Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-02-03
NIGHT RIDERS
OF NORTH RIVER
Are Acquitted By Justice
Court Jury, And Rearrested
By the Superior Court
ARSON IS NOW CHARGED
Mrs. M. NJ. Ross Appeals To
Judge Wright and Has
Warrants Issued for Men

SOUTH BEND, Jan. 31.-The now
famous North river might rider" case
today took a new turn which threat
ems to split into factions all Pacific
county
Acquitted of the sensational charges
brought against them by Mrs Mar
garet Ross, we'll known throughout
the state as a stump speaker and poll
tician, the II defendants have been
rearrested charged with arson in the
first degree.
This follows the appearance in the
case of Judge Wright of the superior
court
Three hours after jury in Justice
Rhodes court had brought in YER
dict of not guilty in the case Of the
men, who it was alleged had driven
Mrs. Ross and her sons from her
home, the North river woman had ap-
pealed to Superior Judge Wright
He Immediately issued new war
rants charging 10 of the former de.
PENDANTS and one new defendant with
arson in the first degree.
States Attorney Quits
Upon the heels of the serving of
the warrants by Sheriff Bell came the
announcement that Prosecuting Attor-
ney Hewen had informed the Judge
that he would refuse to prosecute the
defendants further unless commanded
by the court.
Judge Wright Immediately named
Bond and Eddy, special prosecutors.
They are Mrs. Ross attorneys, hav.
ing defended her sons in their assault
case on Bradley on North river.
When the men we're arraigned this
afternoon before Judge Wright, Spe.
cial Prosecutor F. M. Bond appeared
for the state and Robert G. Chambers
for the defense.
Lectured by Judge
Prosecuting Attorney Hewen was
eliminated from the states case after
a severe lecture by the court, who
told the defendants that the lives and
property of the humblest citizen was
safe in this county and warned them
not to continue the attack upon Mrs
Ross, her sons or other neighbors.
They were released on their own rec
ognizance to appear here February
"a for hearing
The feeling here is strong against
Judge Wright for reopening the case
after six business men on the trial
jury had wrestled with the evidence
in the first case three days and de-
liberated two hours on verdict
Welsh and Richardson will probably
be retained to assist in the prelimin-
ary hearing in February.
Tells Of Masked Men
Mrs. Ross in her story to the au-
thorities declared that band of II
men visited her cabin in the North
rivery country above Brooklyn and,
masked and armed. forced her and
her sons to leave their home on the
pain of death if they ever returned
The trouble arose, it is said, over
a question of the ownership of some
disputed land in the section, which is
remote from the railroad and extreme
ly difficult of access.
Neighbors say that the feeling
against Mrs Ross, who became we'll
known in the last state campaign be-
cause of her attacks on Bob" Hodge
progressive candidate for governor.
were intensified when tree, which
her sons were falling crashed through
the roof of the home of Mrs. Wander
pool, who lay i'll in bed with typhoid
fever. The latter had been concerned
in the dispute over the land.
The Ross boys denied that they cut
the tree with any intent to do injury
to the sick woman or to harm her
property. The neighbors, however, re-
fused to accept this explanation, and
the feeling against the Ross family
was famed to fury.
Ordered to Leave
At midnight masked band of men
reused all in the Ross cabin and or
dered. them to leave at once.
]. N. Howard, a one-legged man, tes-
titled Friday at the trial, that he was
reused from his bed, told to dress and
hitch his team and continue the de-
portation of Mrs. Ross and her sons.
Earl and Frank. to Vesta, where the
mother and sons were left at the
ranch of w. D. Mccormick at 2:1O
a. m. January IL. He was escorted
by four masked and armed men on
horseback
Mrs. Ross and her sons claimed that
these men were Ernest and Walter
Continued on Page Fourj