The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1893-08-18
BOTH WERE LOADED
Ed Dolsen Kills a Woman by
Carlessly Handling
A REVOLVER, WHILE DRUNK.
Broke His Neck, but Still Lives
Six Persons Killed.

"a young lady VINO was known
in Pendleton as Jessie Walton, an
inmate of a house of i'll fame, was
shot and instantly killed by
gambler named Ed Dolsen, who
has been in Athena for some time.
Dolsen, who was drunk at the time
claims it was an accident. He
was bound over by Justice Bishop,
Of Pendleton, in the sum of $4,000
to answer to to the charge of MUIR
der in the second degree. THE
following particulars are taken
from the East Oregonian:
Friday evening about $3.50 o.
clock, Ed Dolsen was engaged in
drinking and making merry with
three women, his wife Maria Dol
sen, the dead girl, Jessie Walton,
and Edna Homer, at question
able resort known as No. 4, on
Cottonwood street.
Dolsen was considerably under
the influence of liquor, and he had
with him large pistol with
pearl handle, relic of the late
Hank Vaughn. After drinking
about twenty minutes Dolsen drew
this weapon and twirled it around
on his finger Suddenly i. dropped
and exploded, either while in his
hand or after it struck the floor.
Jessie Walton stood in front of
him, and blood was seen rushing
from her mouth. Maria Dolsen
testified that she said: "Ed you've
killed her." "I'll give myself up
to the officers" he replied, and he
stopped and picked up the weapon.
He was very drunk.
Acrowd was soon attracted to the
scene, DR.. ]. w. Morrow, who had
been called, being among the first
to arrive. The unfortunate wo-
man was bleeding profusely and
continued to do so until she died
fifteen or twenty minutes after his
arrival. The bullet entered her
mouth and passed through her
head, afterward dropping to the
floor.
THE VERDICT.
A coroner's jury was empan-
nelled at s o'clock this forenoon
and an inquest held before B. B
Bishop, justice of the peace and
acting coroner. The testimony in
troduced brought substantially the
fscts mentioned above. The jury
found that the deceased came to
her death from wound inflicted
by one Ed Dnlsen, while carelessly,
negligently and unlawfully hand
ling pistol in a dangerous man
ner, and without proper regard for
human life; and that he is guilty
Of the crime Of unlawfully causing
the death of said deceased. The
jurymen were C.S. Jackson, T. G.
Taylor, HI. Jackson, II. Macarthur,
John Ducan and William Hilton.
WHO SHE WAS.
But little is known of the poor
creature whose life has paid the
forfeit of another's carelessness.
Her friend and companion, Edna
Homer, testified that she thought
her true name was Tillie B. Wallis,
| and that her parents formerly liv-
ed at Nevada City, Cal. She was
a fairly good looking girl, about
twenty, four years old. 1t is said
that she came originally from Mel
bourne, Australia.
The Salem Statesman says Of
her: "Jessie Walton was pretty
we'll known in Salem two or three
| years ago. She belonged to the
sporting class of women but was
distinguished for her superior in
telligence and accomplishments
| She was raised in Southern Ore
gon and had a pleasant home
and many more than the usual ad-
| vantages. She became infatuated
with masculine scoundrel, lef
her home and from that time hel
course was downward"
The Portland Telegram says in
its account of the affair: "Born o.
worthy parents, her father a re-
spected resident of Southern Ore
gon and her mother a faithful wife
raised in happy home; educated
more than the average girl ant
graduated from an Oregon col
lege; polished until she could sim
and play we'll. and easily speal
several languages, pretty Jessi
Walton was shot last night il
Pendleton, and died fifteen min
utes after the bullet had done it
fearful work"
Dolsen.is q yonng fellow VIII
has fourished in Pendlet)n severa
years. He followed gambling 70
livelihood, and has bornea some
what shady reputation.
SECOND DERGEE MURDER.
Dalsen was arranged in Jus
tice Bishops court at 2 o'clocl
this afternoon. He said nothing
and merely waived examination
being bound over in the sum ,
$1,000 to answer to the charge