, 1890-05-22
A DASTARDLY CRIME.
Shooting of a Highly Re-
spected Portlander.
SUSPICION POINTS TO HIS SON
Tho Young Man at Once Placed
Under Arrest-He Was o
Spendthritt.

PORTLAND. May l0.--Thc police are
crying TO unravel very my sterious case
Of shooting. The victim is oliver S,
Phelps, an old ciezcn. lie was shot In
the breast just as he was entering his
residence on Second and Mead streets at
e'D o'clock last night His son, Frank
o. Phelps. has been arrested on suspi-
Heion. Mr.. Phelps is II years old. His
condition is critical, and II is doubtful II
he will live.
Mr.. Phelps attended the first Pres
byterian church last night, and was
escorted home by Carl Walsh, who took
leave OF him at the gate. just rs MIR.
Phelps turned the knob OF the door he
was fired upon by man who stood
about three feet TO the left OF him. The
ball entered the upper portion OF his
left breast, above the collar bone, and
passed through his lung, producing
profuse bleeding, and lodged under tho
skin near the left shoulder blade,
whence II was removed to-day.
Mr.. Phelps has no idea who his would
be assassin is, as tho night was dark
and he saw no one. He insisted at frst
that he had been shot from behind, the
pain being from the shoulder where tie
bullet lodged.
Just after the shot was fired, Mrs.
Plymale, who lives u block away, heard
woman cry out George, oh George"
some people say that this was Mrs
Phelps calling to her husband, but this
Tean not be, as his name Is Frank. not
George.
Detectives were put upon the track as
sxft
oeived at the police headquarters.
Neishbors volunteered the information
that Phelps and his son had had con-
siderable trouble lately and intimatsd
that Frank did tho shooting. The de-
tcctives went Immediately to Franks
house, which adjoins the old mans resi-
dence. Franks mother-in.law was
the only one at home. She
said that Frank and his wife
had gone to Cordray's theater,
They waited until Frank came at /
o'clock this morning aud arrested him,
When told Of tho shooting, neither he
nor his wife seemed surprised. Shortly
siterward he was admitted to the room
where his father was All he said was;
MY God! Isn't that fearful" His re.
marks were indifferent. The police re.
fuse to allow reporters to talk to Phelps.
lhey are keeping aclose watch over him,
And making n thorough investigation.
Phelps told Chief Detective Gutz.
macher that abou o 10 o clock last nig..t
messenger boy came to his house with
note from his vile, who was at the
theater, asking him to join her. which
BE did. The police have heen unable to
nd any trace OF the messenger boy.
hanks mother-iu law says no loft the
house about ten minutes before the
shooting.
Mr. Phelps is unwilling to believe that
his son did the shooting. lie does not
know that Frank has beon arrested.
Frank Is a spendthrift and has a bad
reputation. lilo is 30 years old, and an
upholstercr by trade. He has been dis
charged from several places for not max
Ing proper return OF the money col
iccted. After his m marriage his wife left
him and went to Sau Francisco, ,ibut re-
turned in year or so and tho couple
made up and have been living spas
medically together. II Frank did the
shooting. the only motive that can be
assigned Is his desire TO get his father
out OF tho way, in order that he might
get control oil the property, which Is
worth about $50, IL is said that Mr..
Phelps has contemplated marrying his
housekeeper 10 prevent ths property
from falling into Franks hands, and
this has been the cause of considerable
trouble between father and son,