The San Francisco call. [volume], February 09, 1910, Page 3, Image 3

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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NURSE'S STORY
SNARES DOCTOR
IN POISON PLOT
Sensational testimony Given at
the Inquest of Colonel
Thomas Swope
Aged Millionaire's Death Fol
lowed Taking of Capsule
Given by Physician
KAXSAS i'ITT. F^b. S.— With the tes
timony of Miss Pearl Krt!er, a nurse;
of Dr. Ludwig Hektoen, of Mrs. Logan
H. Swope and of Dr. Frank Hall in the
\u25a0 \u25a0 . -
Inquest orer the body of the late Col
, \u25a0
on<»l ><-aroj>e in Independence today came
developments In the mystery of the
millionaire's death, more startling than
any fans heretofore adduced.
TSSTIMOVY PIIODCCKS SEVSATIOX
Miss Keller's detailed story of the
last moments of Colonel Swope's life,
replete with startling- features of hap
jyeuiiigrs in the Swope household, pro
duced a sensation. So carefully had her
story be^a guarded thai, although much
had be*»n written and rumored about
th«» ease, not until today had any one
outside the immediate circle interested
in the inquiry heard her narrative.
Miss Keller testified that:
Immediately following th<» death of
Colossi Thomas Moss Hunton, Dr. B. C.
Hv<Ja asked her to use her influence
with Colonel Pwope to have him ap
pointed administrator of the Swope es
tate. Hunton had been the.administra
tor.
On thp morning of Colonel Swope's
d^ath she grave him a three grain cap
pule. supposed to contain dyspepsia
medicine. This she did at the direction
of Doctor Hyde. Twenty minutes later
Colonel Swope was in a convulsion. His
death soon followed.
Five "Vninutes after Colonel Swope's
death Doctor Hyde appeared and, with
Attorney John «5. Paxton. took Colonel
Swope'6 will from his vest pocket.
STnvrnxixE in body
Doctor Hektoen testified that:
One-sixth of a grain of strychnine
was found in one-seventh part of Col T
onel Swope's liver. He believed there
mifrlit be a grain in the entire organ.
Half a jrrain would cause death. Traces
of strychnine were found in the stom
ach. .\ ;
Strychnine might have been injected
into the body after death. He did not
believe the taking of medicine contain
ing strychnine would leave as much
a? a jrrair. of the poison in the liver.
Mrs. Swope testified that Dr. Hyde
know of Colonel Swope's intention to
pive $1,500,000 to charity and of his
plan to change his will to this effect.
She also said that Colonel Swope had
told Dr. Hyde he had planned to give
Thomas Swope the largest part of his
estate. She denied she entertained any
ill feeling against Dr. Hyde.
Dr. Frank Hall said he was abso
lutely certain Colonel Swope did not
die from cerebral hemorrhage or
apoplexy.
STRVCHXJXE IX MEDICINE
O. H. Gentry, a druggist of Indepen
dence, said he prepared the medicine
for Colonel Swope that contained elixir
of iron, quinine and strychnine. The
strychnine in a teaspoonful amounted
to only one one hundredth and eightieth
of a grain, he said.
Dr. Hyde was again present at the
inquest today, and heard every word of
the testimony. Especially did he fol
low the testimony of Miss Keller close
ly. But he gave no sign that her nar
rative perturbed him in the least.
In th» j tense moments when Miss Kel
ler described the dying actions of
Colonel Swope, jurors and spectators
leaned forward and listened eagerly to
every word. She told in detail how
Fho gave the man a capsule and how
he passed into convulsions. While un
conscious, he cried:
"Oli. my God. I wish I had not taken
that medicine; I wish that I were
•lead."
SI GGESTED I.VCREASEIJ PAY
Miss Keller also said that Dr. Hyde
suggested to her that she ought to
charge $25 instead of $25 a week for
After she had given most of her
testimony, and the room was quiet,
Coroner B. H. Zwart asked her:
"Do you know of anything that
might have caused Colonel Swope's
death other than that capsule?"
"I do not," she replied, firmly.
The report xnade by Dr. Hektoen on
the liver was supported by affidavits
from Dis. Walter S. Haines and Victor
('.\u25a0Vaughn. The report on the condi
tion of the stomach was given verbally
by Dr. Hektoen.
Dr. Hektoen sa.id the examination of
the organs of the body had not been
completed.
A question that may have great
bearing on the case was asked by a
juryman in the afternoon. It was:
"Could the body absorb strychnine
that had been injected after death?"
•Yep," Doctor Hektoen replied. "if
strychnine had been injected after
•Jeath and the body had lain for a long
time, the poison could have found its
way to other parts of the body through
<iiffusion. Strychnine would have ito
be in solution for. that, and it would
spread through the tissues."
MANY KCCKNTKICITIES
Mrs. .Swope told of the many eccen
tricities of Colonel Swope. She said
he had thought for 25 years that his
P^"*th was imminent.
* "I'm the same as a dead man,' " she
stifled that he once said to a. rela
tive. "I'm just walking around to save
funeral expenses.' "
Among the witnesses to be exam
ined today were Mrs. Logan H. Swope
and her daughters. The latter told
of their illness while suffering from
typhoid fever during the siege follow
inp Colonel Swope's death and during
which nine members of the family were
stricken. -'!:"
Mrs. Swope, the sister in law of
Colonel* Swope and mother of Chris
man Swope and Mrs. B. C. Hyde, has
kept in seclusion since the Swope mys
tery became a sensation. She was an
object of great interest as she testified
regarding Colonel Swope's illness and
death in her house.
Mrs. Hyde was again absent, and it
\u25a0was announced that she was still sick
in bed.
Doctor Hyde and the other princi
pals were on band early and occupied
their usual chairs, and another expect
ant audience completely filled the
courtroom. " *
TACTS WORTHLESS CHECK CHARGE— Los
Anceles, Feb. 8. — On a warrant sworn out to
day by the United States district attorney C.
A " Sarber trai turned ore* to the federal an-
Thorttles and will be held pending the arrival
<rf a formal indictment from Washington. D. C.
Rarher is accused of haring ottered a worthless
<:beck.
DETECTIVE FATALLY SHOT— Portland. Kpb.
£ a ooroner'* Jnry. impaneled to - ascertain
the cauw of th* <J*>ath of A. T. Barnep. an
employe of,« detective aceaej-, yesterday, n»
iurr. <vi a verdict today that - It , was Ity a thot
•wldwliTly, fired fcr Barnes himself. ; v
BOAS GIVES HELP
TO REORGANIZERS
Money Lender Promises Califor
nia Trust Company Deposi*
tors to Pay Dividend
—
Judge Seawell Allows Another
Delay for Rehabilitation by
New York Capitalists
One hundred and fifty depositors in
the insolvent California safe deposit
an<j trust company, packed into Judge
Seawell's court yesterday afternoon,
witnessed as dramatic and strange a
scene as has been enacted in a San
Francisco court in years.
The rehabilitators were first plunged
in the depths of despair by the court's
refusal to postpone the payment of the
receiver's 10 per cent dividend from
February 10 to March 1, but Just when
things looked at their darkest Judah
Boas, the money lender, saved the sit
uation by undertaking to pay all needy
depositors 10 per cent of their claims,
taking an assignment of their deposits
as security.
**You have killed this' scheme to bring
$7,000,000 or $8,000,000 of eastern cap
ital to San Francisco," shouted Henry
I. Kowalsky, when the judge had indi
cated that he would refuse the post
ponement.
"I can but perform my duty as I see
it." responded the judge, rising from
his chair.
"The entire reorganization scheme
is at an end," cried Attorney Berton
Weil. "Will not your honor give us but
a little time longer?" he pleaded.
OFFER TO PAY DIVIDEND \u0084
"I have made up my mind." replied
Judge Seawell, with his hand on the
knob of the door leading to his cham
bers, and he pulled open the door. Ar
guments were shouted at him from all
parts of the room as the judge was
about to disappear from sight.
"I have a proposition," Judah Boas
was heard above the clamor crying
from the rear of the room. "If the
continuance is granted I will out of my
own pocket pay to all needy depositors
10 per cent of the amount of their
claims."
"What is that?" ai^ked Judge Seawell,
returning to his chair. "Do I under
stand you will pay the amount of the
dividend the receiver is offering?"
"Yes. any one who has his bank book
can get it." declared Colonel Kowalsky,
speaking for Boas. "Those who are op
posed to it are a lot of cormorants.
They are like vultures who want to
feed on carrion flesh."
"I want no personalities," cautioned
the judge.
"Boas had better hring up his three
gilt balls and hang them at the en
trance of the courtroom," shouted A. P.
Van Duzer. one of the most inveterate
opposers of the rehabilitation plan.
"For my part, when I want to borrow
from him. I will go to his office and put
up security."
COMPLIMENTS EXCHANGED
"That is a gratuitous insult," cried (
Berton Weil, coming to the defense of"
Boas.
"This man -wants his commission for
advancing us 10 per cent," asserted j
Mine. L. A. Sorbier, another opponent
of the plan.
"I will charge no interest or commis
sion of any kind," promised Boas.
Having listened for 10 minutes to
this excited interchange of compli
ments and argument, Judge Seawell an
nounced that he would vacate his first
order and take the application for a
continuance under submission.
Cheers from the supporters of the re
habilitation scheme followed the state
ment. The depositors were permitted
the use of the courtroom, and Attorney
I. I. Brown invited all who wished to
avail themselves of Boas' offer to fur
nish their names. The only ones to do
so were Madame Sorbier, who has a de
posit of $10,508, and Attorney Lester
Jacobs, representing Frank M. Gar
dener, who controls deposits of about
DEPOSITORS 3IAY GET CASH
Boas' offer holds good for all depos
itors who wish an advance of 10 per
cent of their claims. The advance is to
be returned to the broker from the first
payments made to depositors, either by
the receiver or the rehabilitators, as
the case may be. •'/•. .7"
Preceding the startling windup to
the court session there had been an
interchange of arguments and person
alities such as have been heard over
and over again for the last six months.
The rehabilitation committee based the
application for one last, delay upon
the fact that H. P. Wilson, the New
York capitalist who has promised to
put $1,300,000 into the reconstructed
bank, had telegraphed $50,000 to the
Crocker national bank to be held as
evidence of his good faith.
R. E. Houghton, A. P. Van Duzer
and others laughed at this as a joke
and said that as the $50,000 was de
posited to the, credit of Wilson he
could withdraw it at any moment he
pleased. The deposit was not an evi
dence of good faith, they said, but
merely an evidence that Wilson owns
$50,000. Houghton said he had no con
fidence in a scheme that had Walter
J. Bartnett behind it and complained
that the Western Pacific had demand
ed that it should dominate the board
of directors.
HYPNOTISM IS SUGGESTED
"All these lawyers who represent
the rehabilitation .committee are vic
tims of the hypnotism of Bartnett, and
this $30,000 is part of the money Bart
nett stole from widows and orphans,"
shouted Van Duzer. "About $10,000,000
•was taken from the bank, and the
street talk is that the two Treadwell
brothers have $2,000,000 of it on de
posit in the city of London. What
Bartnett did with his $2,000,000 is still
a secret."
"Good for Bartnett If he has hyp
notized money out of the pockets of
New York millionaires for this reha
bilitation scheme," interrupted .Ko
walsky.
"Hullo, you there. Why, I heard you
were in Belgium attending to the pro
bate of the will of the king of Bel
gium," retorted Van Duzer.
There was a laugh at the expense
of Kowalsky, and after this had sub
sided Oscar Cooper defended Bartnett
from the charges that had been made
against him. It was at this stage that
Judge Seawell first refused the post
ponement and after hearing Boas with
drew his order.
COURT SESSIONS BILL
IS PASSED BY HOUSE
Regulates Holding of Terms at
Sacramento
[SpeciaUDispalch to The Call]
WASHINGTON,* Feb. S.— The bill in
troduced by Representative McKinlay.
providing for the establishment of reg
ular terms of the United States circuit
and district courts of the northern dis-.
trict of California at Sacramento was
passed'yesterdayiby the house. .
The bill provides that after its enact
ment there shall be but one term each
of the United States district and circuit
courts for the northern district of Cali
fornia,, held in the city of Sacramento,*
yearly.
The , term, will begin, on the second
THE SAN FRANCISCO CALU WEDNESDAYS PEBRUARY 9; 1910;
GRAND JURY SIFTS
BAIL BOND GRAFT
Inquisitorial Body Delves Into
Questionable Methods in
Police Courts
Charges That Saloon Keepers
and Officials Split Fat Fees
Denied Vigorously
The grand jury made, an exhaustive
inquiry yesterday into the bail bond
scandal, heard a long list of witnesses
and adjourned without returning in
dictments. The evidence, was largely
of a negative nature, but it bore more
or less directly on police court methods.
There appeared to be a disposition to
direct the inquiry more particularly
into the conduct of .ludge Weller's
and Judge Conlan's courts.
A clash in the grand jury room be
tween Judge \u25a0 Con lan and Luke Fay,
one of the inquisitors, was narrowly
avoided. There is a feud of long
standing between the two. When Fay
sought to put questions to Conlan the
latter declared .that he would not sub
mit to his interrogation.
A novel point was introduced during
the hearing when Judge Shortall rec
ommended to the grand jury that a
whipping post be established for wife
deserters.
"In this way, and only in that way,
can the evil be corrected," said the
judge. "If we send a man to jail by
way of punishment his family suffers.
The whipping post, I believe, would
do more to bring these husbands to a
sense of their obligations than any
thing else."
SALOONS WAX RICH
The inquiry yesterday was intended
to develop the intricacies of the bail
bond transactions. It has long been
the practice for a few of the saloons
near the hall of justice to control this
business, gaining their profit in fat
fees. It had been charged that the
saloonmen •worked in harmony with
certain members of the police force
and with the encouragement and as
sistance of certain police judges. It
was to this matter that the entire
afternoon session was devoted.
Efforts were made to fasten the
charges on McDonough Brothers, the
liquor firm opposite the hall of justice
in Eddy street. Witnesses specially
questioned were Frank Barris, a pro
fessional bondsman, and Ike Willis,
who acts as messenger and agent about
the police courts. Sergeant Clarence
Coogan_ recently • transferred from the
post of prison keeper, was also ques
tioned as to the activities of McDon
ough Brothers. It had been generally
understood that Coogan had been
shifted because of his opposition to the
practices of the McDonoughs. He told
the grand jury, however, that he had
no specific knowledge that would as
sist it.
SIFT POLICE COURT MRTHODS
The first part of the session was
devoted to the police court methods.
County Clerk Mulcrevy was the first
witness. He was asked in regard to !
the activities of George McComb, for
some time clerk of the justice courts,
and now facing charges of irregulari
ties.
Judge Shortall was next called and
spent more than an hour on the stand.
His attention was called to his dismis
sal of the charge against James Feenan,
who had been accused of failing to pro
vide for his family. Feenan is. an em
ploye of the gas company. Shortall
explained that he had released Feenan
upon the promise of the latter to con
tribute $35 a month to the support of
his child. It was in connection with
this case that the judge urged the
whipping post as more efficacious than
the prison.
"Continuations can not be helped,"
said Shortall. "It depends on the in
dividual case, but we proceed as quick
ly as circumstances will allow. As to
the question of bail, we follow the law.
The use of the 'small book' is not
sanctioned by law, as you know, but
it is for the public good, so it is main
tained. As to our working hours, you
gentlemen are mistaken when you as
sume that we are on duty only from
10 to 12."
DEMES FOnCIXG BAIL
Sergeant Coogan was asked if he
had ever had occasion to interfere with
outsiders endeavoring to' force ball
upon prisoners, with special mention of
McDonough Brothers. He said he had
never been specially troubled in that
regard.
Frank Barris testified that he had
ample means of his own and was in
the business on His own account. He
denied that he was the agent for Mc-
Donough Brothers. He denied also that
there was an understanding by which
the police courts, certain policemen and
the bondsmen worked together.
Judge Weller was questioned along
the same line, as was Judge Conlan.
GREAT>GREAT-GRAND
MOTHER LIVING AT 100
Grandfather of Favored Chil
dren Resides at Monterey
[Special Dispatch to The Call]
MONTEREY, Feb. 7.— Charles Wood
of Monterey has two great-grandchil
dren living at Altoona, Wash., whose
great-great-grandmother. Mother Kelly,
is living in Newport, Ore., at the age
of nearly 100 year^, hale and hearty
and able to boast of 200 living de
scendants. '; ..
The two children who can trace such
an extended lineage' are the 6^ and ,4
year old daughters of George and Mrs.
Elliott of Altoona, Wash. ; -Mrs. Elliott
is the daughter of Charles Wood of
Monterey. Her mother, the. children's
grandmother, is Mrs. Walter Fitzpat
rick of Newport, \ Ore.,, first wife ,of
Charles Wood. Mrs. Lucy Wopd Fitz
patrick is the living, daughter of Mrs!
Judith Peerie (deceased)^ great-grand
mother of the children, whose'husband,
Henry Peerie, is living at Victoria,
where he Is a boat builder.
. .The, mother of the dead great-grand
mother, of the two children; is the living
Mother Kelly. So, with but onebreak
the children can trace a direct lineage
through flvex generations^ ; Mother
Kelly's first husband, M. dv Cheney,
the great - great - grandparent of the
two Altoona children, was an employe
of the Hudson Bay company, a French
Canadian, whose father -was a. .French
peer of Montreal. - /
REFUSE ELECTION ON
SUNDAY CLOSING PLAN
Petaluma Trustees- Vote Down
' Petition V
[Special Dispatch to The Call]
PBTALUMA, Feb: -B:—i A petition
signed ; by .more .than l 3oo ; citizens xwas
presented • to , the ) board | of trustees last
night -that body/ to submit
the question^ of open ion closed i saloons
on Sunday,: to "a vote of the people. . The
petition^was^lostt by.; a' vote; of ; 4 ; to^l I.'1 .'
TrusteeSiWoods," ; Din\viddie,;,yogens*en
and President Keig<votlrig no. i Tfustee
WalshTstodd' for,; the i petition^ V ? "
BRAASCH'S LAWYER
DEFENDS CLIENT
r\u25a0\u25a0 \u25a0 ' .
Says Charges Made Against the
Mission Furniture Dealer
. Are Unfounded
.. \u25a0 . -
Asserts Embezzlement Accusa
tion False and Explains
Financial Transaction
The charges made against A. J.
Braasch, a Mission furniture dealer, by
Joseph L. Kennedy, formerly a business
associate of Braasch at 3190 Mission
street, are without foundation, accord
ing to Braasch's attorney, Frank V.
Cornish; his mother, Mrs. Albertaine
Braasch, and his brother in law, F. G.
Beuck. Braasch is now in Medford,
Ore., but his wife is said to be still at
the family home, San Mateo park.
Kennedy and his attorney, Paul T.
Fratessa, who had prepared charges
to present to the grand jury Monday
last, were not heard on that date, but
were ready to formally accuse Braasch
of arson and embezzlement.
Attorney Cornish, for Braasch, an
swered this complaint yesterday. He
said:
"Braasch owned four-fifths of the
stock of the Braasch furniture com
pany. Kennedy owned one-fifteenth of
the stock, which he subsequently sold
to Braasch, under a contract. The
stock was to be paid for, according to
agreement, when certain moneys were
received by Braasch from the corpora
tion. There was about $500, or possibly
a little more, due Kennedy. Kennedy is
now trying to collect that money
through the grand jury. He first tried
to get a warrant for Braasch's arrest
from the bond and warrant clerk's of
fice, but the district attorney would not
issue the warrant on the showing made,
and so he went before the grand jury.
"The charge that Braasch embezzled
$5,000 from the corporation is false.
Braasch's place was burned out in May,
1909. Before that time the business had
gone through the bankruptcy court
and a composition had been effected
among the creditors August 15, 1908.'
At that time Mrs. Braasch, Braasch's
mother, advanced $12,000 to satisfy the
creditors. That was being paid back
in small sums. After the fire of May,
1909, Braaschpaid his mother what was
due her out of the insurance money.
"There was no foundation for insin
uation that Braasch set fire to his
place. The underwriters reported that
the fire was due to defective wiring.
Braasch left the basement where the
fire started about an hour before, with
F. J. Beuck. •
"Braasch sublet the premises of the
store to the Braasch furniture company
at an increased rental, but that was
authorized by the board of directors."
Mrs. Albertine Braasch and F. G.
Beuck substantiated what Cornish said.
Cornish will place the facts before
Assistant District Attorney Cutten. He
said yesterday that Braasch will be
ready to go before the grand jury.
PAID FOR LEGISLATION,
- IS WITNESS' TESTIMONY
"Man Who Handled Money" Is
Placed on Stand
ALBANY, N. V.; Feb! B.— The "man
who handled the money" was brought
before the state senate today by Sen
ator Ben Conger to confirm Conger's
charge that Jotham P. Allds, its ma
jority leader, accepted $1,000 for in
fluencing legislation.
He proved to be Hiram G. Moe, vet-"
eran former bank cashier of Groton,
where Conger lives. He declared posi
tively that, at the capitol, on April 23.
1901, he had handed Senator Allds an
envelope containing $1,000. The pur
pose for which this alleged transfer of
money was made did not appear in the
direct testimony, but Senator Conger
filed an affidavit in which he declared
that the payment was made upon
Allds' demand "in the interests of the
American bridge company."
Moe declared he gave $4,000 to an
other legislator.
The only other witness today was
William A. Smyth, editor of the.Owego
Times. Owego was -the home of for
mer United Senator Thomas C. Platt.
Smith testified that in 1901 the Owego
bridge company -was threatening to
move its plant if certain legislation
became law. The witness appealed to
Senator Platt "and received the follow
ing reply': ;
"According to Allds' statement, the
bill that passed is not objectionable to
the bridge people, provided the other
bill is held. . There is no doubt the
other bill will remain in the commit
tee."
SILVER HALF DOLLAR
IS VALUED AT $5,000
Coin Made by Confederate
States Is Exhibited
NEW YORK, Feb. S. — A silver half
dollar, which it would take.s,ooo whole
dollars to buy, is on exhibition at the
New York numismatic club. It is the
half dollar of the confederate states
of America and is said to be the only
extant metallic ccoirn r of the lost cause.
The coin is exactly like the United
States half dollar on the side bearing
the figure of» liberty, but on the re
verse' it bears a shield with seven
stars and seven bars, with a wreath of
cotton plant and sugar cane.
Only; four impressions of this coin
were j made, one being sent to Jefferson
Davis and the other three to prominent
confederate officials. These three sub
sequently disappeared. . The coin • is
the property of Edgar Adams, a Brook
lyn collector. -
POSITION OF GAME
WARDEN IS ABOLISHED
Sonoma County Farmers' Pro^
tests Heeded
[Special Dispatch to The Call]
, SANTA ROSA,' Feb. B.— As the result
of protests , from various farmers' '\u25a0' or
ganizations , and petitions from the
farmers direct, 1 the board of supervisors
today voted 1 ! to abolish the office of
county game 'warden, ..which- has been
held for some-time past by John C.ln
galls of Healdsburg, who resigned;' to
accept ' the i appointment of postmaster
of that city.- The place paid a salary of
$•75 per months which the farmers of the
county contended 'should'be paid -by; the
state game and fish: commission,. which
receives more , than $5,000 annually from
the county in hunters' licenses., %
"How to Mix a -Good One.'; Booklet
free— tells * all? ; about ./-;, mixing ' drinks.
Sent -on request — a :-postal ; will " do. > a
P. Hotaling & > Co., < proprietors ' of \u25a0 Old
Kirk -Whisky,; 429-437, Jackson St.." S.F.*
CASTOR IM
;:- 'For Infants and Children. ;,' ;
The Kind You Have Always Bought
Signature of (^KO^f^lhCOiCnMi
HILL LINE WILL
BUILD TO KLAMATH
Extension Will Connect Road
With San Francisco via
Western Pacific
Application for Right of Way
Through the Reservation
i t*m 'j \u25a0 \u25a0 : - :
is> riicu
,- : \u25a0 \u25a0
[Special Dispatch io The Call] *
PORTLAND, Feb. B.— That the Ore
gon trunk line will build to Klamath
Falls this year is the announcement
made today by Charles H. Carey of
Carey & Kerr, attorneys for the line,
who has returned from Chicago, New
York and other eastern cities.
It is also announced that the Hill
interests have filed with the \u25a0 interior
department at Washington, D. C, ap
plication^for a right of way through
the Klamath Indian reservation. Town
ship filings have also been made at
Lakeview.
Extension "of the Oregon trunk ,to
Klamath Falls will practioally give the
Hill interests connection with, San
Francisco in that by running a short
stretch of line from Klamath Falls to
Alturas direct connection may be es
tablished with the Western Pacific, the
Gould transcontinental line, which is
now nearing completion through the
Sacramento valley to Alturas in north
ern California.
"The Oregon trunk will build to
Klamath Falls this summer," said
Carey, "and trains from central Oregon
will be connecting with the Northbank
road for Portland and other points in
the Pacific northwest as soon as we
can get the bridge across, the Columbia
river at Celilo completed. Work on the
bridge will be rushed as rapidly as pos
sible and the Intention is to have the
road to Klamath ready for operation
by the time the bridge is completed."
PARROT SAVES HOME
FROM BEING BURNED
Gives Alarm When Blaze Ignites
Curtains
[Special Dispatch to The Call]
SANTA CRUZ, Feb. S. — A parrot late
this afternoon saved the home "of Mr.
and Mrs. M.J. Silva of Soquel .f rom de
struction by fire. Silva was away, while
his wife was at a neighbor's.
Children left in the parlor played
with matches, setting fire to the carpet,
which soon ignited the curtains at the
window, and there was quite a blaze.
A parrot in the house' sounded the
alarm, which attracted the attention of
Mrs. Silva, who hastened home to ex
tinguish the flames before they had
done a great deal of damage. .
' \u25a0 — —This is just one of the many bargains NOW to be obtained at Breuner\
\u25a0 The pillars of this massive bed are two inches in ; diameter and continue from
. floor to floor. The head measures rive feet two inches high. Full double
> size. Bright or satin finish. Not simply brass TRIMMED, but ALL BRASS.
This bed is exclusively on sale at Breuner's on Van Ness. |
And these, too: if;
!;• A sixty dollar, mahogany sofa for thirty dollars.
A thirty-five dollar mahogany Sewing table for twenty. dollars.
A thirty dollar green enameled: chiffonier for fifteen dollars.
A fifty-five- dollar buffet china closet— now $37.50. .
We've scattered \u25a0green tags generously throughout the store and everywhere they,
have fallen, the regular price of the article has fallen, too. We're moving "downtown/
you know— that's the reason. .
\u25a0\u25a0: Oh, of course-credit, too
Corner of Van Ness and Pine
Exclusive Agents fortlie World's Best Furniture— "CRAFTSMAN"
AMERICA TO SEEK
THE SOUTH POLE
National Geographic Society to
Send Expedition for Ant»
arctic Polar Honors
Captain Bartlett, Who Com
manded Peary's Ship Roose»
velt, May Lead Party
WASHINGTON, Feb. S.— America has
decided to seek for south pole laurels
similar to those won for her by Com
mander Peary, at the north pole. The
National geographic society today re
solved to send an expedition in search
of the south. pole, provided the neces
sary funds can be raised. It is not
believed there will be any failure on
this score. Commander Peary was noti
fied immediately of the action.
Captain Bartlett, in command of the
Roosevelt on Peary's trip to the north
pole, probably will have charge of the
antarctic expedition.
URGES EXPLORATIONS
After a mee'eting late this afternoon
the boa,rd of managers of the Geo
graphic society adopted the following
resolution:
The National geographic society
believes that it is of great import
ance to science that tidal, magnetic
and meteorological observations
shall be obtained at or near Coats
land in the same period that the
British expedition under Captain
Robert F. Scott. R. N., is making
similar observations on the other
side of the antarctic area, I.SOO
miles distant, and at the same time
that this recently discovered land
shall be explored.
That the society is ready to ac
cept Mr. Peary's proposition that it
shall undertake jointly with the
Peary arctic club an expedition to
the antarctic regions, as outlined
above, provided that the board of
managers, after consultaion with
members of the society, finds that
•the project -will receive sufficient
financial assistance to warrant the
undertaking."
MAY SAIL I.VJUI.Y
It is thought probable that the expe
dition may be ready to set sail as
early as July. The rapidity with which
financial assistance is .forthcoming will
determine the date.
No spirit of rivalry to the British at
tempt to reach the south pole Is being
manifested, it was declared, in the
American expedition.
The latter, which is to make Its
starting point at Coats land, will travel
over a territory hitherto entirely un
explored, while much is known, espe
cially from Lieutenant Shackleton's
work, of that on the other side of .the
south pole, where he reached a point
97 miles from. the goal.
HERMANN MAY KNOW
HIS FATE FRIDAY
Final Arguments in Land Frauds
Trial to Be Completed
Today
Defense Loses Hard Foughl
Battle to Have Case
Nonsuited
PORTLAND, Ore.. Feb. 8. — As ar
ranged by agreement between Judge
Charles E. Wolverton of the United
States district court and counsel today,
the case of former Congressman Binder
Hermann, who Is being tried on a
charge of conspiracy to defraud the
government of public lands, will go to
the jury Friday. Arguments wilf begin
tomorrow and each side has agreed to
limit Itself to a day and a half.
ASKS FOR XOXSUIT
After introduction of testimony In
the case had been completed the rest of
the day was spent by Colonel Worth
ington of counsel for Hermann in an
effort to have the case nonsuited on
points of law.
Colonel Worthington battled for
three solid hours In support of his con
tentions. These were:
First — If there bad tx-en a ••on«piracy to de
fraud it was tile state of Oresnn that had beon
defranded and not the government of the United
State*.
Second— That the pros^-ntlcrj of Hermann was
barred by the statute of limitation.
Third — If prosecution were not barred, then
the court shmiUl strike out all eTldence as to
overt acts that occurred prior to three year*
before the indictment jigaiost Hermann wad re
turned.
Fourth — That the district pnurt "t Orecon wa»
without jurisdiction; the conapirary. if ther*
were one. had. been so far as Hermann was
concerned formed In Washington. D. C.
Two of the thre hours were devoted
by Colonel Worthington in supporting
his last contention, that of lack of ju
risdiction.
PROSECUTION IS SUSTAINED
Notwithstanding his efforts. Judge
Wolverton held with the. prosecution in
every instance, as he had also earlier
In the day, when Colonel Worthington
had made an effort to have the testi
mony of certain witnesses and part of
the documentary evidence stricken from
the record.
When the session opened today Col
onel Harvey W. Scott, editor of the
Portland Oregonian. Identified several
editorials written by him in addlton to
those identified yesterday. These
showed that Colonel Scott's political
views were at wide variance with Her
mann's, but he said he had never heard
anything charged against Hermann's
personal character or integrity until
the land fraud exposure.
3