The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-12-02

SblduSSii diiu CdlllS " lHS SOuCluoioi
that Reiter was the man he wanted
He learned that Reiter had previousl!
worked in Coulumbia county, and haC
also been in Portland and Oregon City
Forty-eight hours after the sheriff Z
return from the scene of the tragedy
Reiter was arrested in Portland by
Deputy Mooer, brought to this city
and lodged in the Jail on suspicion
There was no direct evidence against
him, and the officials at once begaI
efforts to secure confession, which
were successful before the suspected
man had been incarcerated for twenty.
four hours. Following was the con-
fession:
ION Wednesday, August I'd, last,
left Astoria and walked out in the
country That evening got to a place
called Olney. L stopped there that
night, at boarding house, and the next
morning, Thursday, l went further up
the country. That evening / got to q
house owned by man named Otto Jo-
hanson. He allowed me to sleep there
that night; and the next morning, Fri
day, August 4th, last, l and Victor
Snellman, after the others had gone to
work, had breakfast. This was about
Z O'Clock. After breakfast, there being
nobody else at the house, Snellman and
/ left there together, and started for
Astoria on foot. Victor Snellman took
a pack with him on his shoulder, and
L had nothing. About one mile from
the house we met shipmate of mine,
who walked with us about two miles
up the mountain. My shipmate asked
me If had any money; I told him |
had half dollar: then he asked me
who the man with me (meaning Shell
mani was. | told him / did not know
and said, "He is going to Astoria t.
buy some goods" He asked me if
Snellman had any money. I told him
did not know. My shipmate then
picked up a stone and knocked him
over the head. Snellman fell down
without saying a word. 1 then went
through his pockets and found $22 and
the watch that you now have" The
sheriff then exhibited the watch, and
Reiter acknowledged it was the one
he took from Snellman. Continuing.
he said: my shipmate then picked
Snellman up and threw him over the
logs on the side of the road in the
brush. After he threw him there he
went after him with sheath knife.
We then divided up. kept $12 and the
watch, and gave my shipmate $40 of
the money 1 took from Snellman. We
then walked along about two miles,
and my shipmate went on the road
towards Portland, and 1 came right
along to Astoria, where arrived about
o'clock in the afternoon. I never hac
any quarrel with Snellman at any time,
because did not know him. This
statement l make to ease my mind"
Several glaring improbabilities in the
statement caused dissatisfaction in the
mind of Sheriff Smith, and he informed
Reiter that he did not believe the whole
truth had been told. The following day
a second confession was made, as fol-
lows:
THE other statement was true eX-
cept where l said, my shipmate did the
killing; that was not true. | knocked
Snellman over the head with a stone,
and cut him afterwards and took all
his money. l cut him with that knife
Cpointing TO the one the sheriff had in
his hand) with the small blade. / was
afraid that after / took his money and
he was not dead, that he would have
me arrested for taking his money. /
and Snellman were sober at tie time |
JOHN REITER."
The story of the trial and prompt |
is still fresh in the minds |
Of readers of the Astorian, and needs |