The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-05-18

James Foss was found dead in the
smouldering ruins Of his cabin, eighteen
miles south Of this city, last Friday
morning. His neighbor and alleged
enemy, Frank Ries, now lies in the
Wasco county jail charged by the cor.
oner's jury with the awful crime of
murder.
The peaceful community of Mount
Hood was startled Thursday evening
about 9;30 o'clock, to hear seven di-
tinct rifle shots in the edirection Ct James
Foss cabin. George Perkins, near
neighbor, was soon on the scene, and
according to his sworn testimony, Frank
Ries came out Of the fouse with gun
on his arm.
Ries COnfeses to Shooting.
Ries then commanded that Perkins
say nothing OF what he had just SEN.
81 met Foss with club, are the woras
OF Ries as given by Perkins, "and he
threatened to kill me. | went home and
got my gun, and have killed the son of
a - right in there"
As Perkins turned to leave, Ries de-
clared he was going to set fire to the
cabin and "burn the whole darned
thing up,"
According to the testimony of J. N.
Knight, Ries called at the knight home
Thursday evening, and appeared very
much excited. Ries said that lie had
just met Foss who had called him vile
names, which he would have to retract,
or he (Ries) would kill him. Ries went
SO far as to say he had a notion of going
home then for the purpose Of getting his
gun and killing Foss
Quarreled Over Woman.
Foss and Ries are known to have quar-
relied bitterly for over year, and it APP
pears that they both were anxious to
win the graces of Widow Riggs. Jealousy
for the woman Is alleged as a motive for
the crime.
1t WAS Thursday evening about
O'Clock when the neighbors Of Foss
heard shooting in the direction of his
cabin, and later saw the bright blaze as
the home of the old bachelor was burned
to the ground, cremating the body OF the
dead rancher Early Friday morning a
messenger was dispatched down the
valley to Odell, from where Sheriff Sex.
ton and Coroner Burget were communi-
Gated with. The officers reached Hood
River on the afternoon train, and left
Immediately for the scene OF the tragedy.
1t was ardent job before the search.
ers. Ries known as determined and
dangerous man when aroused an on
this occasion hunted as a fugitive did
tend to prove the mettle of men. Sheriff
Sexton took the lead and displayed un-
ilinching bravery in the bright NOON
light in fearlessly exposing himself to
the deadly aim Of the fugitive. Coronrr
Burger also demonstrated that he had 40
fear Of death in executing the functions
of his Office.
Ries Submits to Arrest.
They reached the Mount Hood settle.
ment about Z o'clock, A posse was at
once formed and search made inr Ries.
Coroner Burgtet came upon RIes asleep
in his barn about i o'clock that evening.
Rie5 offered no resistance as he was
taken into custody by Sheriff Sexton.
Saturday morning jury OF six Of the
Mount Hood farmers and neighbors of
Ries were empaneled by Coroner Charles
n. Burget, and an inquiry made into
the circumstances Of the shooting and
death of Foss, whose Charred remains
lay among the smoulderlng ruins of the
cabin.
1t was no easy task for the sturdy
farmers to give testimony which might
determine the life or liberty of one OF
their number, but firm to their duty,
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