brund may bo hud
at $'15 to $00 a case. Ityo was quoted
at $H5.
Champagne was higher. Tho sea
began to take on. an appearance of a
burgain counter.
Thn vlultimr ft,. till,, ftlnu 1 1, n flno-u
of many nations and tho crews nro of!
all races. Tho vessels are loaded to
the gunwales with liquor.
"I saw ftOOO enses in one pile on
one boot," declared a grcyhnlrcd run
ner who brought his bout safely pst
the coast guard and revonua craft
lust night. "Vou can get anything
you want. Cheap, too."
llootlegging circles here dlspluy no
fear, despite the capturo of four of
their best boats last night. Thous
ands of cases moved out of the town
nil night by motor trin-k and pussen
ger cur. The last left this morning
In five big motor vans 4000 cases.
One man who escancd canttlrn last
nli.li w 4ii,t tin, r nuhtiNi wna Piowlv!
today to take another of his boats
out to the rum fleet.
"What do I care for the boat last
night," he said laughing. "Tho pool
will pny me fusurunce for both boat
und cargo."
He refused to give details ot the
pool, admitting, however, that there
was a powerful and wealthy runners'
1
DAY BY DAY CURE OF DR. CPUE
FAILS IN EVERY WAY FOR BELIEVER
PITTSBURG, 'Jan. 12. Kmllo
Coule's rhythmic "day by day" auto
suggestion cure, fulled In every way
so far as Harry Conway Is concern
ed. Conway was found doad In his
room. Penciled In large lettors on a
sheet of paper at tho foot of his bod
was:
FRANCE TO
SEIZE TILL
DEBT
If Gold From Ruhr Light, Army
Goes On Germans Move
Funds, French Rejoice, and
British Public Gives. Sup
portNo Outbreaks in Oc
cupied Zone. ,
PARIS, Jan. 12. (Hy the Associ
ated Press.) France at last has a grip
on tho "productive guarantees" alio
has sought from Germany, and has
served notlco, through her premier,
she Is prepared to extend her holdings
if her economic occupation of Essen
does not yield satisfactory results. It
was understood bore today, In fact,'
that another Ruhr zone would be sub
jected to "Invisible occupation"
within three days.
'Premier Poincare, in his statcmont
in the chamber of deputies yesterday
warned the nations not to expect tho
opening of the Rhur treasure house
would be followed immediately by a
flood of gold. He asserted it prob
ably would be some time before tho
control commission's efforts would bo
notlcen"hly productive.
The Ruhr banks, LcMatln says,
have followed the example of the coal
syndicate by romovlng their securities
and most of their deposits. It is re
ported that most of these evasions
have been foreseen and that measures '
have been prepared which will pucisil
such acta and frustrate tho Germans'
purposes, "
If tho nowspapers reflect public
opinion yestordayfcwas undoubtedly ro
Wrto4.W.. TV letter; day -by tho. .
majority of FrencTTnten. No' misgiv
ings for France's stop was noticeable,
except among the radical critics of tho
governmont who do not believe that
the firm policy .of M. Poincaro can
have beneficial results. '
Tho stock markets are nowhoro af
foctod unfavorably ' and the franc
shows a tendency to Increase In value.
LONDON, Jan. 12. (By the Associ
ated PreBs.) An unmistakable feel
ing of relief that the first 24 hours of
France's Ruhr adventure had passed
without a breach of tho peace was evl
dont here today. Although the French,
movomont continues to be widely con
demned nnd deplored, there Is no gen
eral doHlro- to see Great Britain's ally
involved in conditions which would
seriously add to her burdens. This
view was reflected In somo of the com
ments in the morning- newspapers
which mention with approval tho con
ciliatory tono of General DeGoutte's
proclamation to the Ruhr valley In
habitants. The newspapers also en
dorse such Indication of British good
will to France as this government's
decision to nllow tho French troops to
cro3s tho British Rhine zone.
Although a majority of the pross op
poses , any co-operation by Great
Britain In the Ruhr It cannot' be ig
nored that there exists In Great Bri
tain a strong anti-German sentiment
and it is unquestionable there would
be considerable If secret popular
satisfaction should France's conten
tion that German is bluffing about
her Inability to pay be proved true by
the outcome of ovents.
This attitude, which frequently finds
expression In conversations among
Kngllshman today has the outspoken
support of tho Morning Post and tho
Dally Mall which wish tho French suc
cess and reiterate an uncompromising
distrust of the Germans.
organization hero and that all of Its
members were protected against loss.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12. An Im
mediate report was demanded by pro
hibition officials here front the New
Jersey headquarters concerning dis
patches .printed in this morning's
papers describing the extensive bind
ing of liquor smuggled in the; 5'ew
Jersey coast. . t 1
"Day by day. In every way I'm
getting better nnd hotter."
On a tnblo was a letter from Con
way's mothor ut Jumostown, Pa. It
snld: ' .
"I am 'sending you a now mothod
ot healing. Say It ten tlnies a day or
as often ns you wish." '
Conway for the last two years had
stomach trouble.