The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1907-05-16
LOCAL ATTORNEYS
SECURE VERDICT

In the year 1850 an unpretentioLs
Greek, known by the name of "Shor-
ty" Davis, came into Crook county
in the capacity of a sheep herdeT. lie
worked for some time for Phil Brogan
and later for Mr.. Lytle, who owned q
sheep ranch al the foot of McKai
mountain. After herdiug tor several
years he leased band OF sheep and
run them on shares. His venture in
this respect proved a financial sue
cess. lie became the owner of about
2OOO acres OF land up the Crooked riv-
or, and numerous bands of sheep
Later in his career he got into some
trouble with cattle men Of the neigh
borhood on account of range for graz
ing purposes, and in the month Of
August, 1900, he disappeared and has
never been seen since. Shortly be-
fore his disappearance be was visited
by some of his friends who found him
in his usual sane condition, and ap
paTently in the best of spirits.
After it was discovered that Davis
was gone search was made for the
missing man. Upon investigation OF
the premises occupied by him it was
discovered that his horse and saddle
we're also missing, but his saddle
blanket was in it, usual place in the
barn. This gave rise to the suspicion
that he had been foully dealt with.
Those who knew him best we're salts
lied that il he had saddled his own
horse he would have used the saddle
blanket.
Searching pan ties we're Immediately
organized, the Warm Spring Indians
we're asked to assist In the search for
the missing man, but all attempts to
locate him proved futile. The coun.
try in that vicinity is very rough and
PERCEPTIONS, and it would have been
very easy to have taken horse and
cider and thrown them over one OF
the high rocky cliffs.
Upon several occasion Davis had
visited al acquaintance OF his in San
Francisco by name OF Saphos, who
had known him as boy. Davis made
his last visit to the Bay city in 1899
and at that time met another Greek
by name OF Mavorik &. who later moved
to Portland, where he still resides.
Havorikis was informed of his death
in 1905 and he then wrote to his
friend Saphos in San Francisco and
having known his father and brothers
who resided on Nika,i island in the
Aegean sea, wrote to them concerning
his death. The American counsel at
Smyrna, Mr.. Norton, was solicited TO
aid in the Identification of the heirs
of the estate which was approximate
ly $4,000, and which had been disposed
of according to law and had now re.
yerted to the state.
Considerable difficulty was exper
fenced in establishing the claim of
the heirs. A laundry business card
from San Francisco that had been in
dorsed Ey Davis years ago, and sent
to the Oil country by friend to
serve as his address for his parents,
was one of the articles of evidence in
the trial of the case.
In the trial of the case it was prov
en that Elias Davis was an assumed
name under which he took out his
naturalization papers at Portland and
that his true name was Leonidas
Douris.
The case was called to the attention
of Attorney A. j, Derby, of our city,
by frie,d in Portland Nh. Derby
has worked long and hard in the so.
luton of the case, and together with
A. A. Jayne, proceeded to Prineville
last week where the case was tried be.
fore jury and verdict rendered IN
favor Of the hei-s. This has been one
of the most fiicult cases of the kind
that hhs ever been tried in the state,
and our local attorneys are deserving
great credit for the successful results
attained