VOLUME XX. NUMBER 72.
SEWARD, ALASKA, TUESDAY, MARCH 17,1925.
PRICE TEN CENTS
PORT MOLLER TRAPPER, HUNTER
COMMITS SUICIDE RATHER THAN
' LIVE WITH HIS LEG BADLY BROKEN
Y RITES BRIEF NOTE TELLING OF ACCIDENT AND
BLOWS HEAD OFF WITH RIFLE—AT HIS
CABIN MAJOR MARTIN RESTED
George X. Bertoux, trapper, hunter and guide, who arrived in
Seward Sunday on the steamship Starr, after spending the winter
in Herendeen Bay, and the Port Moller district. Mr. Bertoux is on
his way Outside to dispose of his winter’s catch, and will be a guest
of the Overland, leaving Sunday morning on the Northwestern.
Mr. Bertoux states that conditions were good for fur in the
Ilerendeen Bay district, as the weather was extremely cold, and this
^country had but a light snow fall. Foxes and mink were numerous
and plenty of rabbits and ptarmigan were found for food.
Mr. Bertoux tells the story of the suicide of an oldtimer, Gust
Peterson, a trapper in the Port Moller district, whom he found dead,
while running a trap line. Mr. Bertoux stated that his attention
was first called to the self-murder by seeing Peterson’s dogs lying
dead outside his cabin, about 30 miles from Nelson’s lagoon, which
is across the bay from Port Moller. Investigation showed that the
dogs had been shot. There were five fine animals in the team.
1'pon opening the door to the cabin he found Peterson lying on the
^ioor dead, with a bullet hole from a 25-20 calibre rifle in his fore
head. On the table was a brief note written by the dead man say
ing he had broken his leg, and finding it impossible to get aid or
help himself he had decided that suicide was the only relief from
his suffering. A diary lying nearby had been written up to Janu
ary 19, the day before Bertoux found the body, he arriving at the
cabin January 20.
* Mr. Bertoux left for aid in removing the body, and returning
with two companions, interred the remains. Examination of the
dead man’s effects showed two or three fox skins and a quantity of
food. The sum of $4.75 was found in the pockets of deceased, but
not a scrap of evidence could be found to show that the dead man
had any relatives or friends. It was impossible to ascertain wlietlr
er or not the man’s leg was broken as none of the party had enough
medical knowledge to make a proper examination, so the remains
were interred in a grave dug in the frozen sod near the cabin.
Peterson had been living in the Bristol Bay district for the
past 18 years, and was a man about 45 years of age, a native of
Sweden. * lie was of solitary habits and had little to do with the
eannerymen at Nelson’s Lagoon or Port Moller. It was at his
cabin that Major Martin and Sergeant Harvey found shelter when
a their airplane came to earth in their attempted round-the-world
% flight. Peterson was away at the time. After resting here a day
or so they made their way to Port Moller.
Mr. Bertoux traveled 180 miles in seeking help in burying Mr.
Peterson’s remains, the weather being extremely cold at the time.
He mushed overland from the Bering Sea side to False Pass, catch
ing rlie steamer Starr for Seward
SHEPHERD’S GUILT
ESTABLISHED BY
• EVIDENCE TODAY
FAI MAN TESTIFIES HE WAS TO
RECEIVE S100.000 FOR GERMS
GIVEN TO SHEPHERD
< GIVE GERMS IN WATER
^ Defendant Shows Great Nervousness
When Confronted with Faiman
and Contradicts Testimony
(By Associated Press)
CHICAGO, Mar. 17.—Prosecutor
Crowe announced today that C. C. Fai
man, president of the National Univer
sity of Science, had declared that he
, save typhoid germs to Shepherd to
kill McClintock, upon Shepherd’s
promise to pay Faiman $100,000 after
the settlement of the estate. Faiman
said he first demanded a quarter of
a million dollars, but the amount was
set at $200,000 and then later reduced
to $100,000. Faiman confessed that
he told Shepherd how to administer
the germs and gave Shepherd other
advice in the plot. Crowe said Fai
man will be the State’s star witness
4 in the indictments found and that he
had been promised a minimum pen
alty if not complete immunity in re
$ turn for his confession.
Faiman Was Quack Doctor
| » Chief Inspector Follmer, of the Illi
nois Department of Education declar
ed that the National University of
Science was a “diploma mill,” and said
that Faiman, who was a “quack” in
every sense of the word, had bought
the place at auction two years ago.
> ^The students were gullible country
I
%
■ men or “quacks” desiring to impress
their victims with their many diplo
mas on their walls.
Germs Given in Glass of Water
Faiman reported that the under
standing was that Shepherd was to
wait until McClintock had signed a
j will giving all his property to Shep
herd, his guardian, and then the germs
would be given him at the first fav
orable opportunity. The first dose of
typhoid germs were given McClintock
in a glass of cold water, soon after
his will had been signed and delivered
to Shepherd.
Would Be Rich If Deal Went Off
“Shepherd” said Faiman, “declar
i ed that we wouid both be rich if the
deal went through successfully.”
. This statement was made while Fai
man was in the room with Shepherd,
who was very pale and nervous.
He denied the accusation by say
ing, “You are a liar,” in almost a whis
per.”
“I’ve told the truth and you cannot
deny it,” replied Faiman. looking
steadily at Shepherd.
Shepherd Gives Germs
Faiman admitted again that he had
given the germs to Shepherd, after
Shepherd had told him he was going
to inoculate someone with them, and
that they meant a million dollars to
him if he succeeded.
Today’s testimony was very damag
ing to Shepherd, who is a nervous
wreck.
Two Women Taken in Custody
Mrs. J. E. Davidson and Miss Ruby
Peel, both of Albuquerque, New Mex
ico, friends of Mrs. Shepherd, were
taken into custody today and taken
to Crowe’s office where they were
questioned. Faiman said that when
Shepherd wrent to Faiman’s files and
took the letter Shepherd had written
inquiring about the course in bacteri
ology, Faiman began to wonder- where
he “would get off at.”
Shepherd exclaimed, “quit your kid
ding,” when Faiman demanded a quar
ter of the loot, but soon after McClin
tock died. Shepherd got nervous and
began telephoning Faiman, who reas
sured him that they would not be
“found out.”
Answering a question concerning
Shepherd’s attitude in the murder, Fai
man said, “The only thing that seem
ed to worry him was the success of
his plan. He never once showed any
remorse or expressed any sympathy
for the boy.”
Davidson and Peel Released.
k Davidson and Peel who were arrest
ed yesterday in connection with the
McClintock case, were released when
i
they explained that they had visited
McClintock but four times, including
the day he was stricken with his fa
tal illness.
WARREN HANDS
RESIGN ATION TO
PRES. COOLIDGE
JOHN G. SARGENT OF VERMONT
THEN NAMED TO FILL PLACE
VACATED BY DOUGHERTY
DEMOCRATS WIN POINT
Warren Writes He Has No Desire to
Embarrass President by Seeking
Appointment to Office '
(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, D. C., Mar. 17.—
Charles Beecher Warren, former am
bassador to Great Britain, recently
nominated for attorney general by
President Coolidge, and bitterly op
posed by the Democratic senators and
La Follette adherents, today announc
ed his withdrawal from the contest,
stating that he had no desire to em
barrass the administration by his nom
ination.
President Coolidge then named John
G. Sargent, a Vermont attorney as
attorney general, and sent his nomi
nation to the Senate for confirmation.
Senate Republican and Democratic
leaders predicted action today or to
morrow.
Warren wrote President Coolidge
that he would not cause “ a prolonged
political controversy that might les
sen your opportunities for full use
fulness.”
Sergent former Attorney General
(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, D. C., Mar. 17.—
John G. Sergent wa^ former attorney
general of Vermont, and is known as
“the best attorney in New England.”
He was educated at Tuft’s College, ad
mitted to the bar in 1890. He is 64
years of age.
Warren’s letter withdrawing from
the nomination wras in reply to one re
ceived from President Coolidge ten
dering him a recess appointment.
| Before sending the nomination of
Sergent to the Senate President Cool
| idge conferred with Republican lead
| ers because he said, he was “unwilling
to subject anyone else to the ordeal
to which Warren had been submitted.”
Sergent Approved by Committee
WASHINGTON, D. C., Mar. 17.—
The Senate Judiciary committee in
a session lasting less than three-quar
ters of an hour, approved the nomina
tion of John G. Sergent for attorney
general. Coolidge also nominated
Jacob Gould Schurman, now minister
to China, to be ambassador to Ger
many.
Freight Rates Will Be
Investigated Near Future
(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, D. C., Mar. 17.—
Conforming to a resolution adopted
last session of Congress, the Interstate
Commerce Commission ordered an in
vestigation of the freight ^ates on the
railroads of the entire cc ’ y.
i
LEGISLATOR ASKS
LICENSE FEE FOR
TRAPPERS IN TY.
FAIRBANKS MAN PROPOSES $1.00
FEE FOR ALASKANS AND $100
FOR NON-RESIDENTS
TxVX BE BURDENSOME
Bill Alleged to Be for Purpose of
Keeping Aliens Out of Business—
Will Hit Canadians.
(Special to The Gateway)
(By Associated Press)
JUNEAU, Alaska, Mar. 17.—A Ter
ritorial license fee system for trappers
is proposed in a House bill introduced
today by Representative Moody of
Fairbanks, providing for a $1 tax on
all residents engaged in trapping or
taking furs, and a $100 fee for non
residents trapping fur animals in the
Territory of Alaska. The 'purpose of
the measure is alleged to be to curb
trapping by aliens, said to exist large
ly in certain sections. Moody pre
sented a petition from residents at
Fort Yukon, claiming that trapping
to the north of that post is almost
monopolized by non-residents. Some
Canadian provinces already have a
similar license system, British Colum
bia charging $100, and the Northwest
Territory $150.
The House passed a resolution of
respect and tribute to the late W. W.
Casey, of Juneau, a member of the
Third and Fourth sessions of the Ter
ritorial Legislature, who died in
Ketchikan last fall during the cam
paign in which he was a candidate for
the Lower House.
The Senate committee favorably re
ported the $12,000 deficiency bill.
REVOLVING “SAILS" GERMAN
SHIP POWERLESS IN STORM
(By Associated Press)
HAMBURG, Germany, Mar. 17.—
A violent storm area in which it
was found impossible to utilize her
unique revolving sails, was encount
ered by Flettener’s motorship Bac
kau, which arrived in the Bay of
Kial from Danzig recently after a
69-hour trip.
While progress was difficult and
slow, the captain expressed satis
faction with the manner in which
the motorship withstood thte heavy
seas.
The Backau is expected to resume
her journey to Scotland tomorrow
after being fitted with wireless ap
paratus.
Boy Confesses Murder
To Save His Mother
(Pv Associated Press)
LOS ANGELES, Cal., Mar. 17.—Har
old Willis, 14, confessed today that he
had committed the murder for which
his mother was sentenced to serve life
imprisonment. Later, after a severe
grilling he told the police the confes
| sion was a lie to save his mother.
Shaw Was Considered
WASHINGTON, D. C., Mar. 17 —
Thomas W. Shaw of the Yale Law
School was also considered for the
office of attorney general.
SOVIET GOVERNMENT TO
EXCAVATE FOR LIBRARY
• OF IVAN THE TERRIBLE
(By Associated Press)
MOSCOW, Mar. 17.—The so
viet government today took steps
to excavate under the towers of
the Kremlin for the famous Hid
den library of Ivan the Terrible
(1530-1584), said to include 800
volumes bound in pure gold and
many Arabian, Persian, Assyrian
and Byzantine manuscripts and
parchments of priceless value.
The existence of such a libra
ry has been known for centuries
but its precise location has never
been accurately determined.
*
KELSO CITIZENS SIGN
RECALL PETITION AND
ARE THROWN IN JAIL
(By Associated Press)
* KELSO, March 17.—Nine of *
* 14 Kelso citizens who signed a *
* petition seeking the recall of J. *
* E. Stone, city attorney, spent *
* last night in the county jail. *
* They were arrested on warrants *
* alleging criminal libel, growing *
* out of charges against Stone *
* contained in the recall petition. *
* One of the 14 avo bond of *
* $750. Four others had no: been *
* apprehended at noon today. Bail *
* has been set at $750 for each *
* of the signers of the petition. At *
* least one of the men arrested re- *
* fused an offer of bail, staying in *
* jail, “for theeause.” *
**********
Much Legislation Fails
To Pass Last Congress
(Ry Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, D. C., Mar. 17.—
Representative Nicholas Longworth,
of Ohio, expressed confidence that
much of the legislation which failed
in a final vote of the House during
the last session, will receive favorable
consideration the next session, in
cluding a plan for retirement of gov
ernment employes and the revision of
the laws of the United States.
WHEAT TAKES TUMBLE.
WINNIPEG, Mar. 17—Wheat fell
13.5 cents in ten minutes after the
opening of the board of trade here to
day, May wheat going to $1.59.
WINNIPEG, Mar. 17.—May wheat
fell IS cents a bushel, the most dras
tic break in the history of the Win
nepeg Grain Exchange. The pit was
in a turmoil with the traders unable
to execute loss orders or sell holdings.
DANIEL GUGGENHEIM ILL
NEW YORK, Mar. 17.—Daniel Gug
genheim is reported to be seriously ill
with a heart attack, but his secretary
said he “was only slightly indisposed.”
Warren Debate Draws
Interested Spectators
(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, D. C., Mar. 17
In order to not miss a word of the
Senate debate on Charles B. Warren’s
nomination for attorney general, Mrs
Dawes, wife of the vice-president, and
a party of friends took their lunches
to the gallery and opened the pack
ages while the crowded lunchless as
sembly enviously watched them eat..
KID M’COY CONVICTED
LOS ANGELES. Mar. 17.—Kid Mc
Coy, former middleweight pugilist,
was convicted today on three counts
of assault.
THEATRICAL JURY WILL
STUDY NEW YORK PLAYS
NEW YORK, Mar. 17.—Operation,
of the citizens’ play jury plan for
reviewing salacious theatrical pro
ductions began today. Preliminary
verdicts on some of the twelve plays
complained of are expected by the
end of the week.
The jurors will not know one an
other until after a play has been
reviewed. Managers will be un
aware that - their plays have been
tried until they receive notification
to reconstruct their productions or
to withdraw them.
There will be no arguments before
the jury and its decision will be ab
solute because organized actors will
withdraw from a play upon which
a jury decides adversely.
A panel of 300 names from which
the juries are being selected with a
jury wheel by Police Commissioner
Enright had been approved by rep
resentatives of the theater, reform
agencies and the law.
Correct this sentence: “Well, well,”
chuckled dad; “another clinker has
formed.”