East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-02-11
THE CASE OF. JOHN T. NrMANUs.

In the recent history of Umatilla
county there has heen no more pitia-
BILE illustration of the struggle of
brilliant man with the drink habit.
than that of John P. McManus, now
held in the county Jail for shooting
Bob Estes.
No man deplores the habit more
than McManus. His mind is brilliant
and his nature refined and he keenly
appreciates tte disgusting environ
ments Of the habit-but like thous-
ands of other brainy men, his weak
ness seems tc be incurable.
No one can say that he has not
fought off the habit manfully. No
man can say that his better nature
and his better instincts have not been
developed and sustained by a most in
domitable will power, for long periods,
during which he has remained sober.
although possessing an ungovernable
appetite.
Had McManus been left to his own
inclinations and to his own determine
ton he would not now be in his unfor-
tunate plight and his victim would yet
be alive, to grace his profession.
Four years ago when McManus
founded the Pilot Rock Record, he
quit drinking, shook off his old asso-
ciates and was one of the soberest and
most lovable men in the community.
He is naturally a gentleman, and his
long business training and brilliant
mind give him a peculiarly attractive
personality, when sober. He multi
Piled the number of his friends, mar
ried an estimable woman, established
a home and prospered. 1t looked as
though he had at last conquered his
old habit and every man in the coun-
ty who had known Mac" was glad OF
it and took a personal interest in his
case.
But his felicity was doomed to short
life.
When the gang of Pendleton gam
blers saw that he was prospecting and
had perhaps put away considerable
money, they began to visit Pilot Rock
regularly, they became good fel'
lows'' with Mack. They associated
with him closely, suggested and beg
g-d that he drink with them, just fol
"old friendships sake" and by ever
vile known to the trade, sought t
undermine his manful determination
and to lower him again to their leve
where his money would be velvet
for them.
II was a year or more before the!
finally succeeded in winning hin
away from the entreaties and inflence
Of his family and friends. But final!
they got" him, as they say. He be
gan drinking again, and from drink
ing II was easy to lead him to gambl
ing again, and his money was carrie'
back to pendleton in installments b,
the gambling fraternity which is nov
mourning the untimely loss Of a mem
Der.
Nobody In to blame for the down
fall Of McManus and the death Of Bo'
Estes except the gamblers who hav
worked long and patiently to accom-
pl'sh the downfall of McManus, afte
he had manfully stood aloof from
them for almost four years, durin
which time he had leaped into a plac
Of respectabiIity in the community
had accumulated some means, Marie
and settled down and was prosperin
and highly esteemed.
Nobody is to blame for his down
fail except the gamblers of Umatill
county, against whose fraternity tn
Fast Oregonian mas repeatedly spob
en- in the past II is only another q
lustration Of the penalty which mus
sooner or later be paid. in every CON
munity which tolerates gambling.
John p. McNanus has made a mi
take, II is true. But was he to blame