The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-01-23

Through some MISUNDERSTANDING Of
law the jury undertook to find Hilstrom
guilty Of murder IN the first degree.
As Il natter OF fact. a coroners jury
IL lmp8nneled solely for the purpose Of
ascortainlng the cause OF death. This
was probably reported In accordance
with the facts. but whether Hilstrom
Ull be finally adjudgcd guilty Of MUIR
der IN any degree whatever wll re-
main to BE- determined by trial jury,
to ~ selected IN the event that the
case IL referred % the grand Jury.
Should the grand jury b. convinced
that Hilstrom should stand trial for
murder al win then rest with the trial
Jury which body VIII decide upon his
punishment
Bus proceedings win be held before
Judge Gray today at 10 o'clock which
may seltle the matter IN an entirely
different manner These proceedings
win be IN the nature Of an examination
before lUnacy commission. composed
n Doctors Kinney and J. A. Fulton.
II II Is proved 10 the satisfaction Of the
commission that Hllstrom Is insane.
the neud Of Lewis and Clark win be
duly committed to the state insane
asylum and the matter viii be brought
10 az end, at least temporarily
But whether or not Hilstrom IS in
sane IS matter upon which many
we'll fourdel--although antagonistlc-
opinions are expressed.
Members Of the sherlff's Office declare
that Eiilstroms actions, aside from
the killing OF Lake Mooers and the at
tempts to shoot Abercrombie ard
Beaslvy have been perfectly rational
IN every respect. His conversation at
all times supports tAis conclusion and
Il is only when Hilstrcm begins talking
Of the murder that he appears to be
the engine The engineer performed
unbalanced.
It has been reported by those who
have known him best that Hilstrom is
addicted to drink and that while under
the influence OF liquor he is brutal in
tie cxteme. The further statement IS
nude that Hllstrom has, as rule, been
keeping heavy supplies Of whisky in
his house, Upon the strength OF this
statement II has been concluded that
fillsiron was temporarily out Of his
mint ui the time he shot Lake Mooers.
shcnT Linville states. however, that
he is convinced that Hilstrom was not
under the influence OF liquor at the
time and believes that none had been
in the house for several days preceding
the rurder. Sheriff Linyille, however,
together with many others. expresses
the opinion that Hilstrom was crazy
at the time he shot Mooers. This con-
eIusion Is purely opinion, based prin-
clpally that such blooded deed
could net have been committed by
mar possessing the full powers OF his
mental faculties.
This much can be said: NJ one ever
raised a question as TO Hilstrom's san
ity prior to his confinement to the hos
pital with q broken leg.
a gentleman who had been a mutual
friend Of both Mooers and Histrom
said to an Astorian reporter yesterday
that he had visited Hilstrom at the
county jail and had had conversation
With him.
Before l went TO see him" said he.
'E held the conviction that the man
must be insane. am now of an en-
tlrely different opinion, II ever man
was guilty of deliberate murder, be-
litve Hilstrom TO be. He talked per-
fectly sane and rational when saw
him at the Jail today and seems 10
have no regret for the deed whatever.
Il Is Quite natural for one to conclude
that u man must be out of his mind to
do as Htlstrom mas done, but were
on trial jury should certainly in I,
sist upon giving this man the full ex-
ept Of the law.-wLich is hanging. And I
l was an ong those who would have
at first staked my life upon the opinion
that he was thoroughly crazy before
my interview with him"
Mrs. Moers, wife Of the lead man,
was seen by an Astorian reporter last
evening
Tile first information received Of
my husbands death was through the
newspapers as l was visiting friends
In Portland at the time" said she.
"The report in the Oregonian was
rather vague and for q time was in
doubt as to whether 1t was my hus-
husband or his brother who was killed.
But a personal telegram, received later
on, made clear the awful news.
Lakes good nature lead him to his
death. He was always more than will
ing to help a friend, recall occasions
wnen he would loan money TO men
who really had no claim upon him,
when l would chide him, telling him
that he would be laying himself open
to want through his generosity.
'Well' he would reply, the poor
fellow needs 1t and we will never miss
It..
81 know that Lake has always treat
ed Mr.. Hilstrom most kindly and with
great generosity, 1t is In view of rhis
that the killing of my husband seems
90 strange 10 M.
"Of course. If Mr.. Hilstrom is not in