The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-06-11
CAN HANDLE
THE SITUATION
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Judge Gray's Reply to the Open Let
ter Of Uncle" John
MintO.
WILL STAND NO VIOLENCE
Whenever the Iatsfested People Call for
Assistance and State What They
kant, the couaty Will See
That They Get II.
WILL STAND NO VIOLENCE

An Astorian representative last even
INK called on Judge Gray. and inter
viewed him concerning the letter, pub
lished In yesterdays oregonlan, signed
by the Hon. John Mimic. OF Salem,
criticising the officers Of clatsop cOun-
~, In reply to the questions OF the
reporter. Judge Gray said:
II have not seen the letter you refer
TO-"
When Il was shown 10 him he stated;
1T Is very remarkable how the SEN
sntional reports Of correspondents. and
even business men. magnify and ex-
aggerate statements OF all kinds which
happen 70 come 70 their ears and thus
do much harm by frIghtening the peo-
pie and defeating the efforts OF the
officers OF the law whist they are at
tempting to capture criminals.
when the salmon fishing season be-
gan this year the Gamers claimed they
could not pay more than four cents
per pound for fish Since the 10th day
Of April the sill net and seine fisher
men OF the Columbia river have been
on a strike for ave cents per pound for
fresh salmon There have been nu-
mcrous acts OF violence committed
along the boundaries Of Clatsop coun-
~. The murder OF the woman and
three men near Clifton on May 27th IS
believed to have been committed by
striking fishermen. and Sheriff Hare
and deputies together with Coroner
Pohl have been hunting for evidence
that would lead 10 the conviction OF
the perpetrators OF the crime Before
the body OF Sam Meilandt was found
yesterday II was considered possible
that he might have murdered the other
two men In drunken quarrel and af-
terwards killed the woman TO hide his
crime. and then have left the country.
The crime was committed on the Col
umbla river. and contend that the
funds appropriated by the legislature
OF this state for the apprehension OF
criminals should be used in such cases.
Governor Lord has today informed me
that the state reward appropriation is
exhausted I, therefore. for Clatsop
county. offered today (before saw
Uncle Johns open letter.. a reward Of
one thousand dollars for information
that viii lead 20 the arrest and con-
viction Of the murderers. on the 9Th
day Of June two kilograms were re-
ceived by Sheriff Hare from Clifton
asking for protection. He Immediately
informed the members OF the county
court. who had few moments pre-
viously adjourned, that he required
steamer and some deputies. They. the
court. told him TO so ahead. In re-
sponse 10 the only other call made on
the sheriff. he sent deputy TO take
care Of the situation. but II transpired |
that his services were not required. l
am confident that the sheriff can han
die the situation whenever the can
nerymen or others call upon him and |
tell him what they wish to do, Fifteen
hundred or two thousand men on a
strike are not usually as orderly as
those in Astoria today. The strike
leaders know that violence will not be
tolerated and that the militia will be
called for the moment their services
are required"