The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1896-08-22
ATTEMPTED A SUICIDE.
An Old and Respected Citizen Attempts
to Take His Own Life,

! About o'clock this morning Rich.
ard 9. Closter arose from his bed, aud
Without any known reason, shot him.
self through the head. Only few
days since MIR. Closter and MIR. Schultz
had rented the rooms formerly occu.
pied by the justice court, on Second,
between Court and Union streets, and
had ftted them up for housekeeping.
Last night MIR. Schultz was invited to
Prot. Birgfeld' s residence where he re.
mained over night, but being troubled
With asthma arose about o'clock and
| returned home. When he entered the
house Mr.. Cioster was awake, and call.
ing to Mr.. Schultz. said he had retired
about II o'clock but could not sleep.
Mr.. Schultz went to his room, and lying
down on the bed, soon fell asleer.
He was presently aroused by the re.
port of pistol, and going to the
kitchen found Mr.. Closter on the floor,
4 pistol by his side, and stream cf
blood issuing from his head. DR.. Hol- |
lister was summoned by telephone,
and arrived in short time. He found |
Mr.. Closter groping for his pistol, stat.
ing that he wanted to complete the |
job" On being refused the pistol, |
MIR. Closter requested the doctor to
give him something that would end |
HE life, saying that he was suffering
intense agony.
DR. Hollister summoned DIR. Logan,
AMI together they exam ned the in
jured mans wounds, and probed for
the bullett, but failed to locate it.
The bullet entered the skull just in
front OF the left ear. and ranged down.
ward, crushing the bones in the roof OF
the mouth. AS yet the physicians eau
not determine what the result of Mr..
Closter's injuries will be.
His most intimate friends can assign
no reason for his rash act. Yesterday
he was in ordinary good spirits, though
he was complaining of not having felt
we'll for number of days. Yesterday
be bought the pistol with which he
shot himself, and at the tim of making
the purchase stated he was contem-
plating going on trip TO the noun s
,ains. Last evening he went with
Judge Liebe to the l0:30 train and net i
Mrs. Liebe and daughters, who were g
'eturning from trip to the coast. He G
walked with them from the Umatilla :
,ouss to Second strest, without display |
ng any signs of dependency, and I
yhen he bid them good night appeared i
n his right state OF mind. Even G
his morning, when Mr.. Schultz en- ]
cred the house he appeared TO be +
OVAL. and was joking Mr. Schultz p
bout being out ali night. r
Mr.. Closter was born In Germany 81 y
ears ago, and come to The D4lIes in t
S63. For number of years ne ran Il
ack train between this plaae and h
'anyon City, and for time al charge n
f q government PACK train with Gen.
looks command. During the Iadian
'ar of 1878 he also had charge Of q
overument pack train connected with
'5uSTdl I1OWdEQ 0uEtnH
is many years residence here his in. y
with his fellowmen has been h
lost pleasant. To everybody he T
as known as "Uncle Dick" aud n
Is doubtful If he ever had !;
n enemy in the community. a
Though within the past few a
ears he has lost considerable amount n
money in unfortunate investments, q
Q still has plenty to supply Immediate G,
ants, hence financial troubles could NJ
OF have been the cause OF his rash .,
ct, therefore there Is no reasonable Ia
zplanation of his deed. His life now h.
ang5 as If by a thread, which the en-. tc
re community hopes will not be sew m
'ed, and since he ie receiving the best n,
attention both from his brethern III 81
le Masonic order and the citizens r.
no volunteer their assistance, he may n,
st be nursed back to life. ie