The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1892-08-05
IT WAS A MURDER.
On the n1ght'of the 23d sof June an assault

On the nlghtiof the 23d, sof June an assault
was committed in this city on the person of
Carl Straga, German abont3 years of age,
who was discovered in semi-unconscious
condition in Stakely Moore's barn the next
morning, his head having been beaten and
| his face dis6gured until recognizition was
| well-nigh impossible. The city papers pub
ished full and complete account of the
affair at the time. Straga taken to the
Occidental hotel where surgical attention
was given him. He improved slowly
and by the first of July was able to leave
his bed. The first of last week he had inn
proved to such all extent that he decided
to return to his labor ut Friendly's saw mill.
He worked one day but did not appear
again at the mill and Wednesday morning
parties went to his house to ascertain the
reason. They found him lying his bed
unconscious and had him conveyed to the
Vincent house and physicians called. They
pronounced the case braiu fever and made
every effort to save the mans life but the
case had progressed too far and death came
Friday Afternoon.
Justice of the Peace Davis called a jury
for the purpose of holding a coroner's in
quest ard DIR. Hill of Albany and DIR. Leonard
Of this city held q post.mortem examina-
atiou which showed that death resulted di-
rectly from the injuries sustained on the
night of June 23d. After the examination
Dr. Hill gave the following testimony.
eve find directly over the forehead
very extensive fracture 81 inches long.
Small pieces Of bone were taken out over
the left eve that were broken in fragments.
In taking the top of the head off, we find on
right side fracture y inches long, extend
ing back over right ear, and the natural
seam that joins head is cracked open 81
inches We find, also, over left eye, an a5.
scess in consequence of blow, and puss had
formed in abscess We find the brain much
congested. in consequence of the blow. His
mouth, or upper jawbone. on right side is
fractured quite ways up and lower jaw Is
fractured. Several teeth are broken out
and indications are that he has been struck
right in the mouth.
Being asked what, in his opinion, caused
DEATH the doctor replied, Fracture of the
skull"
How many blows did he receive?
'"rhere are indications Of two; one on the
forehead and one in the mouth. The blow
on the head would alone have proven fatal.
| am of the opinion that inflammation wonld
have set in some time and that the4 blow
would have produced death under any kind
of treatment. Very remotely, it was lseces-
sarily fatal. If had treated him, [ would
have expected him to die. The fracture
running back would have caused trouble
sooner or later. Had bones been back in
place. it might have:gat along. AS extern
sve break AS that is from no ordinary
pire broom stick. l would say it was from
hard substance-cub, stone, or something
solid "
What position do YOU think he was in
when struck?
''It is direct blow. and he might have
been lying down or standing in front"
DIR. Leonard corroborated the evidence
given by DR.. Hill,
After hearing the evidence, there was
only one thind to be done, and the jury re-
turned the following
VERDICT:
We the jury called to inquire into the
cause Of the death of Carl Straga, do find as
follows: That Carl Straga's death was
caused by blow upon the head with some
blunt instrument in the hands of some per-
son whose name is unknown t. this jury;
said blow being given on or about the night
of the 23rd of June, A. D. 1892, at the resi-
dence of the deceased Carl Straga, located
on Second street, in the city OF Corvallis,
state of Oregon, aud we further find that
that the person who inflicted the blow Is
guilty of the crime of murder.
w. a. WELLS,
D. CARIILE,
e. ". WAGG0NER,
j. ". SrHPSoN,
J. A. CAUTHoRN,
W. j. WILLBASKs,
Jury.
Dated this 33th day of July, a. D., 1892.