Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-04-14

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probably marry her ifhe had money.
When told Of fCurtis' death on Sat
urday morning, che appeared very
much excited and said that the de
ceased wanted to marry her the
evening before, but she had refused.
Frank Ellis, intimate friend Of
his, testified he met Curtis the last
time and went to supper together
Friday evening, but Curtis stopped
and waited for Mrs. West, whom he
saw coming. Curtis had often spok-
en- of Mrs. West, but never declared
his intention of marrying her. Mrs.
West had often said Curtis was the
only man she ever loved. Deceased
also spoke Of Mrs. Gibbs at times, aud
said he onco liked her but had
changed his mind. Witness also
testified that Certls was in good
spirits, and in his opinion would be
the last man in the world to commit
suicide.
DIR. J. NJ. Eaton, ex.c coroner Of
San Francisco and now a practicing
physician In this city, gave testi-
mony which was, to say the least,
rather straightforward and a trifle
sensational. He said he had had
several years. experience in examin-
ing gunshot wounds, and he, after a
careful examination of the wound
in deceased's forehead, was certain
that it mad not been self-inflcted.
The character of the wound he saw
proved this beyond a doubt. In the
first place, in all cases of suicide, the
weapon is always held close to the
skin. When the discharge takes
place, in such cases, the powder and
bali penetrate without scattering.
Such q gun as the one used in this
case would undoubtedly have BET n
blood-stained if held TO the flesh and
from all indications, it must have
been discharged at distance Of four
or five feet from the dead man. The
track of the bullet resembled raw
beef, and the powder was scattered
all over the face. The witness gave
it as his firm opinion that the wound
could not have been selfinflicred,
and the position of the pistol on the
floor cut no figure whatever. Death
he said must have been instanta.
neous.
CnRTIs WAS MURL ERED.
PORTLAND, April 14.-The coron-
er's jury in ihe case of John e. Cur
It's, the bartender who was found
dead in lodging house in East
Portland with a bullet wound in
his forehead last Saturday morning
brought in a verdict that Curtis
came to his death by the hand of an
unknown person or persons.
BLEW UP THE HOUSE.
PORTLAND, April l4.-Word has
reached here from La Center, Wash.
ington, of terrible accident which
occurred near the latter place yes.
terday. A farmer named Holcomb
had placed some giant powder in
the stove, and the powder exploded,
demolishing the house and setting
fire to the ruins. Two daughters of
Holcomb, aged fourteen and sixteen
respectively, were instantly killed,
and Holcomb aud his wife were
seriously if not fatally injured by
the force of the explosion.
ONE OF FOUR RAILROADS.
MARsHFIELD, April 1.-THE pre-
limlnary survey of the Coos Bay
Eastern railroad will be started this
week. The road will be run up
Coos river and across the Coast
range direct to the town of Winches-
ter, six miles north of Roseburg.
This is one of four proposed roads
with Coos bay as a terminal point,
with good prospects of being the first
completed, The line is sixty miles
in length.
MARKETS.