Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, February 21, 1924, Image 1

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Medford mail tribune., February 21, 1924, Page 1, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextO.tvolty Ubvr jp ri'nTThTr The Weather Prediction Occasional rains Maximum yestertluy 53 Minimum today 31.5 Weather Year Ago Maximum 70 Minimum 29.5 1CI Daily Eighteenth Tear. Weekly Fifty-Third Year. MEDFORD, OREGON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1924 NO. 284 Mesford Mai BUNE CHARGE ATTY. GEN1 BOUGHT OIL STOCKS Senate Oil Committee Is Prob ing Report That Daugherty Traded in Sinclair Oil Move to Oust Atty. Genl. Grows Stronger President Keeps Own Counsel. WASHINGTON, Feb. 21. (By the Associated Press) A report that At torney General Daugherty tins bought and sold Sinclair oil stock la under investigation by the senate oil com mittee. Such a report was submitted by a special investigator and was laid be fore the committee in executive, ses sion. A check-up of brokers' books to establish 'whether it is trite is in progress. .Senator Wheeler, democrat, - Mon tana, author of the resolution proposing- an Investigation of Mr. Daugh- erty's administration, said today that he understood information indicating the attorney general bad dealt in Sin clair stock had been laid before the president. 'Information came to mo through a special Investigator,' said Senator Wheeler, "indicating that Mr. Daugh erty had dealt in Sinclair oil stocks, I and I understand thut these facts were laid before the president." it jiow can be disclosed that this information formed the subject mat tor of last Sunday's conference be- tween Chairman Lenroot and Sena tors Wheeler and Wulsh, democrats.l Montana and Atlee Pomerone, a spec ial government counsel in the oil case. . . What Mr. Coolldge replied Is not re vealed. Both Mr. Lodgo and Mr. Pep-! per declined today to discuss' even the purpose of their long conference with the .president, and White House of ficials remain silent. The story as it has reached senators 1b that the investments were compura-. tively small and resulted ultimately in sale of the stock at a loss. I What attitude President Coolldge may have taken toward the report that a member of his official family dealt in oil stocks remains a mystery. Those who have discussed with him refuse to make any statement of' his opinions or his Intentions and White House officluls likewise decline to comment. in some other administration quar ters, however, it is known to be the view that no inherent wrong can be established from the mere tact of a stock investment by public officials, as there Is no proof that confidential Information was the basis for the pur chase. Should a public accusation be made, the defense is expected to fol low these lines. Officials who take this attitude fol low the reasoning of Senator Elkins, republican, West Virginia, who said yesterday that although he Tiad bought and sold stock ho wus con scious of no wrongdoing. His trading, ho said, had been on the same basis as that of men en gaged in all branches of industry, who depend on fortunate Investment to preserve and Increase tholr capital, j Never-the-less many republican senators are convinced that the public will not. accept such an explanation. IN BEND CALF CASE PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 21. A ver dict of not guilty was returned today in the second trial in federal court of K. E. Helleman, defendant in the Bend "calf case." Helleman was charged with signing the name Ole Hanson to letters order ing calves, and, when the calves were unclaimed, buying them at reduced prices. A jury previously found Helleman guilty of the charge, but he obtained a new trial. 10 LOS ANGELES, Feb. 21. Herman L. Roth, Hollywood attorney, was In the county Jail today awaiting sen tence for attempted extortion of hush money from Arthur H. Sawyer, man ager for Barbara LaMarr, motion pic ture actress. A Jury In the superior , court late yesterday convicted him after a scant eight minutes' delibera tion. He will appear next Monday for sentence, at which time, he an Egypt Grants New Concession to Wife Of Earl Carnarvon i CAIRO, Egypt, Feb. 21. (By the Associated Press.) The Egyptian government has granted the Countess of Carnarvon a new concessslon for excavations at Tut-ankh-amen's tomb, according to information from a'responslble quarter today. - , (This, Is seems probable, would permit the resumption of work at the tomb by Howard Carter, who has been acting for the countess.) . . PHIPPS VOTED TO Fl WASHINGTON." Feb. 21. A chargo that Senator Phlpps. republican, Colo rado, had voted as a member of the appropriations committee "to put money into his own pocket," was made in the senate today by Senator Ashurst, democrat, Arizona. The Arizona senator was protesting against the reduction by the commis sion from $765,000 to $515,000 for the Yuma irrigation project In California and Arizona. Asserting that the Southern Sierra High Power company now supplies electric current in the dlNtrlct which could be served from a plant to be erected in the Yuma pro ject. Senator Ashurst said: "One of the stockholders of this company sits on this committee, how did he vote?" "I voted to cut this item out," re turned Phipps. "Ah, that's what I thought,", thun dered Senator Ashurst. "You voted to put money into your own pocket." "I warn the senator, not to go too far," said Senator Phlpps. ' "I don't care anything about your j Warnings," returned Ashurst. i Senator Phlpps said he would make a statement in his own time explain ing. , . - . " Oregon News in Brief SALEM. Ore., Feb. 21. W. C. Cul bertson. Portland hotel owner, was this morning named by - Governor Pierce to succeed Arthur C. Spencer, resigned, as a member of the World war veterans' state aid commission, the change to become effective imme diately. Mr. Spencer, Portland attorney, Is resigning onaccount of the press of private business matters. SALEM. Ore., Feb. 21. Justice O. P. Coshow of the state supreme court yesterday filed with the secretary of state his declaration as a candidate for the democratic nomination In the prlmnrles next May to succeed him self. He was appointed by Governor Pierce two months ago to succeed Justice L. T. Harris. SALEM, Ore., Feb. 21. The South ern Pacific company has denied appli cation of the Umpqua Valley Broccoli association for a reduced freight rate oi broccoli shipped from Roseburg to Portland, according to Information re ceived today at the offices of the pub lic service commission. It was contended by the petitioners that the present rates are excessive when compared with the charges for water transportation between lowel California points and Portland. . PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 21. Direc tors of the Chamber of Commerce have decided to hear arguments on the Mc Nary Haughten bill providing for 'an export bounty on wheat Declsjlon was reached yesterday to invite mem bers of the Oregon export commission league of other grain growers l& ap pear at the general discussion of the bill now pending before congress. PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 21. The steamer West Nomentum, docked here, sent a wireless call to summon the harbor tire boat when fire broke out on the vessel. The blaze was soon ex tinguished, doing little damage. Fire boat officers said the fire was probably calmed by a cigarette. T LA nounced last night, an appeal Willi be filed. ' Roth, the evidence showed, threat ened to file an amended divorce com plaint against Miss LaMarr, naming several prominent motion picture actors as co-respondenta, unless- Saw yer paid him hush money. H also; threatened, it was testified, to file with the complaint an affidavit charg-, In Sawyer" and Miss LaMarr with in timacy. J GHASTLY CRIME CONFESSED BY MOLD BOY .-,!.! Murder of Parents and Burn ing to Death of Two Sisters Admitted By Frank McDow ell Victim of Strange Hal lucinations. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Feb. 21. The burning to death of two Bisters last year to atone for a "blasphemy' against the "Holy Ghost," when he was 12 years of age, and the murder of his mother and father Tuesday night as a sacrificial penace for the killing of his sisters; confessed by Frank Mc Dowell, 19, and his weird tale of "hazy spells" and hallucinations during which he believed his family aligned with "the antl Christ," stood forth to day as related details of one of the most gruesome murders in the history of southern crime. ' McDowell, held at Clearwater to await trial on charge of murdering his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. McDowell, who were shot through the head while they slept Tuesday night, talked read ily. Confessing to the shooting of his parents, McDowell further revealed he had started the fire in which his sis ters, locked In their bedroom, perished on February 19, 1923, In the McEo-rell home, then In Decatur, Ga. The origin of the fire had remained a mystery un til cleared up by McDowell's confession yesterday. v Aligned with "Anti-Christ" When he was twelve years old Mc Dowell told officers he blasphemed the "Holy GhOBt." This occurred on Feb ruary 19, and evory year, as the date approached, his mind, he said became "hazy," and he believed his' family to be aligned with "the antl-Chrlst." These hallucinations occurred annual ly, he said, until last year he felt im pelled to kill his sisters as atonement for his "blasphemous" Bin, McDowell, when asliia "WEat'lhis sin, was, refused to answer. After his sisters had perished In names, McDowell said, his mind again became clear and he realized the se riousness of his crime, but did not re veal U anyone what he had done. On last Tuesday, February 19, the anniversary of his "sin" he felt that he must kill his parents as a sacrifice, as penance for the murder of his sis ters, he said. On Tuesday night, McDowell told of ficers, he went Into the bedroom ad joining that in which his father and mother' slept, without any thought of violence. Ho dreamed that he wos commanded by voices to kill his father and mnthor. So vivid and realistic was the dream, he said, that he awoke, went into the adjoining room and fired five shots at his mother and father. Good Record In School DECATUR, Oa., Feb. 21. Authori ties and friends of the McDowell fam ily who knew them while they resided here, today advanced the theory that Mr. and Mrs. J. M. McDowell, shot to death in St. Petersburg, Fla., by their son Frank, suspected he had started the fire in which his sisters were burned to death on February 19, 1923, and had moved him to Florida In the hope that his mind would be restored to health In a ; new environment. Young McDowell," according to rela tives and neighbors, had been regarded as "Queer" and an Infidel. He was a close student of the works of Robert G. Ingersoll, .' . While regarded as peculiar,' young McDowell Ib Bald to have made an en viable record In the schools he attend ed. He attended the Decatur high school, the commercial high school in Atlanta and Emory university as a freshhian. He then went to Washing ton, D. C., where he attended school. After working a while in the congres sional library, he returned to Decatur, where he assisted his father in the publication of the Dekalb New Era, a weekly newspaper. PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 21 George L. Cleaver, state prohibition director, said today that he was not disturbed because notice had been filed that his bond was to be cancelled. He said he would be able to furnish a personal bond. "I suppose they are doing it be cause they had to defend that $10,000 suit." he commented, referring to a damage suit recently filed against him by Mrs, M. Peterson, who alleged that her home In Portland;had been illeg ally entered by Cleaver's men. After Cleaver had been Informed recently that the suit was to be brought he filed in court here a peti tion in voluntary bankruptcy "to pro tect his creditors," CHARLES H. IjEVERMORE, BOK PEACE PRIZE WLN'XER Dr. Levermore of New York City, Secretary of the New York lat-e Society and former President of A del phi College of Brooklyn, N. Y was disclosed as the winner of the Bok prize lit a inA'eting at the Academy or Music 'In Philadelphia, At that time tile initial prize of $50,000 was handed to him. If the plan la upproved by a national referendum he Will recelvt an udd tflonni tht nun L ATTY.GEN1 INTO W.TOOZE CASE SALEM, Ore., Feb. 21 Whether or not it wishes, the attorney general's office will represent the state at the trial of Walter Tooze, Jr., and J. M. Templln, prominent McMInnville men charged with contributing to the de linquency of a minor girl. It found this out shortly before noon today. To newspapermen this morning the attorney general's office announced it would not interfere in the Yamli'.ll county J?ase,) , -la.. ir-, i,t,m Shortly afterward, the governor's of fice made a statement to the contrary. This afternoon I. H. Van Winkle, at torney general, was Interviewed. "Are you, or are you not going to conduct the prosecution?" he was ask ed. "The statute," Mr. Van Winkle re plied,, "says that the attorney general shall represent the state when com manded to do so by the governor." "Then you will proceed ?". "It would seem so." Previously, attaches of the attorney general's office had said their depart ment had concluded to have nothing to do with the case. It was said that no reason could be found for sending & special prosecutor Into Yamhill county. It was stated at the governor's of fice that the special prosecutor had been requested by R. I. Conner, Yam hill prosecutor. STAR CLAIM THE NEW YORK, Feb. 21. Uoy D. Moore and Louis H. Brush, joint owners of the Marion Star, are plnln tiffs In federal court against Frank A. Vanderllp, retired banker, for .$600, 000, alleging alander and libel as the result of the banker's purported ut terances in an address at Osslnlng on February 12. Thrco separate causes of Action, each asking (200.000 dam ages, are cited In their' petition on file today. The - papers assort Mr. Vanderlip wickedly and maliciously charged Brush and Moore with bribing the late President Hn.rd.ng Vto fail to per form certain of hlfl official duties as president and that the bribe cons.Ht- ed in the payment to the lato presi dent of $560,000 in the purchase of the Marlon Star, which was more than twice Us fair value." The Vanderlip speech, it wap charged, was an attack upon the' In tegrity of the late president by Imply ing ie sale of his newspaper was in volved in the naval reserve oil lease Investigation. ' It was further charged the Vander lip statements accused the plaintiff of "being financially Irresponsible and Insolvent and not able to meet their financial obligations and not entitled to credit."' In consequence, "the market .value of the preferred and common stock (of the newspaper) has been greatly reduced and the plaintiffs have suf fered great damage because- thereof. The second cause of action was based upon the charge that Mr. Van derlip caused his speech to be printed in the New York Tribune. The third cause U based upon the P FORCES STATF 10 TAKE HAND IN CASE AT Murder- Charge Against Dry Agents Who Killed Alleged Bootlegger to Be Handled By Assistant Attorney Gene ral of Oregon. ' MARSHFIELD, Ore., Feb. 81. Paul Mumpower and A. Neal, spoclul state prohibition agents, held on a charge of murder In connection with the killing of Lawrence Hare, In Curry county, were taken today from the county Jail at Coqulllo, in custody of Sheriff Huntley to Gold Bench, whore they will be confined In Curry county Jail without, bull. A prellml nary hearing will be held Saturday. District Attorney Ben S. Fisher of Coos county was asked by State Pro hlbitlon Director George L. Cloaver and Attorney General Van Winkle to defend the men. He had planned to arrange for ball of J2000 euch, or It ball was not available, to arrange with Sheriff Huntley to have the men held in the Coos county Jail pending the hearing. . Word came by wire this morning, however, from County Judge Wood of Curry county, that charges ugainst the men had been changed to ' first degree murder from, second degroo murder and directing the sheriff to havo the men brought to the Oold Beach Jail. The sheriff sturted at once with the prisoners. District Attorney Fisher said Mum power admitted to him that he had shot Hare, but claimed ho acted In self-defense and that Haro had a gun. Ho said he and Neal. and not Hare's friends, took the wounded man to the Brookings hospital where ho died. The shooting occurred when the agents wore arresting Hare on a charge of violating the prohibition law. Fisher will investigate a roport that Neal is the same man who was selling I. "W. W. newspapers part of bi.tiino iti this section ot-the state, and feeling of Curry county citizens Is reported to' be aroused over tho case. . , SALEM, Ore., Feb. 21. Miles ' H. McKeo, an assistant attorney general of Oregon la en route today to Gold Beach, Curry county, to assist In the Investigation of the killing of Law rence Hare, alleged prohibition law violator, In connection with which Paul Mumpower, and Ed Noll, state prohibition agonts have been charged with first degree murder. Tho speclul prosecutor was sent In response to telegraphic requests from District Attorney J. c. Johnson of Curry county and citizens of ' Ooid Bench. One telegram, received from Dr., J. VV. Wheeler, a physician and James D. Fay, chuirman of the chamber of commerce, branded the killing as murder and declared that Mumpower and Nell wero under the influence of liquor. A telegram from District Attorney Johnson says that the coroner's Jury Justified the killing, but that the county Judge, acting as committing magistrate, has entertained informa tion agulnst the prohibition agonts; charging them with first degree mur der and Issued warrants for their ar rest. Johnson said circumstances are such that ho does not feel qualified to act. , , . , . ED, -LOS ANGELES. Fef). 21. In the receiving hospital where Patrolman Glenn E. Bond last night died of bul let wounds received In a gun battle with bandits who attempted to hold up a, branch of the Merchants Na tional bank here, Louis Parry, alleged bandit participant in the shooting af fray, toduy wag undo treatment for a gunshot wound In the chest. Parry was captured less than twelve hours after, the attempted holdup when Patrolmen and detectives, fol lowing a clue furnlsh'ed by a physic Inn who said a wounded man had come to him for aid. closed In on their quarry and cornored him in an apartment. ' Three other men and a woman who fell Into the net that closed in on Parry were held as material wit nesses. , They gave their names as Goorge A. McBride, his wife, Lucille, and Chnrlio Thompson and Leon Lion. admission of Mr. Vanderlip before the senate Investigating committee that ho approved the copy of the speech which was preaented to him In tho office In New York February 13 by a repreaentatlve of the Asso ciated Press and that the speech waa later transmitted to the Associated Press members. GOLD BEACH Ex-Governor Geer of Oregon Passes Away At Portland Home PORTLAND, Ore., Fob. 21. Theodore T. Greer, former gov- ornor of Oregon, born March 12, 1851, died here this aftornoon af- ter Boveral days Illness following a stroke of paralysis. He served as chief executive of the state from January 9, 1899 to January 14, 1903. He was born In Oregon as a son of one of the stato'B plo- neers. ills early life was devoted to farming. Later he entered the political field, and served several terms in the legislature be Tore being elected governor. IVUOD.SEES NEW YORK, Feb. 21. Expressing willingness to appear before the senate oil Investigating committee In Wash ington "if they want me," but declining to discuss the Teapot Dome Inquiry until he familiarized himself with the situation, Harry F. Sinclair arrived yesterday from Europe aboard the President Harding. He was met by members of his family and Colonel J. W. Zevely, his attorney. Mr. Sinclair was In a gonial mood, smilingly posed for photographers and questions of reporters on every sub ject but Teapot Dome. When the newspapermen came aboard he sent word taht he Bad "a very sensational statement," which proved to be a dis cuBsion of the prospects for consump tlon of American petroleum products In Europe during 1924. ' I The oil man gave assurances his (race Iioi-ho Zev would meet Iplnard, ' Frenoh champion, next summer, al though details of the miitan Imvo not been arranged. Increasing popularity of small motor cars In France, Ger many, Belgium and England the countries visited on his trip la In creasing consumption of Rnsollne and other 'petroleum products, Mr. Sin clair said, America, he added, will be called upon for large quantities of oil this year despite the mounting quality of Russian oil going into the European market. In his opinion Russlnn pro duction, however, will have to be taken more seriously than at any time since 1914. HIS OIL LEASES, !ES NEW YORK, Feb. 21. Edward L. Doheny, In a statement to the Wall Street Journal today defended his lease' of the Elk Hills oil reserve and explained his declaration that his oil companlea should muke a profit of 100.000,000 from the reserve. "There wero two hearings," he said, "and only the latter seemed to attract attention. It wns In the hearing pre vious to my going to California that I testified concerning the possibilities of a 1100,000,000 profit from this California lease." Giving his impressions of the inves tigation In Washington, Mr. Doheny said: "It reminded me of old times in the west when one of our dogs at mating season Joined the wolves. The wolves would surround our I camp at night and I could hear my own dog barking among those wolves as they howled around ub. It seemed to me i when I was on the stand In Washing ton that I could hear the bark of my own friends In the pack of political ' wnlvnn " HUMAN HEART BEAT by ST. LOUIS, Feb. 21. The sound of human heart beats, broadcast last night by station KSD (Post-Dispatch) was heard In Marshall, Texas, GOO miles by air line from here, according to a telegram received by the Post Dispatch today signed by Charles S. Welch. ST. LOUIS. Feb. 21. That the beating of the human heart may be clearly audible to the ears of thous ands who "listen in" to the broad casting programs of radio stations throughout the country was demon III SUIT WELCOM tu BY Frank Vanderlip Says He Is Prepared to Spend Over $600,000 to Get News Be fore People Regards .,- His Action As One in Defense of Country. .;, NEW YORK, Feb. 21. Frank A. Vun,lirlln l.unlrai. In Mnlu today to the $600,000 libel suit filed ugaiimt him yesterday by the owners of tho Marlon star, declared be wel comed the suit and expressed the hope that It would be the forerunner of "court proceedings that would make public some of the news that the great newspapers did not Bee fit to print." "I am propnred to spend quite as much as has boon asked for in these court proceedings in an of lort to make public this nowa," the statement said, adding that "there is nothing this country needs so much at the mo ment as Borne court proceedlng8 Ini tiated by grand Juries and pressed by incorruptible prosecuting attorneys." The statement continued: "Twonty-two months ago, in April, 1922, tho senate, by unanimous reso lution, called for the facts in the Tea pot 'Dome leases. That resolution was ao framed that the red flag of sus picion waa run up. - , ; - "For weeks no answer at all waa received and none was pressed for and thereafter until quite recently ' the search for the facts was made without vigor. , . "What wero the newspapers doing for twonty-two months? What was Senator Walsh doing?. It looks as it somebody had been asleep .at the switch or perhaps aBphyxiatea at' the switch.!' At least no court proceedings have yet resultod from the Teapot Dome situation. . ' "Nor havo there been, so far as I am aware, any court proceedings initiated as a result of tho criminal misman agement of the veterans' bureau. ' The wholesale dishonesty there Is not a matter of rumor; It is a matter of official record In the committee pro ceedings and proceedings of congress, and Mr. Forbes nnd his' friends have as yet encountered no court' proceed ings. , "Thoro have been no proceedings or even a thorough investigation ot the alien proporty administration. There are other directions in which court proceedings would be admir able. .... "Congress today Is spending its time solemnly and partisan! debating an income tax measure. - it is like dis cussing the size of a faucet you would put In a barrel leaking between half the staves. If wo can have honest administration of the taxes that are collected, the rate of income tax will take care of Itself. . . , . "If this country were invaded by an alien foe and I were a young man I believe I would offer myself for its defense. it has boon attacked by something more dangerous than a military Invasion by a forolgn foe,', Corruption has attacked the cov.. ' mont at its heart. I heiinva t .m . patriotic citizen and I propose to of fer the same service In fighting this danger that a young man should offer In fighting a military invasion. I am really enlisted In this matter because of profound conviction. , - ; ..jr utmuuo nines no motives of partisanship. I have boon a lifelong republican. I believe that :thd: fact are not fully presented to the. coun try nnd even when presented are not being acted on." Comedy Fatal to Auditor READINO, Pa., Feb. 21. A hearty laugh resulted In the death of Emmet Crowell, 64, In a theatre here last ' night. With a neighbor, Crowell waa enjoying a comedy and laughed up roariously. Suddenly he slumped in his seat. He was taken to a hospital where physicians pronounced hint dead. v BROADCASTED strated when the heart beats of Pro fessor R. B. Abbott of Purdue uni versity, were broadcast last night by station KSD of St. Louis. Following a demonstration of his microphone stethoscope, a request waa made by those present that he broad cast the beats ot hla heart by radio, to which he consented. In his' demonstration Professor Ab bott walked to and fro on the plat form before' the physicians and fluc tuations of hla heart, like the ticking of a clock could be heard plainly, In- 1 I'onn.n wi uiaiiiaiioiiitiB. Ill IHCHUt he moved rapidly or slowly.