The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1883-12-25
HANGED HIMSELF LAST OCTOBER.
The Miserable Death or Anton KIeps.

The Miserable Death OF anton KIeps.
About the 18th of last September q
cabinet maker named Anton Kleps, aged
b years, came from Portland. and pro.
cared work at Chas. Hellborn's furniture
establishment. After short time he
quit and afterward went to work for Ed
Curtis. From his actions and Language
IT was supposed that he was tired of life
and when he disappeared. about the lst
of October, il was generally thought he
had made away with himself.
Yesterday morning rs Peter Patterson
was looking for some Christmas trees
just beyond the cut on the southern ex.
tension of Main street and on the Other
side of the ridge. he found the body of z
man who had evidently been hanging
where found for a considerable time
From a small limb of a tree. about si1
feet from the ground, the body swung
suspended by a small loop OF baling rope
which was caught up by a knot under the
left ear of the defunct. The bones of the
neck had broken. and the body had
drawn down. the feet resting on the
ground, thus presenting a most horrible
appearance. The features were unrecOg-
nIZable. the clothes were partially gone
and the dried flesh hung IL strips from
varionS portions OF the body. Patterson
Immediately notified Coroner Franklin
who held an inquest on the body where
found. What served TO identify the de
ceased most strongly was a peculiarly
Ia
pocket. and which unlocked 4 chest OF
tools that he had left at I'd. Curtis 5 last
September: the lock and key both being
of unique construction. No doubt re.
mains that il was the body of the un-
fortunate kleps. who. in fit Of despOnd.
ency deliberately sought out that lonely
spot sometime during the first week OF
last October, and there hanged himself
The remains will be given decent inter
ment to-day.
Since writing the above tha following
has been handed in, being the testimony
and verdict of the Jury:
/. Peter Patterson. after being duly
sworn, do say that / reside at Mr..
Holden's in this city: aboUt IL O'Clock
this morning / was up in the rayine
alongside of Main street. cutting q
Christmas tree, when j came across the
body of a man hanging on tree: ! i'm
mediately notified tn ecoroner.
PETER PATTERSON.
l. Frank Suprenant, after being duly
sworn. do say that ] reside in Astoria:
found the body In Just the same position
as when found by the jury, with hat
hanging on limb beside the body; after
cutting the pockets open found bunch OF
two KEYS. knife, clay pipe and handker.
chief in the presence of the coroner.
FRANK SURPRENANT.
i, F. Naef. after being duly sworn, dc
saw that a man by the name of A. klepS
worked for us, the firm of L. ID. Curtis
Co. about two months ago: he left q
chest of tools here, which is in our pos.
session vet: the KEY found fits the chest
A. +. NAEF.
/. Philip Hancock. after being duly
sworn. do say that am in the employ oi
G. HeilbOrn. that / knew this man, A.
Kleps, about SIX weeks ago; / was told 10y
man. whose name don't know, that ht
tried 10 drown himself: when last saw
him ne had a gray suit of clothes, sack
coat and dark. soft hat on.
PHILIP HANCOCK.
SQUIsITloS EY CoEoNEE's JUEY.
STATE oF OREGON.
COUNTY OF CLATsoP,
Ia the matter of the inquisition upon tn
body of a. kleps, deceased.
We, the undersigned jurors. summoned
to appear before Il. B. Franklin. coroner
of the precinct of Astoria. county oi
ClatsOp, state Of Oregon. at Franklin,
Office, in the city of Astoria. county anC
state aforesaid, on this 9th day of De
CembCr, 1855, TO inquire into the cause o
the death Of a person found hanging Oh
hemlock bush near the cut on Main
street. whose name Is unknown. having
been duly sworn according 10 law, anC
having made such inquisitiOn, after in
specting the body and hearing the testi'
mony adduced. upon our oathS each anC
all do say. that We find that the deceased
was named A. Kleps, was aged about y
years, a cabinet maker by trade, and b,
came TO his death by hanging himself Oh
or about the LIST day of October, 1888; al
of which We duly certify by this inquisi
/ ton IN writing by US.
Signed this 9th day of December, 1888
w. j. BARRY,
i. L. SELIG,
r. A. TAYLOR.
4. HUNTER,
C. BRINN.
L. G. NORRIS.