Clearwater Republican. [volume], September 02, 1921, Image 2

About Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922

Image provided by: Idaho State Historical Society

                
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Copyright . All Sight» Reserved
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CHAPTER XIII—Continued.
—24—
"And then at last it came. 1 didn't
see anything, and 1 didn't hear any
thing, but I knew It was there. I
still remember how frightened and yet
how cool I was In that last moment.
I held the gun to my shoulder and
waited for It to thrust Itself against
the blnnket. In another moment I am
sure I should have fired. But before
that moment I heard my name called,
and I knew my husband's voice, and
I came out of the nightmare."
"Most extraordinary)" the coroner
repeated, after a silence. "It seems
to account for the shooting of Riles,
but It leaves us as much as ever—
more than ever, I should say—in the
dark concerning the disappearance of
the money, and the part which has Im
plicated the young man Travers In the
affair."
The banker gave his evidence. It
was not unusual, he said, for consid
erable sums In bank notes to be han
dled among speculators and land buy
era, but the amount Withdrawn by
Harris was so great that It had left
him somewhat 111 at ease, and as Ser
geant Grey had happened his way he
had mentioned the matter to him.
During the hearing of the various
wltnesaes Gardiner had attempted an
air of Impersonal interest, but with no
great success. His demeanor, sthdled
though It was, betrayed a certain
anxiety and Impatience. He was
dressed Just as he had dismounted
from his horse, having removed only
his hat. But he smiled confidently
when asked for his evidence, and told
bio story calmly and collectedly.
It Is quite true that he was asso
ciated with Riles and Mr. Harris In
the coal mine investment He was
acting for the owner of the property,
but had seen that a large profit was
to be made from the turn-over, and
had been glad to place the opportunity
In the way of two old friends.
4 "I feel a grave responsibility In this
whole matter," Gardiner protested,
with some emotion. "I feel that I am,
at least Indirectly, responsible for thé
serions loss that has befallen Mr. Har
ris, and for the Injury to hla son.
But when you have heard the whole
circumstances you will agree that the
situation was one I could not possibly
have foreseen. Let me give them to
yon In some detail.
"The day before yesterday, In com
pany with Riles, 1 met Mr. Harris and
his son, and found that their money
bad arrived. The remittance was not
as large as they expected, but I be
lieved that I could raise some money
privately, and that we would still be
able to put the deal through. I ad
vised against losing any time, aa 1
knew that If the owner should meet
anyone else interested In a proposition
of a similar nature we would find it
mych harder to make a bargain with
him. It was arranged that the two
Mr. Harrises were to drive ahead, tak
ing the money with them, and that
Riles and I would follow. We were
-to overtake them at the old building
b >>where this unfortunate tragedy oc
curred. As It happened, I had a sick
horse at the ranch, and, as 1 was de
layed in getting some medicine for
him, Riles suggested that he would
ride out to the rauch —that Is, where
I live—-and wait for me there. Up to
that time 1 had no suspicious, and 1
agreed to that
"Well, when 1 reached the ranch, I
could find nothing of Riles, and, on
further search, I could find nothing of
Travers, who was working for me.
Their riding horses were gone, and so
were their saddles and bridles. I
found that Travers had taken his re
volver uut of the house. 1 confess my
suspicions were then somewhat
aroused, but I found myself with the
sick horse on my hands, and I could
not very well leave the place. Of
course. I never thought of anything so
bad as has happened, or 1 would not
have considered the horse, but I ad
mit 1 was at a loss to understand their
conduct. But when 1 heard, early this
morning, what had happened. It was
all clear to me."
During the latter part of this evi
dence Travers had fixed his eyes on
Gardiner, but the witness had steadi
ly avoided him. Jliu was now con
vinced that he was the victim, not of
a coincidence, but a plot. Of course,
ho could give his evidence, which
would be directly contradictory to that
of Gardiner, but he was already under
suspicion, and anything he might suy
■would be unconsciously discounted by
the jurors. But he begau calmly, a
quiet smile still playiug about Ills thin
lips and clean teeth.
"I am sorry I cannot corroborate all
the last witness has said," he com
menced. "I did not leave the ranch
with Riles ; on the contrary, I was fish
ing down by the river when I saw
Riles and Gardiner ride by. Gardiner
was talking and 1 heard him mention
Mr. Harris' name. I worked for Mr.
Harris not long ago, but I did not
know he was in this part of the coun
try. I heard Gardiner say-" Jim
colored a little, und stopped.
"Well, what did you hear him say?"
said the coroner. "That is what we
are auxlous to know."
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"I heard him suy something about
Mr. Harris losing all ids money that
night, in the old sliunly up the river
road. 'Strange things have happened
up there. Riles,' he said.- 'i'hut made
tne suspicious, and 1 hurried hack to
thp ranch, determined to follow them.
I found that my revolver had been
taken. I armed myself as best I could,
and set out. When I came near the
building which Gardiner had men
tioned I dismounted and npproached
It carefully. It was very dark. Sud
denly I was attacked from behind. A
sack was thrown over my head, and 1
was overpowered, and bound. I don't
know how long I was kept in that con
dition, but when at last the sack was
removed I was In the presence of Ser
geant Grey."
With the progress of Travers' nar
rative all eyes had turned to Gardi
ner, but, whatever his Inward emo
tions, he outwardly showed no signs
of discomfiture. "This seems to be a
day of strange tales," he said to the
coroner, "and the last we have heard
Is stranger than the first. Of course.
It Is quite absurd on the face of it.
The suggestion that I would be a par
ty to robbing Mr. Harris of $20,000,
and so balk a transaction in which I
stood to make a profit of more than
twice that amount. Is too ridiculous
for discussion. I didn't say so before,
because It didn't seem to bear on the
case, but I have at home a telegram
which 1 received a few days ago from
the New York Investors, offering me a
personal commission of 20 per cent on
the transaction If I was able to get
this property for them at the price
they had offered. So, from a purely
selfish point of view, you see where
my Interests lay. But there are oth
er reasons for this fine tale which
you have just heard. To spare the
feelings of some present, I Intended
of
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'Have I Got to Dio on End, Like a
Murderer?"
to say nothing of them, but if 1 must
tell what I know, why, I must tell
what I know. This man Travers was
a farm hand working for Harris on
his farm back in Manitoba. Harris is
—or was—well-to-do, and Travers ac
cordingly mustered up an attachment
for his daughter. This the young la
dy, It seems, was foolish enough to re
turn. They-''
"That'll do, Gardiner." interrupted
Travers, In a quiet, vibrant voice.
"You are getting away from the sub
ject"
"On the contrary, I'm getting close
to the subject—a little too close for
your comfort It seems."
"I am not investigating any family
closets," said the coroner. "You will
have to show the connection between^
these matters and the Inquiry we are
making."
"I will do that In u moment, sir,"
Gardiner returned.
"But I cannot
show the connection until I have
shown the events that are connected.
Travers had trouble with Harris and
had a fight with Allan. Then he and
the young lady ran away. They have
both been in this part of the country
for some time. But Travers' plan to
inherit the Harris property was up
set on account of the girl quarreling
with her parents, and his ardor seems
to have cooled off noticeably. But he
was as keen for the property as ever.
Riles was a weakling in the hands of
a man like Travers, and no doubt he
betrayed the fact that Harris was
taking Iris money with him into the
hills.
If
us
Then the two of them framed
up the plan which has resulted in the
death of one and the arrest of the
other."
During these exchanges the sympa
thies of the jurors seemed to veer
from side to side. The theories pro
pounded were so contradictory that
opinions wavered with each sentence
of evidence. But a new bolt was
ready for the shooting.
"Mr. Coroner," said Beulah, rising
and pointing at Gardiner, "will you
to
Is
to
make flint man tube his gauntlets
off?"
There seemed itii instant
of tin; blood from Gardiner's face. But
It was for the instant only. "M\ hat
is off,"
Unit sufficient?"
lion
r* < »
he said, with a ami le.
"Is
"Make liini take them ofT!" Beulah
insisted.
"There Is no rule against wearing
gauntlets in a coroner's court." v !( ii|
the coroner. "I do not see the point
of your objection."
"Make him take them off." said
Beulah.
"As
the young lady insists." said
tlie coroner, turning to Gardiner, "1
suggest that you comply with tier re
quest.''
"1 should be glad to," said Gardi
ner, "but the fact is I have a sore
hand. When I was giving the horse
medicine the night Travers left me
alone the brute nipped me a little,
and I have been keeping it covered
up since."
"Make him take them off." said
Beulah.
"Why should you he so Insistent?"
said the coroner. "Surely It makes
no difference-"
"Only this difference. You have
heard my father's evidence of the
fight In the old house. The man
with whom he fought will have tooth
marks in ids hand. Make him take
them off. Or if you won't—look at
these hands." She seized .Tim's hands
in hers and held them up before the
coroner and the Jury. "Any tooth
marks there? Now make this other
mnn show his." •
For a moment all eyes were on
Travers' hands. In that moment Gar
diner rushed for the open window,
and in another Instant would have
been through It, had not the quick
arm of the policeman intercepted.
"Not so fast, my mnn," said Grey.
"Now we will see this horse bite of
yours." Gardiner made no further re
sistance. and he drew the glove from
his hand. There was a fresh sear on
the right thumb.
The coroner examined it carefully.
When he spoke It was in the voice of
a judge delivering sentence. "That
Is not a horse bite," he said. "Those
are the marks of human teeth !"
Gardiner smiled a faint smile, "Well,
what are you going to do about It?" he
said.
1
"We are going to put you iu Trav
ers' place and tender him our apolo
gies," sa id the coroner.
But Travers had crowded into the
center of the circle. "Gardiner," he
said, "If you weren't under arrest I'd
thrash you here and now. But you
can at least do something to square
yourself. Where Is that money?"
"That's right, Jim, Everyone thinks
of what Is nearest his heart."
"You scoundrel! You know why It
Is near my heart. You have robbed
Mr. Harris of ull that he Imd spent
his whole life for. Ypu will have no
chance to use that money yourself.
You are sure of your living for the
next 20 years. Why not show that
you are not all bad—that you have
some human sentiments in you? It
seems as little as you can do."
"There may be something In what
I have a
you say," said Gardiner,
slip of paper here with the key to the
secret."
He reached with his finger and
thumb in his vest pocket and drew out
a small folded paper. This he un
folded very slowly and deliberately
before the eyes of the onlookers. It
contained a small quantity of white
powder. Before any hand could reach
him he had thrown his head back and
swallowed It.
"Too late I" he cried, as Grey
snatched the empty paper from his
fingers. "Too late! Well, I guess I
beat you all out, eh? And, as I said
before, wlint are you going to do
about It? Twenty years, eh, Jim?
You'll be scrawny and rheumatic by
that time, and the beautiful Beulah
will be fat and figureless. Twenty
years for you, Jim, but 20 minutes for
me—and I wouldn't trade with you,
damn you ! I beg the pardon of the
ladles »resent. One should never for
get to be a gentleman, even when—
when
But Gardiner's breath was begin
ning to come fast, and he raised his
hands to his throat. A choking spell
seized him, and he would have fallen
had not the policeman and the coro
ner held him on his feet. "Let me
lie down," he snid, when he got his
breath. "Let me lie down, can't you?
Have 1 got to die on end, like a mur
derer?"
They led him to the ndjoinlng room,
where he fell upon the bed. The mus
cles of his great arms and neck were
working In contortions, and his tongue
seemed to fill his mouth.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
The Fast Age.
"The world never moved so fast be
fore," mused Mr. Simmons. "We have
winter ice on the Fourth of July,
spring vegetables on Christmas; we
buy our straw hats In February and
our felt hats In August ; we get our
Sunday paper on Saturday night, and
our magazines a month ahead of time.
If we telephone a man in San Fran
cisco from New York, he hears our
voice about four hours before we
speak ; and If some one in Japan sends
us a cablegram tomorrow, we get It
today."
Poverty and Splendor.
I saw many poor, whom I supposed
to live In affluence. Poverty has, in
large cities, very different - appear
ances ; it Is often concealed In splen
dor, nnd often in extravagance.
Is the enre of a great part of mankind
to conceal their indigence from the
rest; they support themselves by tem
porary expedients and every day Is
lost In contriving for the morrow.—
Dr. Samuel .lohn sou.
It
Steamer Stolen
by "Red" Pirates
#■
ii|
#■
Story of Senator Schroeder Car
ries One Back to Days of
Spanish Main.
"1
BOLSHEVIK GREW MUTINIED
Put Officers in Irons and 8ailod to
Murmansk, Then, Tiring of 8oviet
Life, Stole Vessel Again and Re
turned to Cuxhaven.
Washington.—The theory that Bol
shevist buccaneers, agents or sympa
thizers were responsible for the dlshp
pearance of more than twenty mer
chant vessels off the Virginia and Car
olina coasts during the last six months
received a decided Impetus when offi
cials Investigating the case came into
possession of a detailed official ac
count of the seizure of the Cuxhaven
fishing steamer, Senator Schroeder, by
a mutinous crew, who confiscated the
vessel in the name of the soviet gov
ernment.
After the captain and other officers
had been overpowered and locked up,
the ringleader of the mutineers, one
Knuefken, aided by two Bolshevist
agents who had been smuggled aboard
as stowaways, ran the ship Into the
port of Murmansk.
Buccaneer Gets Five Years.
Here Knuefken left the ship and
eventually made his way back to Ham
burg, where he was convicted of mu
tiny and ship stealing and sentenced
to five years In the penitentiary.
Meanwhile, members of the crew who
had remained with the Senator Schroe
der, tired of life with the soviet and
plotted to steal the ship and return
to Cuxhaven.
Getting permission to go out on a
fishing trip they overpowered their
new officers and took the Senator
Schroeder back to Cuxhaven, where
they were arrested and tried.
This' fantastic though apparently In
disputable report of mutiny and piracy
gave a new lease of life to the belief
first 'expressed by Secretary of Com
merce Hoover, that the unusual loss
of ships during the last year must
be ascribed to the actions of Bolshevist
crew»
Official Report of Mutiny.
"The Cuxhaven fishing steamer
Senator Schroeder," said the official re
port In part," left the fishing harbor
ln Cuxhaven on April 21, 1921, on a
voyage to Iceland. On board were
the captain, two officers, two engineers,
five sailors, two stokers, and a cook,
and also one passenger.
"Three stowaways had been smug
gled aboard without the knowledge of
the master.
"When the ship was fairly out to
sea the captain was decoyed Into the
sailors' quarters and overpowered by
the three sailors and the stowaways
and locked up.
"The passenger, the first officer, and
the first engineer were then likewise
imprisoned In the sailors' quarters and
the rest of the crew were forced by
threats to continue running the ship.
"After a voyage of ten days the
I
Duchess Wins Rain "Bet
of Half Million Francs
»
Paris.—As a consequence of
rain Lloyd's of London lost their
latest "weather gamble." They
will be called upon to pay the
Duchess Decazes, organizer of
the great charity Pavlowa fete
bagatelle, at the Polo club, half
a million francs.
The terms of the insurance
stated that all expenses would
be paid by Lloyd's If the observ
era stationed on the top of Eiffel
tower noted more than two milli
meters of rain after eleven
o'clock In the morning.
At six o'clock at night the
rainfall was officially reported at
three and a half millimeters.
Admiral Sims at London's Cenotaph
U
it
1
Mi
,
1
Admiral Sims, whose recent remarks iu Loudon about the Sinn Feiner«
and advocates of free Ireland, have raised a storm of criticism. Is here shown
pfaclng a wreath on the Cenotaph In London.
vessel arrived in Murmansk on May
1, where Knuefken, one of the sailors,
declared it was confiscated in the
government
name of the soviet
Russia."
if
\
TOLD OF H. C. L IN HEAVEN
"Voice From Tomb" Persuades French
Widow to Place 500 Francs
Husband's Grave.
Paris.—Because of lier readiness to
believe that even in heaven the cost
of living had become a serious prob
lem a certuin faithful French widow
came near being defrauded the other
day. Since the death of her husband
this woman had made It a rule to
make a daily visit to Ills grave in the
Pere Lachaise Cemetery. But one day
while placing flowers on the mound
she was startled by bearing a voice.
"Up here," the voice called out, "It
Is the same as upon the earth—every
body wants money. On every band
are people asking for tips. Dear
friend, can you let me have 500
francs?"
Having no money wltl her the
woman after struggling to overcome
her fear promised to bring some as
soon as possible and the voice replied
gratefully : "Thank you."
The woman went home and told a
neighbor of her remarkable experience.
The neighbor thought a while and then Ac.
advised the widow to do what the
voice had requested, but the neighbor
also went to the authorities and let
them In on the secret.
Gathering together the necessary
500 francs the widow piously placed
the money on the grave In a purse and
went away. When she was out of
sight a young man stepped out from
behind a nearby tombstone and took
up the purse. But the next thing he
knew a poficeman had him by the
collar.
It turned out that the young man
was a nephew of the widow, but at
the trial that followed she forgave him
and withdrew the charges when the
young man's wife with a baby in her
arms appealed to the widow for mercy.
on
in
to
the
to
JL
Fortune Awaits
Missing Maiden
*
*
I
Her Spanish Grandfather and
American Uncles Searching
for Helen Owen.
WAS TOO FOND OF NIGHT LIFE
Daughter of Roosevelt Rough Rider
and "The Rose of Cuba" Escaped
From Restraint in Chicago
and Cannot Now Be Found.
Chicago.—Somewhere la these Unit
ed States Is a sfeventeen-year-old miss,
a Spanlsh-Aiueriean child of romance
and udventure, for whom a large for
tune is waiting.
Back In Spain aa aristocratic old
Castilian grandfather Is fretting away
his last years longing for her, and here
in America three wealthy uncles are
seeking her to tell her that a fourth
uncle has died and left her u great es
tate.
Helen Owen, the missing heiress, is
the daughter of the iate Warren D.
Owen, a Roosevelt Rough Rider, who
won the daughter of Don Esteban Gar
do In Cuba in the Spanish-American
war. Rough Rider Owen fought a duel
for the hand of Senorlta Qarclo with
her proud old father, it ip stated by
Clyde Owen of Pittsburgh, who is here
seeking the girl, and brought her to
the United States.
Uncle Leaves Her a Fortune.
Since then both have died and the
girl has disappeared, after seventeen
Boy in Pennsylvania Is
Older Than Great-Aunt
Bellefonte, l*u. — George VV.
Weaver enjoyR the distinction of
having a great-grandchild who is
older than his youngest daugh
ter, and Mr. Weaver himself is
only sixty-eight years old. He
has been married twice and is
the father of 18 children. 13 of
whom are living. Ills oldest
granddaughter married Edward
Askey. Their eldest son is thir
teen and older than Mr. Weav
er's youngest daughter by his
second marriage, who Is great
aunt to the lad, who was born
before iter.
Ac.
WANT POPPY GROWING ENDED
Foes of Opium Ask That China Stop
the Cultivation of the
Plant.
Washington.—Support for recom
mendations In the report of the com
mission on the opium traffic of th»
League of Nations lias been urged
in conferences here with government
officials and others by Mrs. Hamilton
Wright, one of the experts attached
to the commission. Mrs. Wright as
sisted In the preparation of the re
port submitted to the league council.
Many messages have been sent to
Geneva by American organizations
urging favorable action on the recom
mendation as the only means of pre
venting the revival of the opium traf
Whlle the report Itself has not yet
been made public. It Is understood
that It Includes two principal recom
mendations :
1. The council Is requested to seek
permission from the central govern
ment of China for consuls of league
members to address themselves In
that country directly to the leaders of
the Chinese military forces, urging
them to give up the cultivation of the
poppy.
2. The council Is requested to ap
point a special commission of inquiry
to visit personally the provinces In
China where the poppy Is grown to
nscertaln the extent of the cultiva
tion and the methods of marketing the
prohibited drug.
years of as romantic a life as her par
ents lived before her. The father died:
In April, 1920, at New Bedford, Mass.,
and since then the girl's uncle, Edward
Owen, has died at Boston, leaving his
estate to the young woman.
Assisting the Pittsburgh relative in.
the hunt are Perry Owen of New York
und William Owen of Oak Park, 111., alt
wealthy.
"After my brother Warren brought
his bride, who was known as 'The Rose
of Cuba,' back to the States they lived
In St. Louis," said Clyde Owen. "Helen
was born there. Her mother died a
year later of tuberculosis, and Warren
and the child wandered over most of
the world for many years. Her grand
father in Spuin sent agents to' this
country looking for her.
"Then, when she was fifteen, they
settled down in Oak Park, where War
ren was a painting contractor. She
kept his house and had her freedom,
and, Inheriting the temperament of her
parents, was too fond of that freedom
to keep out of mischief. She was fond
of cabarets, dances and the movies. So
I learned she came before the juvenile
authorities here.
"The girl's father moved east and
died, and she returned to Chicago to
be sent to the Home for the Friendless
because of her wild escapades. She
was given to the care of a Mrs. Cond
ley, 4516 Drave avenue. She escaped
through a window one night and has
never been heard of since.
"My brother, Edward Owen of Bos
ton, has died, leaving his estate to her.
Wherever she is, we want her to know
that we will protect her from the agent»
of her grandfather in Spain and that a
great house, surrounded by six acre*
of beautiful estate, und many thou
sands of dollars are awaiting her."
Clyde Owen, who told this story. Is
an official of the Pressed Steel Car
company, Pittsburgh.
The much-sought girl has changed
her name from Owen to Gordon,
cording to the Information available.
iic
FINDS A LABELED TURTLE
Kentucky Farmer Pick* Up One Upon
Which His Neighbor Carved.
Initiale Years Ago.
Lenoxburg, Ky.—Forty-four
years
ago J. T. McClannhan, who at thnt
time owned a farm near here, carved
hlB name on the shell of a small land
turtle that he had caught. He then
liberated the turtle.
A few days ago Peter Sheppard,
who now owns the adjoining farm,
caught a turtle, and upon examining
it closely learned thnt It was the same
turtle on which McClannhan
carved his initials forty-four years ago.
Recently he found another turtle
which Sheppard's father
had
on
, carved his
name, John Sheppard, twenty-eight
years ago.
The shells of the turtles had been
worn niinost smooth, but it still waa
easy to discern the carving of th»
names.