The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-02-10
H|lRI||A |C|'|||l|b||||| !
An UNNATURAL | / I |! !
FATHER.
Oregon Man Waiting Trial for,
Murder Of Wife and
Daughter.

L MCMlulVllle,5eO Ke., req. s1V.--l0 the
Yamhill county jail hereJawaiting trial
at the approaching term of court, is
a man who is charged with what the
authorities regard as one of the most
appalling crimes>ever recorded In Ore
gOn. His name is Abrama Hembree
and he is accused OF having murdered
his wife and his 16-year-old daugh-
ter; of having chopped their bodies
up, burned the heads in the kitchen
stove; carried wood aud stacked 1t
around the remains, and then set fire
to his home to hide the evidences of
his crime q + g;.%i
The accused man belongs to one Of
the pioneer families of this section.
His father crossed the plains in 1913
and settled in this county. In 1856
he met death in battle while leading
company of Oregon volunteers against
the Indians Twenty years ago young,
Abram Hembree married handsome
girl; Columbia Lawrence, and settled
In the adjoining county of TIlamook.:
Hembree was rather q 'ttsrtftless fell
low. given to dissipation, though never
considered a real bad man. He was
In the habit of frequenti1g q cross
road saloon with one or two royster-
ing companions, and when in his cups
was wont to flourish his revolver and
decant upon his prowess and blood
thirstfness. But his bragado seldom,
got beyond the talking stage.
His wife, patient and industrious,
stayed at home and reared her family,
which consisted of a son, aged IS, a
daughter, Ora, aged 16, and two young
err boys; aged IL and 10,' The oldest,
boy finally left home, leaving thA
daughter and two younger boys with
their mother
The murder of mother and daughter
is supposed to have tal5ena place on
December 2Sth last A few days be-
fore that date the two boys left home
to visit a relative On, the morning
of December 20, Hembree arrived at
the house of neighbour, clad only
in his undergarments, wet and chilled
to the bone. He asked If his wife, or
daughter were there and declared that
his house was burned and they were
gone.
He said that the family had awak-
ened to find their house inSfiames. and
all had carried out wlrat they, could;
that his daughter wanted to go back
for trunk which contained her; little
belongings; that he had ordered. the
women not to enter the house.; that
he had gone around to a storerOom in.
the rear to attempt to save some. pro-
visions and that when he returned the
women were gone; that he had:called
and received no answer; had searched
the ,bafh,.an then concluded that they
might have sought a neighbours, and
he to had left the burning house,,
Hembree's tale, when repeated to
the sheriff and corener, was always
the same. Itiwas believed att first, but
later Developments aroused. suspicion.
The ruins were thoroughly searched.
In a. heating stove, were found bones
which physicians pronounced, to, be
part Of skulls, Indicating that they had
been crushed or broken, up, before be
ing burned. It was said that's the. teeth
were found lying among the bones OF
the feet, and that four cords. of wood
had been hauled to the house. a few
days before the tragedy.
| Hemhree'ss c3nuded, oareen was re-
called, and he was finally placed un-
del. arrest. When, all! the. facts became
known the wrath of the neighb0ss was
aroused to, fury and. soon there was
talk Of a lynnhing. Hsmbese WAS con-
sequsntly brought to, MeAinnville by
| the. authorities for safe-keepsng. Al
the next hearing of court he will bs
|. tried for murder. in, tl>a fist iiapraaa