Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-01-03
ATTExPTED SUICIDE
Iarses Prescott, Stranger, Attempts
Te Cot bis OwH Throat and
Partially Sueeee5s.

news reached the local department
Of the JoURNAL that suicide had
been committed at the residence Of
Mr. John Brooks, who lives IN
North Salem, near the fair grounds.
In Iess time than it takes to tell IL,
two JOURNAL reporters were on
their way to the scene Of the bloody
tragedy. At the corner OF Cbe-
nieaete and Commercial streets a
street car was boarded and "a special
request was made 70 the driver 10
push ahead" fast, as "swOOp"
vas awaiting the JOURNAL. All
went well until the first switch
was reached, just as you enter
Riverside Addition, aud here
a delay Of ten minutes was ex-
perienced, owing to the sOuth-bOund
car being derailed on account Ofthe
snow. As sOOu as the track was
clear, away we went again and in a
lew minutes were at the desired
grounds.
Sheriff Croisan, Dr. Cartwright
and several Others were on the
grounds a few minutes before the
JOURNALS Representatives arrived,
aud an interview brought out the
following particulars.
New Years evening about four
O'Clock q stranger came 70 the house
Of John Brooks, vino lives near the
fair grounds, and made "a spe-
cial request asking To- remain
over night. saying that he
was unWell and that he did not feel
/ like walking into town. As he was
not bad looking man, and seemed
10 he suffering from tine cold ana
storm that was raging, the family
consented but somewhat reluctantly,
as Mr.. Brooks hinsef il always at
I Portland.
Yesterday morning the stranger
arose with the family, and ate break
( fast with them. Dinner time came,
; and as the stranger was still seated
by tbe.fire lac WAS invited 10 partake
of the noon day food, which he did,
IN u manner that would indicate
that he was not troubled with indi-
gestiOn. After dinner had been serv-
cd he asked to be allowed to remain
until night, as he said he had a stiff
neck and it pained him to move.
He was allowed to remain OH this
plea, and as night came on he still
complained of his neck, and through
kindness he was allowed to rem ia
last night.
This morning about eight o'clock,
Eddie, one of the family, called for
the stranger TO get up as breakfast
was ready, aud as he did not arise
he was called again and again, hut
each time he would answer not to
wait for him as he would be dow
soon. a half hour had elapsed and
Eddie went 10 the room opened the
door, and u horriable sight met his
/ eye. There upon the bed laid the
stranger, covered with blood aud
gasping as If dying. AS Ed opened
the door the mun gasped forth. Its
ali over now! You are too late"
Word was at once sent to the city,
IA doctor summonsed, and Sheriff
Crolsan notified. They appeared ON
the scene as soon as possible
and found the man still in bed
and bleeding prufusely. He still
clung to the knife that he bad
used in trying to kill himself. DIR.
Cartwright made an examination of
the wound and found that II deep
flesh wound on the right side OF the
neck had been inflicted and that by
IA ,lundredth part of an inch the
juglar vein had escaped being struck
by the knife. The wound was some
three Inches and u half in length,
aud before it was dressed presented
II ghastly sight.
As soon as the wound was dressed
the suicider was dressed and brought
to the city, where an examination
was held this afternoon at two
o'clock as to his sanity.
The name of the stranger Is James
TrescOtt, and from the best iniurmu-
ton attainable, he halls from Mon
tana where he has two brothers
He is II man who appears 10 be-
about 30 or 10 years old, dressed
neatly, has ON new pair OF
shOp.made boots. The only thing
that was found ON him
was n late issue of the Oregon City
Courier, and hotel card. He is
about five feet, ten Inches In height,
rather slim face, and wears u black
beard of medium length, soft and
black hat, Altogether, the man II
rather of an intelligent nature. He
refuses to talk, and it is utterly i'm
possible To ilnd out about him. What
led him To attempt to talk,
his life is a question hard 10 answer
but as no money was found on him
II is more than likely that he was
out OF WORK and money and becOm
ing Disguised with the world,
decided 10 end his troubles.
LATER.
The examination has Just closed
and the wuuld-be suicide y sent a.
the Insane asylum for treatment,
In the examination Trescntt said
that che aud man named Frank
Blark formerly owned a large ranch
in Montana aud that they sold Ou,
and he (Ipscott came out here Ca
Try and purchase one in Oregon, ana
that Clark was to follow him. Ill,
said, last uipht some men entered my
room and told me that they had
murdered Clark, nnd then cut my
throat Drs, Cartwright aud Jes
sup conducted the examination.
ANOTHER VERSION.
When TresCo,t was plnccd in hil
this morning ater he had been
brought tn the city, He was recpy
uiGed hy Samuel Newton who was
committed to the county iail onN
yesterday on charge grand
hrcvny committed az Jefferson.
Newton says he and In scott ar