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Volume XI. Number Hh ~ SEWARD, ALASKA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 30,1917._Ten Cents the Copy
•
BOYS CHIEF WITNESSES IN TRIAL
OF A. E. NIclEAN FOR SLAYING WIFE
With tears chasing each other down
his face and his head bent, little Don
ald McLean took the witness-stand
this morning against his father, A. h.
McLean, government teacher at Nush
agak, ami told of the death of his
mother in their home during the win
ter of li>15, he being the first witness
called in the case.
The jury was completed at the late
session yesterday. Attorney Kay for
the defense retained the right to use
some of his remaining peremptory
challenges this morning, if he saw lit.
but when court convened this morn
ing he did not use them, taking the
jury as completed. Those in the box
are:
A1 Taylor, C. C. Cooper. Joseph
' Hoffman. W. W. Jones. Thos. Ham
bright. J. O. Potter, Chas. Kreting. W.
A. Thede. A1 Chamberlain, John King.
Jas. Bryson and H. R. Rassumsson.
* C. S. Attorney Spence stated that
the defendant is charged with beating
his wife to death at their home in
Nushagak on Bristol bay. the beat
ing having occurred on the night o:
January 2t)th, ami the death on the
afternoon of the 21st in liUo. '1 he
only eye-witnesses were the children
dt the defendant and the dead woman,
including Donald, now aged 12, and
Hector, aged i*, in October. I wo smal
ler children were there but did not
realize what occurred.
Donald McLean, on taking the
stand, was frightened, and the L\ S.
Attorney could not secure as clear
answers as were later given by Hec
tor, the younger brother.
With much questioning, Donald told
how he and his mother had attended
a wedding on January 2t>th, and after
coming home his father had arrived
with Oscar Carlson and demanded that
she cook supper. She refused, and
according to Donald, was slapped by
McLean, after which Carlson left.
The boy described the orgy of vio
lence which ended sometime before
midnight. He told how McLean or
dered the children to bed. and how he
peeked out of the curtain around
the bed in which he and his brother
were lying and saw McLean throw his
mother on the floor, face down, grab
her by the hair, and heat her face on
the floor.
“He sit on her back and called to me
to get him a cigaret,” said Donald.
“Then he got up and threw the lamp
at her. He put the fire out with a
blanket.”
The boy then told how a little later
his mother struggled into the kitchen,
* and blinded by blood, asked her hus
band to wash her face, but he refused;
how she washed herself as best she
could and when he refused to help her
back to bed, “feeled” her way back to
the bed, only to be pushed off by Mc
Lean.
At three o’clock in the morning, the
boy said his father awakened him by
yelling at him to get up and clean the
floor, saying he would give him two
bits. He did this and then went back
to bed, being awakened again at five
o’clock to build a fire.
He said he knew his mother was
awake next morning because she mov
ed under a blanket.
Then U. S. Attorney Spence pro
duced a letter, which the boy identi
fied as one he had carried from his
father to his uncle, the priest, who
has since died.
The note was entered as Exhibit
“A” over Attorney Ray’s objection,
and read to the jury, as follows: "Dear
Uncle. For the love of God, come
quick. I think Shuck is dead. Al.”
The District Attorney then turned
the witness over to the defense for
cross-examination and the first few
questions by Attorney Ray develop
ed the fact that Attorney Spence had
neglected to establish by his chief wit
ness the fact that Mrs. McLean had
died. He did this, and the boy said
PONT FORGET
Military registration closes at
9 p. m. on September 2. The
penalty for failure to register is
very severe.
, his mother died at two o’clock on the
afternoon of the 21st.
On cross-examination, Donald stated
that he had talked about the case to
officials for the government, that his
mother had taught him to tell time
and that the day of his mother’s death
he had stayed in the house, except
for one trip for water.
On re-direct examination, Donald
i said his father had told him to tell
the neighbors that his mother had been
dragged under the sled by the dogs.
Attorney Kay moved to have all the
testimony stricken from the record on
the ground that it was the result of
leading questions, given in a parrot
like manner, and not told in the man
ner a statement of fact would be re
lated. Judge Brown over-ruled the
motion and Hector McDonald was
called.
_ . w-% l n n TV
• What is your name, duu. whs u.
S. Attorney Spence’s iirst question.
“Hector,” said the boy. in a low
voice, and Attorney Kay asked if the
boy’s name was “Bud.”
This riled Spence, who said he had
been patient with the attorney for the
j defense, but was becoming impatient.
Hector did not show fear, in spite
of his youth, and told a story corrob
orating in almost every detail, that
told by his brother, although inter
fered with considerably by interrup
tions by U. S. Attorney Spence. Hec
tor was in the inside in bed. he said,
and did not see as much as Donald,
but he peeked out some ami “heard
papa healing mamma’s head on the
floor.”
Attorney Kay, on cross-examina
tion, asked questions in an effort to
show that the boy would say “Yes” to
every question asked, but the experi
ment was not successful, for the little
fellow explained again that he did not
see all, but some his brother told him.
Prior to direct examination, Attor
ney Ray moved that the boy not be
examined on account of his youth and
inability to reach conclusions. Hector
was asked by both sides whether he
knew that it was wrong to tell a lie,
and answered yes, stating that he had
been told so by the Assistant U. S.
Attorney and knew so before, that,
having been taught at school by his
father.
WITNESSES HERE FROM
WESTERN- ALASKA
Eight witnesses in the A. E. Mc
Lean case arrived from Nushagak on
the Santa Ana this morning to testify
in regard to the charges against him
regarding the killing of his wife last
winter.
These witnesses are Oscar Carjson.
Otto Larson, Mrs. M. Hoidahl, Greg
ory Keparin, Mrs. F. Symes, A. H.
Mittendorff, Nick Christiansen, and
Dr. L. H. French.
\
While it has been generally report
ed that McLean was school teacher
and postmaster at Nushagak, A. H.
Mittendorff states that the teacher was
not postmaster, buf that he, Mitten
dorff, has been postmaster for years.
PRAISE FOR
PRESIDENT
Press Oversea Lauds Chief of U. S.
For His Reply to Pope’s
Peace Proposal
(By Associated Press Dispatch)
LONDON, Aug. 30.—British papers
in today’s issue warmly praise Pres
ident Wilson for his reply to the mes
sage on peace submitted by Pope Bee-j
edict. Answers are now expected from j
members of the Entente.
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BAR SILVER PASSES
THE 90-CENT MARK
_
(By Associated Press Dispatch)
NEW YORK, Aug. 30.—Bar silver
reached 90% cents per ounce today,
I breaking the record for the price of
silver. #
\
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GRANDEST ARTILLERY
ATTACK OF WAR IS
NOW IN PROGRESS
' _JjJb.
(By Auoriited Prf« Dliputch)
BERLIN, Aug. 30, (Official). — Artillery fighting in
the Verdun section reached the maximum in violence yet
recorded, yesterday afternoon and is continuing without
break.
-«—
ARTILLERYMEN OUTNUMBER INFANTRY
PARIS, Aug. 30, (Official).—The number of artillery
men employed in operations at Verdun is greater than the
infantry on line of battle in the same sector.
The artillery objective is now directed toward forc
ing German gunners to suspend service and seek shelter,
gas shells being largely employed.
German attacks on the Verdun front last night were
repulsed completely.
French forces penetrated the German trenches on the
Champaigne front, taking prisoners.
GRAND ( ROSS FOR VERDUN VICTORY
VERDUN, Aug. 30, (Official).—President Poincare
appeared near the battle front thi&moroing and person
ally presnted the grand cross of the legion of honor to the
commanding general for the victory here.
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ADDED VICTORIES AT GORIZLA
ROME, Aug. 30. — Austrian counter attacks were
made in force yesterday against the new Italian positions
above Gorizia, but in every instance the attackers were
thrown back and in some instances the Italians gained
more ground.
U. S. SCHOONER
SUNK BY SUB
Boat Sent to Bottom by Bombs and
• I
Crew Safe, Report from
London
(By Associated Press Dispatch)
LONDON, Aug. 30.—The American
schooner Laure C. Anderson, 060 tons,
was sunk by bombs placed by a Ger
man submarine recently, and the crew
has just been landed at a British port.
JAP
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RUSSIAN TROOPS
RULE IN FINLAND
(By Associated Press Dispatch)
HELSINGFORS, Aug. 30.—Russian
troops occupied the parliament build
ing here today to prevent the re-as
sembling of the Finish Diet in defiance
of the decision of the provisional Rus-!
si an government.
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ALASKAN GOLD FOR
1916 WAS $16,125,000
*
(By Associated Press Dispatch)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30, (Official)
—Alaska’s gold production for 1916
was $16,125,000,
NOTICE!
The regular meeting of Resurrec
tion Lodge Nor A. 7 I. O. O. F., will
be postponed to next Tuesday night
at eight o’clock.
CHAS. LECHNER, Noble Grand.
TWO MILLION
CHEER GUARD
/
New York Contingent Marches Down
Fifth Avenue on Way to
Training Camp
(By Associated Press Dispatch)
+
NEW YORK, Aug. 30.—Twenty-five
thousand members of the former New
York National guard, now a part of
the regular army, marched down Fifth
avenue today enroute to the South
Carolina training camp.
Over 2,000,000 people witnessed the
parade and cheered the passing sol
diers in mighty waves of sound.
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MUST RELEASE THAT
WHISKEY SHIPMENT
(Hr Associated Press Dispatch)
Olympia, Aug. 30.—The State Su
preme Court has decided that the seiz
ure of a carload of whiskey, consign
ed to Ketchikan, Alaska, from Butte,
Montana, by the sheriff of Snohomish
county las-t year, was unlawful. It will
be forwarded to its destination.
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j BOATS AND TRAINS j
A.-- ——*-—*-——-- - -..
The Mariposa is- due from southward
at 9 o'clock Friday morning.
The Santa Ana arrived from west
ward at 5 o'clock this morning.
The Admiral Farragut is at Cor
dova.
• 1 i
t
CAPTAIN AND SIXTEEN MEN OF
SHIP MISSING, OTHERS HERE
Very grateful for kindness extended
to them in a strange land, thirty-two
survivors of the S. S. Kotohira Maru,
en route from Mororan, Japan, for San
Francisco, which was wrecked on
Amchitka island, July 27th, reached
port this morning on the S. S. Santa
Ana.
Chief Officer K. Masuda, highest of
ficer among the recued, men, stated
this morning that he feared for the
safety of Capt. Haruhiko Shiouga and
the seventeen men in boat No. 1, who
were last seen August 1st. On this
date the boats attempted to leave Am
chitka island but a storm came up and
No. 2 and No. 3 boats beat back to
shelter but the captain’s boat could
not make it and was last seen bound
east.
The statement of Chief Officer Kin
saku Masuda regarding the wreck has
an interesting Japanese tang to it and
gives the story of the accident and
what followed in a plain way, without
hint of the hardships of many days
at sea in an open boat. He sayst
“We departed from Mororan, Japan,
for San Francisco, U. S. A., with
loaded various cargo in July 20, 1917.
“My ship aground Amchitka island
of Aleutian group 3 hours and 40 min
utes, July 27th, because we have had
stormy and foggy weather through
July 20th to 27th and could not ob
servation.
Went island with two hre-noats,
by captain and chief officer, as soon
as all crew was safety. Catched two
boats more, eatables, etc., from ship
tomorrow. We preparation going for
Unalaska island.
“All’s well and separated—No. 1
boat, seventeen men by T’aptain; No.
2 boat, twenty men, by Chief Officer,
and No. 3 boat, twelve men, by Sec
ond Officer. On 1st August started
all three boats for, but stormy weath
er, so returned No. 2 and No. 3 boat.
No. 1 boat couldn’t returned, account
strong current and wind. We lost
Captain boat, 2nd August.
“No. 2, No. 3 boat started twice at
morning 4th of August.
“We lost No. 3 boat at noon today,
that is difference in speed.
“Westerly and southerly wind; very
rough sea all way, and all men could
not sleep through this navigation.
“Morning 15th August, saved by a
fishing boat and arrived at Unalaska.
“All men is safely—this navigation
used fourteen days.
“We very much thanks for Mr.
United States Marshal and family and
Mr. Custom Officer and family, fishing
boat men, and other people of this
land very kind to us.
“When we arrive back Japan, speak
to government and all people.
“K. MASUDA, Chief Officer,
“Jap. S. S. Kotohiru Maru.”
With the First Officer in Boat No.
2, which was taken to Unalaska by
the fishing boat owned by U. S. Com
missioner Nick Bolshamin, were also
Fourth Officer Suburo Matsumoto,
Steward Kunimato Oishi, a quarter
master, four sailors, an oiler, six fire
men, two coal passers, the cook and
cook's boy, and young Tokhei Yama
shita, a sailor’s apprentice, who is only
16 years old. One of the sailors, Ha- j
saichi Hamaji, and Mitsugi Eto, an
oiler, are only 17 years of age.
While the boat occupied by the Chief
Officer and his men was making Una
laska, the third boat, in command of
Chief Engineer C. Hamaguchi, with
Second Officer M. Miyazaki, and Third
Officer P. Hashiguchi, with the car
penter, two quartermasters, two oil- j
ers, two firemen, cook and cook’s boy,
made a slower trip and suffered from
storm after storm as they tried to
get through the channels into Bering
sea in an effort to reach the same
port.
By some mischance they sailed right
by Unalaska after going into one bay
which looked like the right place.
Then, byy night, they sighted Scotch
Cap and Cape Search lights and made
their way to the former, where they
were cared for by the keepers.
The log kept by the officer in charge
of Boat No. 3 is atyo an interesting
1 N ’
document of the sea and is given com
plete.
“No. 3 Boat Daily S. S. Kotohira Maru
“Aug. 4—Our boat has twelve men
of crew bounded from Amchitka for
Unalaska island with No. ?. boat.
“Noon—Observation east cape of
Amchitka island. Lost No. 2 boat to
behind.
“Aug. 4, A. M.—I can be known that
our boat entered Cable Bay, Tanag
island, by current and fog. Tacking
and tacking for northward of this isl
and from 5 A. M. to 5 P. M., but it
was impossible, so I took to coasting
southward.
“Aug. 5—Arrived western point
Atak island. We could not through
channel for Bering sea by pyramidal
sea with tide.
“Aug. 6—We have stay on inlet of
Ataka island for take in water and
looking for people but could not find.
“Aug. 7—Left the inlet on 9 A. M.
“Aug. 8—Arrived Amlia island and
took in w'ater.
“Aug. 9—Laying at an inlet center
at Amlia island because head wind
and stormy weather today.
“Aug. 10—Left anchor rage on 3
P. M.
“Aug. 11—Sailing but slowly.
“Aug. 12—Stopped eastward Am
lia island and took in water. Left as
soon as possible.
“Aug. 13—Crew have very suffer
ing by stormy and rainy weather.
“Aug. 14—Passed from southward
to Bering sea. Crew have suffering
by as same yesterday’s weather.
“Aug. 15—Arrived Umnak island
and took in water; stay here by bad
weather.
“Aug. 16—Left Umnak island.
“Aug. 17—We have found a bay
we thought that is Unalaska bay. So
looking for people and house but
could not find anything by bay and set
out to north.
“Aug. 17, 10 A. M.—Looked out one
fixed light on starboard abeam and
one occulting light porthead. We
know that lights are on Unimak isl
and and took out for fixed light of
starboard.
“Aug. 18, 2 A. M.—Arrived the
shore of under lighthouse and saved
by three lighthouse keepers. They
gave hot coffee, bread and bed to us.
We have spent good day by their
kindness.
“Aug. 23—Look out a steamer com
ing. Lighthouse-keeper report for
steamer by signal. Crew’ have been
saved on deck by Third Officer boat of
S. S. Santa Ana. We met to crew of
Chief Officer boat with gladful and
amazement. Our twenty men com
manded bynChief Officer from now, to
gether wdth No. 2 boat's crew, and
help by Mr. Buckley.
“Three lighthouse-keepers, Mr.
Buckley and officers of Santa Ana,
kindness to us w'hieh w’e never forget
our lives.”
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JAP MISSION
IS WELCOMED
Viscount Ishii Heads Delegation Re
ceived at Washington—
Addresses Made
(By Associated Press Dispatch)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30.-Japan’s
mission to the United States, headed
by Viscount Ishii, was received by the
U. S. Senate this morning, and ad
dresses of good will made by both
sides.
THE WEATHER
\ -
Yesterday.
Maximum. 58
Minimum^..48
Current.52
Precipitation.02
Cloudy. South wind.
WEATHER TOMORROW
Clearing.