The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1890-02-21
A TRAGEDY.



Last December George Saltmarsh, o
this city, and aiisa Lola Riley, Of Eugene
were united IN marriage at the latter city
About three weeks ago n the depot Mr.
Saltmarah informed DEMocaAr mnn
that hia vile had left him and gave hin the
particulars OF their trouble, which we're.
boiled down, thar she did not love him
but loved some one else, and believing thai
they could no. be happy together she had
concluded 10 leturn 10 her home, which abe
did on the outgoing train. This WAS forty.
two days after their marriage. She was
| 10 have week to decide whether she
would return aad live with him, which he
did not believe she would ever do lie
said Il was more than he could stand, and
he would 20 of until Tie end Of The week.
a. he waa all broken up. Otherwise they
had been happy together. Last Thursday
he went 10 Eugene TO see her,almost mad.
dened by his trouble. lie found her
there; also the young man who was said
TO be OF the bottom Of the trouble, who
had only recently been married himself.
Mr.. Saltfnarsh induced his wife TO return
to Albany and they came here together
on Saturday. Giving up all hopes OF
reconciliation he made up his mind 10 end
both Of their lives, buying a Smith 4
Wesson revolver, 81 callbre, on Monday
for that purpose.
Monday evening just before 9 o'clock he
started Cor his mothers home showing the
revolver to some friends aud remarklng
tina. he. was going on journey. Going
Into the house on Second Street he told his
wife and mother that he had concluded to
20 OF and would leave for California IN
the morning. iiIs wife, for Just what
cause Is not known. rushed bareheaded In
TO the street, and west along Second Street.
Young Saltmarsl followed her, catching
up With her In front of Mrs. C.. o. Lees,
when he said
"Loia, I'm going TO kill you"
She faced him and putting her handa on
his shoulders said
"Don't shoot me, George. DON'T
Then he raised the revolver and net :
vously pulled the trigger. The bullet
struck Mrs. Saltmarsh's left earpleFeing Il
from In front as well as the flesh hack Of
1t and she Iell 10 the sidewalk more from
fright than from Injury, the wound being
only slight one. The POOR young man
then turned the revolver towards his right
temple and bullet crashed along his hralti,
just breaking the skull and entering about
a quarter ot an Inch. leaving Il about two
inches from where Il frat touched II, mix
ing the skull with the brains, which oexed
Slightly from the wound. lie leaned up
against tree. when Mr.. John Sehmeer
reached him from his livery stable inmc
dIaiely afterwards, and on being questioned
said he had shot himself and Lola and she
would only live thirty minutes. At the
time OF the tragedy Mrs Riley. mother Of
Mrs. Saitmarsh, was sisnding near, having
followed them into TIE street. Young
Saltmarsh was taken 10 his mothers, where
he was attended BY Drs. Wallace and Mas.
ton, and Mrs. Saltmarsh 10 Mrs &. o.
Lees, where DIR. Ellis attended her. On
the person Of the principal to the tragedy
was found bottle of iaudanum, with. con
siderable gone. and he was undoubtedly
under Its influence al the tlme Of the shoot
Ing. There was aito found a note on him,
which we were moi permitted 10 see, which
stated subsiaE tally, Tonight ! am going
10 kill myself and Lola. etc, which show
cd pFemedltation.
Mr.. Saltmarsh was ~ years of age and
hiss been In the stove aad iinwarc business
for several years, s,rceenily being associated
wlth Mr.. r. g. Hopkins. TO whom he sold
his interest on account OF the affair.
The case ID very unfortunate one aud
contains some aggFayatlng circumstances,
and as well suggests several shlaga In sbe
matter of marriage.