The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-03-18
bob DAVIS IS HELD.
WITHOUT BAIL
STORY OF THE AK TRAGEDY
WAS TOLD IN COURT
YESTERDAY.


with an assault with intent
to kill Nels Peterson, was held be-
fore Justice Goodman yesterday af-
ternoon, and at its conclusion the
prisoner was held 10 the grand jury
without bail The hearing elected
very little testimony that had not
already been known.
AT 81. Marys Hospital yesterday
Peterson, the man who was struck
with the ak IN Davis hands, was
better than he had been at any time
since the affair, and there now seems
definite hope Of his recovery. Yes
terday he was hungry and wanted 70
eat No infection or inflammation
has SCI in the wounds, either.
The woman in the case, Pearl
Vivian, as she gives her name, was
also held, as q witness, her bond be-
ing SET at $3.50. Charles Bay, the
bartender who was an eyewitness to
the crime, was also held as witness,
his bond being SET at Sl00,
The whole story Is one Of nauseat-
ing simplicity and, given the char
acters, sequel like that which oc-
Cured might have been expected at
any time, The woman, Pearl, is no
longer young, perhaps 10 years, and
looks like weak, good-natured wom-
an who has known lots Of trouble.
In court yesterday she was fearful
and painfully nervous. She said she
was not the wife Of Davis. Such is
the woman in the case.
Davis is chubby fellow, with high
round forehead, and with the top OF
his large head bald. The hair from
the sides Ii carefully over the bald
place. He has black eyes, and face
that does not cyince cruelty or crime,
Personally, he Is a nice fellow TO
talk 10 and one wonders why such
man, strong physically, and natural
Ii bright enough to make success
OF life. should have been content to
exc out a livelihood as the maker Of
an occasional mattress for the deni-
gems Of the redlight district, and most
OF whose money came from his
woman, Pearl Vivian, which she
earned in a manner which made even
her cheeks blush to mention,
OF Peterson, the injured man,
nothing is known except that he was
swinishly drunk. He was so besot-
ten that he did not know that Davis
and another man were breaking into
the place; did not know that Davis
stood over him with the ak about to
crash down on his head If il were
not that the majesty OF the law were
10 be yindicated probably there
would be few to take an interest in
the man who was so swinishly
drunk, SO far gone in swinishness
that he did not even know when the
finger Of death tapped him on the
head, They say his old mother in
Sweden prays for him, however,
The woman testified that the man
had come into her place drunk, so
drunk that she spoke to him about
his condition. She said he was
crushing her, and perhaps choking
her, There seems little reason to
doubt that the drunken man was
hurting her and was probably hurt
ing her badly, She said she was ex-
hausted with her efforts to get away
from him and was afraid for her
life. 1t seems to be fact that she
had been weakly calling for help for
over quarter of an hour.
Davis finally heard the appeals for
help. He had at least animal courage
to fight and slay for his woman He
ran into the saloon and appealed to
the barkeeper, Charles Bay, for aid;
he said the door was barred on the
inside and the keys wouldn't open
it. Through the window they could
see the two figures inside. With an
ak grabbed up from nearby wood
pile the window was priced open and
Bay reached in and sprang the lock
Of the door Through the opened
door Davis, with the ak in his hands
sprang like a wild beast.
TO understand why he hit with the
heavy weapon would be to under
stand the workings of his mind
Probably he was inAamed with drink
to some extent, He poised the AK
and brought it down with quick
short-arm blow on the drunken mans
head 1t was like hitting an OK, Al
the moment the ak fell Bay reached
| his side, and with an ejaculation oi
horror attempted to shove him away
Again Davis raised the ak anc
brought it down on the mans back
The blood was streaming out Of tht
,,ov,s ka,j