Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1906-02-08
BIRDS HAVE FLOWN.
Not Likely that Puser and MCktn.
ley Will be Captured.

Widespread comment has been oc
casioned by the extraordinary ease will
which S. A. d. Puter and Horace u
Mckinley, whose Napoleonic operation
form the most spectacular chapters IL
the Oregon land frauds, have made
their escape from the jurisdiction of the
United States. Few believe that the,
conld have escaped from San Francisco
if the federal officials stationed there
had been vixilant in the effort to ap'
prehend them
"The government did not want them
il the comm commentary, and it inds
very general acceptance. While special
agents we're busily engaged in Oregon
in running down clues and seeking in-
fo, nation as to the fugitives, the men
supposed to be fl eing from Justice were
living undis,urbed and apparently care
free IN SanFrancisco.
Mckinley finally decided to set sail
for the orient and be took passage on
the steamer Mongolia for Shanghai, Nc
vember Is He was accompanied by q
wealthy YOU easierner, who had be-
come interested in a project for build
rg a sti Get railway IN one OF the large
cities OF China. At the time Mckinley
sailed b tn he and Puter were very
mnch wanted by State Land Agent
West, VIII had brought to light their
operations in counterfeit school land
certificates aud was doing his utmost to
run the swindlels to Earth. Apparently
for the purpose Of throwing West off
his trail Mckinley resorted to chacter-
istic ruse.
He wrote to friend in Portland ask
ing him to mail three letters which he
enclosed, the object being that they
should bear the Portland postmark and
thus create the impression that Mckin
ley was 10 tha. city. The letter con-
tanning these enclosures was dated
December the from SsnFrsRcisco and
the postmark corresponded, showing
that the letter came through the San
Francisco postcffice.
Inasmuch as Mckinley sailed to
Shanghai November 16. it is probable
that he left this letter aud the en-
closures. with instructions that they be
mailed December 5, the date on the let
ter. If his wife, Marie Ware Mckinley,
was then in San Francisco, she may
have been entrusted with the letter. At
all events the scheme was we'll calcu.
lated to throw his pursuers off the scent.
Mckinley we'll knew the methods of the
secret service and knew that if serious
effort should be made to apprehend
him one of the first things to be done
would he to wat the mails.
Just about the time that this letter
was mailed from San Francisco In
spector Thomas B. Neuhausen received
a letter from Sea tie, dated December
1. saying that Mckinley was endeavor.
ing to escape from the country. The
writer was evidently IN ignorance of the
fact that the bird had flown and ex-
pressed the belief that Mckinney would
sail from Vancouver, B. c. The letter
further suggested the arrest of George J..
Hubbard and Kay McLay. saying that
they had been engaged in some trans
actions with Mckinley and might be
forced to disclose his whereabouts.
Neuhausen Immediately communi"
Gated the information he had received
to State Land Agent West. and though
both of them regarded the letter with
suspicion, thinking it might be q mere
decoy. West went to Seattle and made
search for some clu. which might
lead to McKinley's arrest. He was un-
successful. and though some informa
ton was secured as to McKinley's
movements during the previous summer
and fall, nothing was learned which was
Of material importance.
subsequently reports came from San
Francisco to Inspector Neunausen that
the two swir dlers were in California
This information was accepted both by
Neuhau;en and by Vest as probably
correct, and they gave little credence to
the runners that became current several
days ago that the two men had fed the
country.
Two days ago these rumors were con-
frmed In manner that lett no doubt
as to their accuracy. Evidently Francis
J. Henedy is convinced that the fugi-
tives have ESCAPED, although in an it,
terview in San Francisco he stated that
he thought they could be located when
wanted.
An important question which now
arises is whether Puter and Mckinley
can be extradi'ed, and whether, il this
can be done the government will take
the necessary steps. 1t appears to be
for the state land agent to
institute extrsdition proceedings with.
out the aid OF the federal authorities
Ii Puter and Mckinley were purposely
allowed to escape from the governments
clutches it is not to be expected that
tba,a u;Il ba anu oxaok oToxt 10 bx;ou