The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1907-07-02
GOES TO HIS DOOM
HOLIVER MaGORDEN MAIN,
TAINS IRRESPONSIBLE
TY TO THE LAST.
Fights With Son, Aged Fourteen
Popular Outcry at His Crime
Wife Pleads in Vain for
Mercy-Other News.

Mercy-Other News.
Salem, Or, June 2S.-Maintain-
ing responsibility to the last and
without a word to say in parting,
Holiver Megorden mounted the
scafold at the penitentiary at IL:
20 P. M. today, and one minute La
ter paid the penalty for the murder
of his wife, Mary Megorden, in fit
of passion, near Nyssa, Malheur
county, March %, 1905. ln less
than three minutes from the time
the condemned man had left his
cell the trap had been sprung, the
shcri est space Of time that has ever
been required TO perform tie f'aF,
and few seconde less than 13 min.
utes later life was pronounced ex-
tinct and the body taken down.
The crime for which Megorden
paid the penalty up>n The SC. fola
! today, evidently the climax Of a
season of jealousy and of frequent
disru ntions Of domestic felicity, is
regarded as one Of the most brutal
in Oregon crimitology.
Megolden had uttered threats Of
violence to his entire family and
kept a loaded revolver in his bed
room at all times for about two
years. The quarrel which culmin.
ated In the tragedy occurred during
the afternoon Of March %. 1o05,
with Mrs. Megorden's failure to
provide warm meal.
Megorden had risen early thai
morning, without saying anything
to his wife of his Intentions, and
| drove to Vale to transact some bus
mess. He did notreturn until late ir
the afternoon whereupon his wife
set him out cold lunch. Megor
| den, who was in a sullen and per
turbed state of mind. suddenly be
came pallid' with anger and de
manded of his wife:
''Are you going to quit cooking
for me2"
"Why," she replied, "Iguess not
whyP'
~ had to goto town without any
hing to at this morning and nov
you set out cold victuals for me"
"Well," said Mrs. Gorden, "it
so near supper time that I though
you could get along with this til
the RI gular meal time"
Ooe word brought on another IN
til Megorden struck his wife in th
face. The eldest son present. la'
of about IA, interfered. The fathe
Knocked the boy into the corner c
the room with his fist and-when tn
boy arose he grasped a 32-calibr
rifle, which was standing in the cor
ner, and advanced toward his faith
er.
Don't shoot" cried the mothel
whereupon the boy reversed the gu
aod struck his father over the hea
with the butt with such force as 1
inAct deep wound and to breal
the gun stock. With an oath .h
father made a dash for the bedroom
aod anticipating his designs, tn
mother scre amed:
Run for your. life; he has gon
for his gun"
The boy ran cut of the house an
into the road, closely pursued b
the infuriated father who fred thre
shots at him. At the last repol
the boy plunged forward uuder
ience and into the ssgsbrush, an
thinking he had killed the boy, th
father next turned his attention
the mother who was fleeing with th
other two children 10 the cpposit
dir, ction. With the youngest chill
10 her arms the mother glanced owe
her shoulder in time to see the oIde
boy fall, and she, too, thinking b
had been killed, was so terrified sh
could make but Glow progress wit
her burden and was soon overtake
by the husband,
As he came rushing up wit
bloodshot and murderous eyes an
the smoking revolver in his han
she was in the act OF placing th
child upon the ground and plead
ing for her life, and as she uttere
the words, "For Gods sake, Hol
yer, don't kill u.s." he grasped he
by the shoulder, turned her ha
round and, placing the revolver t
her left breast, fred.
The mother sank to the groun
while the terrified childreY
themselves upon her, scream1ng
the top of their little voices. With
out q word, go far as is knowr
Mennrden ualkad on ir,fn Nuas