A group of early-day Pendleton lawyers had a bit of fun at the expense of one of their own, according to a story in the Sept. 23, 1816 Round-Up Souvenir Program. What started as a practical joke devolved into two trials and many rounds of “spiritual sustenance.”
“Judge” Templeton, a justice of the peace in Meadows (now Echo) in 1877, was having a little trouble getting the Umatilla County court to pay him for services rendered after he presided over a trial for a suspected horse thief. The evidence against Tom Burns was so inconclusive that Templeton felt he had to let the man go. Templeton filled out a bill for presentation to the county court, but it was rejected for some triviality.
Templeton traveled to Pendleton and retained attorney Jim Turner to make out a proper bill and demand payment from the court. After what he thought was an appropriate lapse of time, he returned to Pendleton and requested his payment. Turner told him the court had yet to meet again since Templeton last was in town.
Disgruntled, Templeton adjourned to the nearest saloon and shared a few rounds with some of his friends. After he shared his troubles in collecting on his bill from the court, one of his companions saw the chance to have a little fun with Templeton and suggested that perhaps Turner was holding out on him. Templeton, incensed, declared he would arrest Turner for embezzlement.
Templeton strode to the county courthouse and, seating himself in the judge’s chair, made out a warrant charging his attorney with embezzlement. He appointed Ben Beagle a special constable to bring in the accused, and Turner arrived shortly after with Judge B.B. Bishop as his counsel. Turner pleaded not guilty, and told his side of the story from the witness stand. Templeton suggested that perhaps Turner wasn’t confining himself to the truth. Turner immediately called Templeton a “dam liar.”
Templeton promptly fined Turner $20 for contempt of court. Turner slapped a $20 dollar coin on the table, which his counsel pocketed, to the amazement of the assembled courtroom. Bishop then moved for dismissal, stating that Templeton had no jurisdiction in Pendleton, and thus could not try a case, much less assess a fine for contempt.
Templeton grudgingly had to admit Bishop was right. “Constable Beagle,” he shouted in his wrath, “adjourn this court, release the prisoner and when once we get out of this blasted courtroom I’ll lick the liver and lights out of him.” The court was at once adjourned amidst a roar of laughter. The lawyers, jury, judge and constable then crossed the street to Jacob’s saloon.
Instead of a fight, it was decided that Turner should be punished by spending the $20 coin on drinks and other refreshments for the lot of them. But that was not the end of Templeton’s troubles.
After several rounds the barkeeper, who had been put up to it, complained that he had been robbed and ordered all the doors closed and the patrons searched. After a diligent search, a collection of silver spoons, tumblers and other bar furnishings were found in Templeton’s pockets. A kangaroo court was immediately convened, with Turner acting as prosecuting attorney, S.L. Morris the judge, and Templeton providing his own counsel. In spite of a vigorous defense, Templeton was found guilty.
Templeton threatened a motion to appeal, which “Judge” Morris refused to entertain. But on a recommendation by the jury for mercy, Morris imposed a fine for petty larceny, $5, and ordered that it be spent on further supply of spiritual sustenance for the court officers.
And Templeton’s original bill? It was paid to him in due time.
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Body in Umatilla River thought to be escaped prisoner
Unusually low water in the Umatilla River in September 1952 led to the discovery of the body of a man missing for four years after escaping from police custody near the Eastern Oregon State Hospital in Pendleton.
State police and county officers were called to the scene of a body found in the Umatilla River on September 22, 1952, by two fishermen just below the Billy Osborne ranch, a former frog farm, east of Barnhart. Fishermen in that area of the river had complained to state police of a peculiar odor over the previous few years. The body was in a hole, partially wedged in an old log jam.
The body was believed to be that of James Arthur McKinney, 48, a transient originally from Antlers, Okla., who escaped from Deputy Sheriff Roy Johnson May 16, 1948, and plunged into the Umatilla River near the state mental institution. McKinney had been arrested in the hamlet of Rieth just west of Pendleton after police received a tip that he was selling whiskey and other articles illegally.
Johnson was transporting McKinney by car to Pendleton when McKinney fired a small tear gas cartridge from a “fountain pen” gun at him and escaped. State policeman Joseph Wark saw McKinney jump into the Umatilla and disappear from view, but a search for him over the next few days was fruitless.
An examination of the partially intact remains pulled from the river revealed that the body was the same general size and hair color and wearing the same type of clothing as in McKinney’s description. Though the skull was skeletonized, the body had been partially covered in mud, which preserved some of the flesh and clothing. Identification by means of the teeth was impossible, as the body had no teeth and McKinney also wore dentures, which he did not have in his mouth when he made his escape in 1948.
The body was taken to a local funeral home for disposition, and no inquest into the death was expected to take place.
State police and county officers were called to the scene of a body found in the Umatilla River on September 22, 1952, by two fishermen just below the Billy Osborne ranch, a former frog farm, east of Barnhart. Fishermen in that area of the river had complained to state police of a peculiar odor over the previous few years. The body was in a hole, partially wedged in an old log jam.
The body was believed to be that of James Arthur McKinney, 48, a transient originally from Antlers, Okla., who escaped from Deputy Sheriff Roy Johnson May 16, 1948, and plunged into the Umatilla River near the state mental institution. McKinney had been arrested in the hamlet of Rieth just west of Pendleton after police received a tip that he was selling whiskey and other articles illegally.
Johnson was transporting McKinney by car to Pendleton when McKinney fired a small tear gas cartridge from a “fountain pen” gun at him and escaped. State policeman Joseph Wark saw McKinney jump into the Umatilla and disappear from view, but a search for him over the next few days was fruitless.
An examination of the partially intact remains pulled from the river revealed that the body was the same general size and hair color and wearing the same type of clothing as in McKinney’s description. Though the skull was skeletonized, the body had been partially covered in mud, which preserved some of the flesh and clothing. Identification by means of the teeth was impossible, as the body had no teeth and McKinney also wore dentures, which he did not have in his mouth when he made his escape in 1948.
The body was taken to a local funeral home for disposition, and no inquest into the death was expected to take place.
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Chuckwagon race a new feature at 1925 Round-Up
How much fire does it take to make coffee boil?
That was the question that a new spectacle at the Pendleton Round-Up was meant to answer in September of 1925. But boiling coffee was only part of the event.
Racers in fully loaded chuck wagons, pulled by four horses, had to follow a figure-eight course around the inside of the Round-Up Arena, driving around empty barrels placed at either end of the course without knocking them over. Twice around the figure-eight, the teams then raced one lap around the track. Finally, each team had to stop, build a fire, and boil coffee. The fastest time, of course, would win the day.
The judges pondered the best kind and size of fire for the coffee portion of the race, and decided to build several different sized fires to see which would boil the most coffee the fastest. Participants in the race were allowed to watch the judges’ trials to determine for themselves what kind of fire they would use.
But there was a catch, of course: The fire must be built using materials traditionally used by a chuck wagon. No canned heat, gasoline or coal oil were permitted, although the racers were allowed to use modern matches to start their blazes.
The event was held Friday, Sept. 18 and, though no details made the East Oregonian, Art Hoegee was named the winner, with a time of 1 minute and 43 seconds.
While the chuckwagon races are no longer part of the Pendleton Round-Up, chuckwagon racing is now a popular event in Canada, with its own professional association, and an annual part of the Calgary Stampede. In its current form, each team includes a chuckwagon with a driver pulled by four horses and two or four outriders. The outriders “break camp” by throwing two tent poles and a barrel representing a camp stove into the chuckwagon, which then takes off for the figure eight. The outriders must mount their horses and catch up to the wagon, with penalties for knocking over barrels, interfering with a wagon, camp equipment not being loaded or being lost during the race, or outriders crossing the finish line too far behind their wagon. Boiling coffee is no longer a part of the event.
Three or four teams race at the same time, which creates a lot of excitement but also ups the danger factor. Horses, drivers, outriders and even spectators have been killed during chuckwagon races. The Calgary Stampede works closely with local SPCA and humane society staff to ensure the horses are fit and able to race.
That was the question that a new spectacle at the Pendleton Round-Up was meant to answer in September of 1925. But boiling coffee was only part of the event.
Racers in fully loaded chuck wagons, pulled by four horses, had to follow a figure-eight course around the inside of the Round-Up Arena, driving around empty barrels placed at either end of the course without knocking them over. Twice around the figure-eight, the teams then raced one lap around the track. Finally, each team had to stop, build a fire, and boil coffee. The fastest time, of course, would win the day.
The judges pondered the best kind and size of fire for the coffee portion of the race, and decided to build several different sized fires to see which would boil the most coffee the fastest. Participants in the race were allowed to watch the judges’ trials to determine for themselves what kind of fire they would use.
But there was a catch, of course: The fire must be built using materials traditionally used by a chuck wagon. No canned heat, gasoline or coal oil were permitted, although the racers were allowed to use modern matches to start their blazes.
The event was held Friday, Sept. 18 and, though no details made the East Oregonian, Art Hoegee was named the winner, with a time of 1 minute and 43 seconds.
While the chuckwagon races are no longer part of the Pendleton Round-Up, chuckwagon racing is now a popular event in Canada, with its own professional association, and an annual part of the Calgary Stampede. In its current form, each team includes a chuckwagon with a driver pulled by four horses and two or four outriders. The outriders “break camp” by throwing two tent poles and a barrel representing a camp stove into the chuckwagon, which then takes off for the figure eight. The outriders must mount their horses and catch up to the wagon, with penalties for knocking over barrels, interfering with a wagon, camp equipment not being loaded or being lost during the race, or outriders crossing the finish line too far behind their wagon. Boiling coffee is no longer a part of the event.
Three or four teams race at the same time, which creates a lot of excitement but also ups the danger factor. Horses, drivers, outriders and even spectators have been killed during chuckwagon races. The Calgary Stampede works closely with local SPCA and humane society staff to ensure the horses are fit and able to race.
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Birthday surprise is just what the doctor ordered
A 19-year-old Pendleton man received a once-in-a-lifetime birthday surprise from his music teacher in September 1974 while recovering from brain surgery.
Matt Neal’s 19th birthday party on Sept. 7, 1974, was a casual affair, attended by his family and a few local celebrities, including Pendleton football coaches Don Requa and Gary Yates and state superintendent of public instruction Jesse Fassold, friends of the Neal family. A bevy of Neal’s admirers of the female persuasion perched about the room.
Also in attendance was Shirlene McMichael, Neal’s piano teacher for eight years and the director of the Pendleton High School orchestra, for which Neal played string bass. McMichael brought a very special gift to the party: a white sweatshirt signed by players on the Portland Trail Blazers professional basketball team.
When his sister Darcy pointed out a small “Bill Walton” on the sweatshirt, Neal’s eyes grew several sizes larger and the biggest smile of his life flashed across his face. “That’s pretty nice,” he said softly.
Neal met the former UCLA All-American and NBA legend in a Portland hospital after a relapse from surgery to remove a brain tumor in March 1974. Walton was in the hospital recovering from knee surgery. The two became fast friends. McMichael contacted the Trail Blazers with the idea of an autographed sweatshirt to help speed Neal’s recovery, which doctors cautioned could take several months.
“Sports is just about that kid’s whole life,” McMichael said. “I thought it would be a neat thing to do for him, especially since he already knows Walton.”
Not all of the Blazers signed the sweatshirt, since most were out of Oregon for the off-season, but McMichael did manage to get signatures of John Johnson, Rick Roberson, Greg Smith and Larry Steele, in addition to Walton’s. A representative of the Blazers organization was working with McMichael to gather the rest of the players’ signatures when they returned for fall training camp in Portland.
Matt Neal’s 19th birthday party on Sept. 7, 1974, was a casual affair, attended by his family and a few local celebrities, including Pendleton football coaches Don Requa and Gary Yates and state superintendent of public instruction Jesse Fassold, friends of the Neal family. A bevy of Neal’s admirers of the female persuasion perched about the room.
Also in attendance was Shirlene McMichael, Neal’s piano teacher for eight years and the director of the Pendleton High School orchestra, for which Neal played string bass. McMichael brought a very special gift to the party: a white sweatshirt signed by players on the Portland Trail Blazers professional basketball team.
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| Matt Neal of Pendleton, left, is all smiles after receiving a sweatshirt autographed by the Portland Trail Blazers for his birthday Sept. 7, 1974. (EO file photo) |
Neal met the former UCLA All-American and NBA legend in a Portland hospital after a relapse from surgery to remove a brain tumor in March 1974. Walton was in the hospital recovering from knee surgery. The two became fast friends. McMichael contacted the Trail Blazers with the idea of an autographed sweatshirt to help speed Neal’s recovery, which doctors cautioned could take several months.
“Sports is just about that kid’s whole life,” McMichael said. “I thought it would be a neat thing to do for him, especially since he already knows Walton.”
Not all of the Blazers signed the sweatshirt, since most were out of Oregon for the off-season, but McMichael did manage to get signatures of John Johnson, Rick Roberson, Greg Smith and Larry Steele, in addition to Walton’s. A representative of the Blazers organization was working with McMichael to gather the rest of the players’ signatures when they returned for fall training camp in Portland.
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