Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1895-08-21
IT STIRS PENDLETON
Hotel Fire and Alleged Murder
Investigated in Court.
Ills NO NEARER SOLUTION
10 Hold the Men Accused
of Crime.

Pendleton. or. Aug. i5.--Examina-
ton in the most sensational murder
case ever tried In this section was be-
gun at 10 o'clock this morning In the
court of Justice Parkes. The formal
charge of murder was entered last
Monday. Since that time the state has
been collecting testimony and awaiting
the arrival OF important witnesses. The
story first put out concerning the origin
OF the fire was soon thrown aside by
the authorities, and a theory construct
ed which made robbery and murder
the principal elements In the AFFAIR.
They contend that instead of a drunk
en- man tumbling about In the dark
and carelessly dropping burning
matches near cans of gasoline, the
great confiagration was started by con-
scienceless wretches who had gone TO
the room of guest of the hotel, plung-
ed knife into his breast or otherwise
took his life. and then, TO cover the
terrible deed from the searching invest
igation which was sure to follow. fired
the building and brought death to four
human beings.
No theory was necessary regarding
the death of these persons. for the
firemen In a few hours had laid out
their bodies ON the sidewalk and the
coroner had returned verdict. In ar
riving at that verdict however, there
were brought out facts which JUSTIFIED
| the suspicion that foul murder had
been committed. The conviction grew
| in the minds OF all. and there were
heard loud demands for the minutest
| inquiry The district attorney, John
IL I.awrey procured an efficient de-
tcctive from Portland to assist the
sheriff and his deputies. Since Thurs
| day, August s, the day after the fire.
| this city has been a veritable beehive
/ Of industry as the various clues were
| followed, and everything unearthed
which could possibly throw light on
| the tragedy. Every person In any way
connected with the AFFAIR, every guest
| of the hotel. every person accustomed
to frequent the place. and every stran-
| ger who was seen in town on that even
| ing who could in any manner be sus-
| pected of connection with the awful
| crime was locked up. openly or secret
| ly. People who little dream of such
| a thing have been traced in their
movements on the evening Of August
and the night that followed. The
heinous character of the crime rendered
this sleuth-like ferretting out of all
the details necessary.
George II. Clacking was young man
of excellent character who had built
up good reputation in Cascade Locks.
where he had resided for nine months.
Being Of a saving disposition. and re-
ceiving So per day at steady work, he
was able TO add to the $500 he took to
the Locks with him, until he counted
up 1890 of hard and honestly earned
money laid away In the bank. Mr..
Ciacking was about % years old. He
had always been an industrious man.
and as he had toiied he had looked for
ward to the time when he could start
in business for himself. Work became
slack on the government contract of
Day Brothers, and so he decided 10
start out TO hunt a business location
and realize his long cherished hopes.
Boarding the train coming east, he rode
as far as Pendleton. Here he stopped,
and with a newly made friend went to
the Transfer house. a hotel which has
been patronized by all classes-working
men loafers. gamblers. thieves and
thugs. The proprietor. Rees Heycock
was. so all people here believe. an hon.
est man. who merely neglected tc
make inquiry into the character oi
his guests. There were good men and
there were bad men among the guests
clacking brought money from th'
Locks 10 Pendleton. He was known
to have Il in Cascade Locks. and on tn,
same train with him rode a man jus
, released from the penitentiary at sa
| nh. ha hnA IN "a
one-half years for n serious crime
That man has been traced as far a
. | umatilia, "A miles west of this city. bu
: there he was lost and II can not be as
| certained In what direction he went
This ex-convict was in Cascade Lock
A two weeks before Clacking left Per
haps he could tell about the affair IL h
We're willing.
After the fire and on the same even
g ing, young boy in boarding hous
: heard some men counting over a sum Q
money and giving indications that tn
money had been recently acquired
Their conversation. as remembered b
the hoy. leads the officers to think the
: had obtained that money from CiacI
ing. for IL was evident that the youn
= man had met with violent death at IN
| nHndt OF some one Wnp ndu i9bDe
: | him. Milestone and Moore were Their
It fore arrested, and the charge OF murd'
II entered.
i The examination continued all da,
e II was held In the circuit court roor
/ on account of the immense crowds.
= one woman testified that the woma
rescued from the burning building sa
= she saw man lying In a pool
blood.
r. ]. Bebb. responsible witnes
: swore that he heard n man adm
!" that he saw the same body OF a ms
lying ln pool OF blood.
Thus far there IL nothing tending
! : convict Frank MILESTONE and Stewa
Moore. though II Is believed some ol
r. | was guilty.
MIXED UP IN WRONG C0MPAA