Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-07-21
BODY WEIGHTED DOWN WITH
LOG CHAINS.
NAN CONFESSES TO CRIME
York and Man Suspected of Crime
Were Camped OH South
Bank of River.

Mike Morgan, in Jail here in Grants
Pass charged with the murder of
John E. York, who was killed last
Thursday night and his hody thrown
In Rogue river, this morning made
complete confession declaring that he
killed York in self defense.
York and Morgan were camped to-
gether near the city, and in his con-
fession this morning, Morgan alleges
that upon the night of the killing he
went to the camp in half drunken
condition, that he and York had
row, that York started tc assault him
and that he struck York on the head
with club
Morgan says he then carried the
body in his arms half way TO the riv-
er. and then put a rope around the
dead mans neck and dragged him
the remainder OF the distance and
placed the body on the bank. He
then went back to the camp, got q
heavy log chain, and this he wrapped
around the neck of the corpse and
threw 1t in the river. Morgan says
he stayed in the camp that night and
y the next morning took Forks horses
and wagons and went to Glendale,
where he was arrested.
John e. York, who came to Grants
Pass from eastern Oregon, was mur-
dered Thursday night in camp a
short distance above the city park
and his body thrown in Rogue river
where it was found Monday even
ing by young Gysbert Harvey OF this
city. York's alleged murderer, Hal
ley Wiekes, was arrested today short.
ly after the noon hour at Glendale, 81
miles north from Grants Pass.
When taken into custody Wieke'
is alleged to have had in his posses
sion several head of horses and tWC
wagon, one trailer, which were The
property of York.
The two men had been working
together in Grants Pass, employed b.
the Warren Construction company OIL
street work. They were campeC
across the river east of City park
York owned six head of horses. TIVE
wagons and a camping outfit.
The charge is made by the officer
that Wiekes murdered York Thurs
day night and fled Friday morning
with the horses, wagons and othe
property.
York's body was found near tn
upper end of the park where 1t ha'
floated into clump Of willows AM
lodged. Young Harvey found tn
body as the result of foot stickin
out of the water. When taken froI
the stream the dead man was toun
to have been choked to death with
rope, which was still tightly draw
about his neck. In addition to th
rope about his neck was wrapped
heavy log chain, placed by the mul
derer with view Of sinking the bod!
The body floated, however. hea
down with one foot sticking out
the water.
The alleged murderer. Wiekes.
described as a man ~ or rs years
age, a laborer and bearing the rep'
tation of having grabbed dispos
tion.
The alleged murderer of John Yor
who was killed Thursday nigh. las
IN his camp near City park and h
body thrown In Rogue river, WI
brought to Grants Pass from Gle
dale Tuesday by Deputy Shefi
Eugene Coburn and landed IN q
county jail.
The prisoner also admits that be
deserter from the United stat
army. sneaking away from Font Dou
las In Utah while attached 20 II col
pany. Fifteenth regiment. Then
when he took the name OF Hall
Wilkes. landing In Sacramento Fro
Sacramento the man is supposed