East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-06-12
IN CIRCUIT COURT
STONE, ACCUSED FORGER,
HAS A DEVIOUS RECORD.
Gambler Pleaded Guilty and Was
Fined $50: Another Charge rs Still
Standing Against Him for the Same
Offense-Habeas Corpus Hearing is
Set for -Jnne 10; Charge OF Incest
Made in Law suit for Possession of
the Wingard Child.

In the circalit court this morning.
the trial of Oscar C. Stone for obtain
ing money under false pretenses, be-
gan. The crime for which the one
time Weston attorney was placed on
trial was for having issued a check
for SO upon the Bank of Weston,
when he had no funds in that institu-
ton. The check was given Will Wells
on April 4 last, and several days later
other checks were sent in from Spo-
kane. All were rejected for want of
funds.
In the trial of Stone District Attor-
ney Phelps appeared for the state,
while Messrs. Winter & Collier are
representing the defendant. The fore
noon was devoted to the selection Of
a jury. which was empanelled as fol-
lows:
A. L. Swaggart, ]. H. Sailing, Will
liam Talbert, ]. M. O'Harra, Louis
Hagen, Thomas Spence, ]. NJ. Hart
nett, ]. w. Coppinger, j. T. Laing.
Charles White. E. A. Dudley and A.
T. Perkins.
The taking Of testimony for the
state began shortly after 2 O'Clock.
Stone Sued for Divorce.
Since he has been confined in the
county Jail here Stone has been sued
for divorce by his wife, who resides
in Portland, and the allegations made
in the complaint throw some light on
the character of the Weston "attor-
ney." The two were married in Spo-
kane in 1900, and according to the
plaintiff Stone began his matrimonial
career by stealing their wedding pres
ents and pawning the same. She says
Stone claimed relationship to John
Hay, late secretary of state, and per-
suaded her to go with him to Arizona.
However he soon left that territory
because of the financial transactions
in which he was involved. For time
they were in Nevada and later re-
turned to oregon. From this state he
went to Montana to escape arrest, and
was taken in Butte, where he was in
Jail for four months, Later he was
removed to the Multn0mah county
Jail, where he remained three months.
During all their married life the
plaintiff declares her husband failed
to provide home for her and was
harsh and abusive.
Meridth Pleaded Guilty.
William Meridth, the last of the
bunch of gamblers indicted by the
grand jury, appeared before Judge
Ellis this afternoon and pleaded gull
ty to the charge against him. He was
thereupon fined the sum of $50.
Some amusement was caused in the
court room just after Meridth hat
pleaded guilty, when the district at
torney arose and asked him II he die
not wish to plead guilty to another
charge which had been standing fol
some time. 1t was for gambling also
and had been preferred against thu
defendant during T. G. Hailey's tern
as district attorney. However, Mer
idth declared he was not guilty o
that charge, and accordingly plea o
not guilty was entered. The matte
will be looked up by District Attorne
Phelps to see " the case will warran
trial.
Charged With Incest.
In the case Of the application of {
L. Wingard for writ of habeas cor
pus to secure the custody Of hi
minor daughter the court this after
noon designated Tuesday, June 10, a
day for hearing.
An answer to, the application 10
/ possession of the child was filed toda
by C. H. Carter. attorney for Mr.
l wingard. The child in question is br
II years Of age, and It is alleged
} the answer that the plaintiff, he
| father, forced her to commit incei
! with him while she was under his cui
! tody.
The child is now Ill with the mes
! sles at Milton, and an order Is out fc
the sheriff to have custody Of her VI
til after the trial. Judge Fee and A
torney Oscar Cain OF Walia Wall
4 represept WipRard In the case,