Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, May 11, 1934, Image 14

Historic Oregon Newspapers

Medford mail tribune., May 11, 1934, Page 14, Image 14

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Newspaper Page TextPAGE FOURTEEN grrJi MOCKING HOUSE .BY WALTER C. BROWN. ..urMB: Atttr receiving )( r,fi of threatening lettere, Went llttfrcene ie ambushed OH a tonetu road, Sergeant Harper hat lelt Dufreene drunk in hie euite at the A ueterlite, alter deciding to oven the latter1 hotue on Powhatan Terrace a bait for the wood-bo kilter. But before that can be done it ie found that Officer Hamill and another man are tying dead in tlte breaktaet room of XJutresne'e honee. Harper. Dovle, a newepaper reporter, and eome other are tt veetigatlng the crime Chapter Nine JHREE SHOT pTPHE icon of ths crime tu a i-L conlly-furnlsned breakfast-room, resplendent with polished wood, gleaming silver, sparkling glass. Against a background ot dark stained wainscoting and richly em bossed wallpaper, hung here and there with the bright colors of hunt ing scenes. In the center of the room stood a refectory table, with eight chairs ranged around It three at each side, one at the foot, and a more formal armchair at the host's place. '. On this table six slender wax tapers bad burned down to gutter ing stubs. There was an open tile klreplace, Its wide hearth protected by a finely meshed copper screen, and a massive log was still burning. Its heat was sufficient to give the room a comfortable temporature. Unfortunately, there were two dead men to turn the scene Into a mockery. There was the friendly light of hearth-log and candle with the acrid fumes ot gundre still lin gering on the air. Officer Hamill lay Just Inside the door. He was sprawled at nearly full length, his legs drawn up Just a trifle, the weight ot his body resting on his right side. The cause of death was fully ap parent without moving tbe body two bullets had been fired Into his left breast, one directly Into tbe heart, the other slightly higher and closer to the sternum. So much for young James Michael Hamill Offl eer 1615. At tbe head of the table, seated limply In the host's chair, but In a .very natural position, was the other man. His body bad posed In such a life-like position that the Jagged black hole drilled through the fron tal bona seemed an Incongruous mark. This man was faultlessly at tired In evening clothes, and the bul let's Impact had not even Jarred loose bis gold-rlmmed nose-glasses, with their thin black silk cord. His features, adorned by a well trimmed moustache and goatee, was tilted slightly, as If he were bored or abstracted In thought Both his arms rested on ths table. His right hand still clutched an automatle gun, bis left held a cigarette, which bad burned Itself out, searing the floBh ot two Angers, A number ot things stood at his place. There was a packet ot clga rettes of a popular brand, with an open paper ot matches beside It, Both were about half used. There were two small carafes, each hold ing a different liquor, A used, but now empty whiskey glass stood near his hand. Harper was Inwardly amaied at this tragic scene, but his astonish ment was self-contained, Not so Of ficer Clymer's, on whom a great Il.lht had dawned. "Say, that must be Pierre Dufresne himself," he blurred. HARPER had ordered the others to keep their posts by the door while he wont forward to get a bet ter view of the bodies and to exam ine tbe wounds at close range. He had leaned over the man In the chair, looking long and thoughtfully at bis face. Then, without disturb ing the position of the body, he had gone through alt the pockets. Noth ing of Importance cams to light. Harper turned and horded them all out of the room. "I want every one to stay out of . this room until the photographers have been here," the detective or dered, "and keep your hands off any thing that looks as If It might hare a fingerprint on It," The reporter, Doyle, buttonholed him as he was closing tbe door on that grim scene. "1 thought Du tresne was under guard tor the nlghtr he said. "How the devil did he get up here alone!" . Sergeant Harpers reply was '. cryptic. "You'll want to know a - groat deal more than that before , the night's ororl" The reporter pricked up his ears ' at this mysterious prediction, He looked longingly at that closed and locked door, but he had covered Ser- geant Harper's cases before and knew that bis statements were nev ; er flim-flam. Harper stood In the center of the j spacious hall, the key to the room nf trABfiflv tn him hanit rinvla vnn. j dered why the detective had so PORTLAND, Ore.. May 11. (API Portland's 84th traftle accident fa tality since December 1, the begin- nlng of the police fiscal year, was i listed In the coroner's record book j last night. Prank It. Beach, 81, In surance company official, was fatally Injured when ho was struck by a 17RIGLEVS GUM eHuAiUx at i uuiptly locked up the scene ot the shooting after bis first scrutiny bad shown him that both victims were beyond medical attention. The candle flames reared high and cold, tbelr flutterlngs casting weird shadows of the six men up the walls and obliquely across tbe celling. "Have you tried all tbe lights!" Harper demanded. "Are you sure none of them Is working!" Connally spoke up. "Tes, sir. The Juice must be cut off." It must be cut off at the meter, Suppose you go down In the cellar and see If you can find out about It, And while you're there, take a look at the heating arrangements. We're going to be here the rest ot the night, by the look ot things, and we can't work without light or heat." Officer Connally went to the cel lar door, drew the bolts after some tugging, and descended the stairs. In a very short time he called up to say that he had pulled the lever on the electric meter. Tbe candles were blown out. Harper turned to Hllleary. "Ton and Connally . were first on - the scene, weren't yon!" "Tea, sir. We followed Officer HamlU's footprints from the call box to this house." "What did you do while you were waiting! Were you here In the hall the whole time!" "We had a look around, carrying those candles, but we didn't leave this floor. It was dark everywhere and we couldn't see much, but found all the doors locked except tbe front door, of course. Everything seemed to be In order." Harper nodded and turned to hit men. "I want this house searched from top to bottom. And keep your eyes open for any signs ot recent oc cupancy. For Instance, there must be a bat and overcoat somewhere about" Officers Clymer, Smith and Hll leary scattered for their search. Harper picked up the telephone and dialed the Homicide Bureau. Hi made a very terse report of tbe don- hie killing, giving only the address ot the house and the telephone num ber. To the listening Doyle's sur prise, he suppressed any mention ol names. TTARPER put In a requlstt 1 foi the police ambulance to be senl up at once, with a Coroner's deputy, the official photographer, and thi usual technical experts whose duty It wss to make the baslo survey In homicide cases. He also requested that Detective John Lafferty be noti fied ot assignment to the case and told to report at once to Headquar tere. By the time the detective had On Ished telephoning, Connally hatf coma up from the cellar. "Every thing will be O.K., Sergeant" he re ported. . "There's one ot those new tangled oil heaters down there. II was going all right but the gauge was set very low. I moved it to ser enty-flve." "That's line. How are the arrange . ments down thero!" "Very neat sir. Everything cleat and wide open. You can see al around It from the foot ot the stairs I spotted the motor right away." "Is there a shovel down there!" "Yes, sir. There's a carpenter'i bench In one corner with a wholi stack of tools lying around." "All right Connally, here is a Jot for you. Get a shovel and clear I narrow path from the front door tt the sidewalk. But do not disturb oi cover over an; of tbe footprints thai ara already out there In the snow That Is most Important Then go ot duty at the front door and see to II that every one who enters or leavei the bouse walks In that path." One by one the men roturnet from their search upstairs. All bad the same report to make every thing spick and span, with no slgt of recent occupancy. Harper glanced at his watch. "I'vt got to make a flying trip down town, he declared, then turning to Smith and Hllleary, of the Bandit Chaset Squad, "you .two bad better staj here until the Headquarters men ar rive. Then you can check out" He gave the koy to the locked room to Officer Clymer. "If they get here before I return, get them start ed In there. Tell the photographei that I want an extra set of prints. And warn everybody that that room Is to be left exactly as It Is. Nothlni Is to be disturbed. Tell the doctot to watt for me. I'll be back soon." Connally appeared as Harper was buttoning his overcoat "Just all tight while I'm gone. Don't go pok lng around for clues until we hare a better Idea ot what to look tor. And don't go outsldo the house on any account, or you will be contusing the tricks In the snow." (Copyright, ItSf, fey Waiter 0. Broun) Harper makes, tomorrow, in lm portint tall at the Auiterllti. rented automobile driven by Philip Hoffman, 18, of Portland. All kinds ot Kg blanks tor sale (or rent, no bunting, no trespassing and other cards for sale at Commercial Printing Dept. ot Mall Tribune. For Garden k-,uwing Tel. 9U-J. c&xm m?mm mh mm rvrH ' MEDFOED MELTJ Fl AND FOES MUST FILE EXPENSE STATEMENT SALEM. Mey 11, W) Sponsors and opponents of ' referendum, measures, undor a new 1033 legislative act, must file statements of expenditures ana donations for and agalnet the act five day prior to trie election. It u an nounced here today by David o Hara election clerk In the secretary of state's office. This law this year applies only to the sales tax, the only act reterenaea by petition for the May 18 election These expenditure statements of funds used -up to the five day period must be In the secretary of state's . of flee by Saturday night, May 13. In aam tlon the law requires an estimate of the total amount expected to be spent In the entire campaign. No statements have as yet been filed, but O'Hara directed attention to the provisions for the benefit ot those not familiar with the new law. Theee statements .are additional to atatementa to be filed after the elec tion In conformity with, the corrupt practices act. The other measures on the ballot were referred by the legis lature and the act would not apply to them, OUara said. TOLO, May 11. (Spl.) Although Mr. Tule had been In poor health for some- time, his axidden passing was a shock to all. He was always an earnest worker for civic better S 'MATTER POP Tolo ) T?uTST3lMci ON f rATCiM'T VoO AAfO) fftV. M AvV I O'ff) 1 IT rlA9 ( JU A LITTLE . OfoT-ro, TrWt ? L-w ' ' I ov. maws j sT . idea! J -Mr&Kgr si & 1 r0 " i I5s Tm foM 'A m bl? RSSi car TAI1SPIN TOMMY Was Tommy's Face Red! THMt.k-tJOIH I I PtUMSEP INTO TOM Any AMD SK7a? 0W to ihvBonSArt. OiO 77 TH iWCCyvVCOiS AND we SOUND OF SOAfOAe OfWJ- TAE OOOPS OAT t ft r Kuen in VJUtsriAi Tve TO SEE suoA6. OUT OF A BEN WEBSTER'S CAREER fvOU'RE 9URES5HE COME ABQARpN fAGAIN? HERE 5ErJOCUPPS.TO THE h5?SWil-2k?JJi THEVRE GONE. Aftl IQHT .CAP'N 'TBHA HA?THIS ewVp ArD TO LAV 1 "u&--SM ' ?4 SSkOli 1 HAVE ? SEEN SUCH A BUNCH O'TOUGH MUGGS eH?DlDVOU L? S ?nu7 ACA DIVER : IhifW ArV VWWABOT I ' ONETHIrS- 1 AS THAT ONE-EYED SKIPPER HAS ABOARD THE NEBBS Oh Yeah? . - ByJoMIess I y TM.5 PLACE IS A syS TOO SAD TMct VMELU, 1 GUESS IT "TOK I fTTJfIJgTrSSri V CALLED UP TWa 6BAUTV JpLACe SHOULD BE - THE SUOEft KlO TO POT THIS )5f u2JloT SEE COOSRESSIOM SO 1 , WOP ASJO I CIOT SET A J ry3 SUCH A GOOD PLACE OSJ THE MAO THE OMLV lZW TVIF WO TOTAKEAW THE FATHERS A UMT1L MOMDAW- BUS.UESS SHE'S I CREDIT VOO CAMTAKEFOR TV4.S I W ' 'lZ. ZoUSk Tp HEIOASW'T- 1 Ve POOR GIRL IS SO SETT1MG DOUGH IsUOOEM SURSTOF 8US1K1ESS V lix OUT MV IDEAS, TO LET NIM J& BRINGING UP FATHER ' By George McMannj I MOPE MACOIE WA f IN.IALLV I P f 1 1 1 ' I I ( WOW. THAT fl Mil I 1 yPtliftf VWloi4' "ISS TH&r?y i - I tSI to F1 timovt taiJgb,- I I II I ZlL U( UPVTAIRS- , ' KV UT IT-. ? M ; r M WO Hi BELiEWEVOU N 1 TRIBUTE, MEDFORD, ment, was a member of the school board for eight consecutive years, be ing the chairman at the time of his death. School was cloned Tuesday and the flag hung at half mast aa Tolo community paid its final tribute. Many and beautiful floral pieces cov ered his ' last earthly resting place. O. A. Baker and Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Cotton, formerly of Ashland, who purchased the Pine Tree service sta tion and tourist , camp, are well pleased with-their new horns. They have been busy cleaning, painting and putting In shower baths. - They say scarcely a day passes but that they could rent more cabins and Oap'ri Ike's "Whatl" aPPPPl9jbMadi WMWm TELU w,THOuT r cmY : WHAT YOU NEED IS f WKJOERSWao STANDARD GASOLINE 'M" UK IT- SHE'S WITH TETRAETHyL '7 W LOS IN 1 POWER i TJMSURPASSEDg iicefiTER cut- mimm m )mm vzmz&mmmm, km&&m5m wmmsmm J TnMNSf 7? V2erSESi. m rt-o..o3UTL I'lLSftftiJ KOia--MAVE,e i 3 fiRACt; ROUGH ME kiajii5Saasaya"NeMggaH ra-a----- Ja WZ5tYVSSWAViWA tOHAT--raU,R6. fi- KNOUT " M(2!aegS-ivUr.KaVlUrM1 OREGON, FRIDSY, MAY II, 1931. are planning to build more right away. Mrs. Johnny Bohnert and baby, Marylln, spent the week end with her parents while Johnny fished at Fish Lako. Sunday they, with P. A. Tracy and family, attended the Cen tral Point Grange picnic at Grants Pass. Miss Harriet Sparrow and Al-! ton Whetstone attended also. Mrs. Whetstone Is slowly Improving I from a recent illness. Annual meeting of Tolo Commun-1 ity club haa been postponed from' May 10 to May 34. i 1 Dance at Rogue Elk Saturday night, May 12. SUBURBAN HEIGHTS IK CWVJIH6 THE 'SMALL DOVS WHO HAVE BEEN MAKIK6 A PRACTICE OF WALKING ACROSS HIS GRASS, FRED PERLEVOf 50 EXCITED THAT HE RAN RI6W ACROSS ERNIE PLUMER'S FRESHLY SEEDED LAWN, . AWD THE. BOtS, FROM A SAFE DISTANCE, HAD A VERV 600D - -TikAf WnfT-ulKlC 1111 TDV TA CftlUtDr HIM,FI F WITH ERNlE IITlb yjnitninw run iri w uv, i w in. (Copyright, 1634, by The Bell Syndicate, Inc.) UMATlkftryj HAVE SEEN By GLUYAS WILLIAMS . iVJbK vutmntisi By C. M. Payn. By Hal Forresi JXACC DOIN6 AEAR 4T 77r-S Tis or t?-ADE8 MARK TMAS YOU V 4 PRIZE ATEQ. ON- By Edwin Alge UJILI IN' TO RELIEVE THE BEST 4 oinwonnvAW NFUFO IM A L ME LIFE. 1 SUCH A BUNCH O' TOUGH MUGGS