The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-01-20
SHOT TO DEATH AT
LEWIS AND CLARK
Lake Moore Slain by Insane
Matt HIlstrom.
--
A POSSE OFF TO THE SCENE
Three Other Likes NarrOwIy Escape
E1tin0uishment at the Hands Of
the Piend--Pnll Particulars.
A POSSE OFF TO THE SCENE

Two attempts TO commit murder
one succcsgful-is the record OF day
for Matt Hllstrom. an Insane rancher
residing in the Lewis and Clarke dis
tIict. As a result. Lake Moore, we'll
known logger living near the same
neighborhood, lies cold In death at the
house Of the man who shot him down
in cold blood at a late hour yesterday
afternoon That two more deaths were
not added 10 the list before Hilstrom
completed his bloody work Ia almost
miraculous.
Yesterday afternoon l.. Il. Abercrom-
bic. resident OF Lewis and Clark.
swore out n complaint in Judge
Greys court against Hilstrom. whom
he charged with having attempted TO
take his Me by shooting him with
shotgun early yesterday morning.
Abcrcrombie explained that. aecompan-
led by his son and some loggers he
had started up the sIcid road TO the
logging camp. on the way Abercrom-
bic stopped to examine the underpln-
ming and was In STOPPING posture
when suddenly there was a loud re-
port OF a gun and a bullet whizzed
past his head. Abercrombie and the
others In the party hastened to cover
and eventually succeeded In making
their escape from the premises. Aber-
erombIe coming Immediately to Astoria
8 70 report the matter TO the authorities.
Grant Trulllnger. deputy sheriff. &C.
companled By Fred wickman. immedi-
ately set out TO arrest Hllstrom. leav-
ing this city about I o'clock In the
afternoon In the gasoline launch
crichton. AS they arrived at the land /
Ing near the Chadwell school house
they were met by Lake Moore. who was 7,
engaged in rafting logs at that point.
Moore. upon learning the mission Of I
Trullinger and Wickman. volunteered
to accompany them. stating that he
was well acquainted with Hilstrom and
his family. and would show them the
way. His proposition was at once ac-
cepted and the trio Immediately start
cd for Hilstrom's house, which is about
a mile and half from the school
house.
II was about half past o'clock when
the house was reached and was begin
ming to grow dark. Moore led the way
and ascending the porch was met by
Mrs. Hllstrom. Moore addressed the
woman pleasantly and inquired II her
husband was at home. She replied that
he was and opened the door, apparent
ly TO allow the men 20 enter. stepping
aside as she did 50. Moore at this
moment saw Hilstrom inside the door,
ard greeted him with Hello, Matt;
how are you" The words had bare
~ left his lips when loud report of
shotgun rang out and Moore staggered
and fell to the porch. uttering cry
OF agony as he fell.
The story Of the AFFAIR was given in
detail TO an Astorian reporter by
Deputy Sheriff Trullinger last night
immediately after his arrival In the
city from the fatal spot His statement
was substantially as follows:
Il was standing Immediately at the
side Of Moore when the shot was fired"
said he. MY first thought was that
the shot was fired accidentally. was
dayed for a moment and was nearly
suffocated with the smoke. and it was
several seconds before could realize
just what had happened. AS the I
smoke cleared away saw Moore I
stagger and fall 10 the porch. In my {
bewilderment at once ran to cover.
seeking refuge behind the corner Of a
barn about 200 feet distant from the !
house. AS l looked toward the house
l saw Wickman still on the porch.
Presently Hilstrom appeared at a side !
window with the gun stu in his hands,
moving in a threatening manner
Wlckman saw this and at once ran of !
the porch, seeking shelter behind a i
large stump about $50 feet away. Hill {
strom then appeared in the window in c
full view. his gun ready to fire. Wick
man shouted to him and asked:
"'Did you kill MooreT S
Yes. killed him., was the reply. c
"Why did you do it?' Wickman a
asked c
'Histrom then made a rather in I
coherent reply to the effect that he had
the United States government on his i
side and had right to kill whomso- /
ever he desired. h
This ended the conversation. 1 am v
satisfied that poor Moore is dead be- Y
cause, for several seconds he groaned b
terribly. and then he suddenly ceased ?
entirely. His form lay motlonless upon $
the porch. q
"By this time 1t had grown quite {
dark and Wicxman and succeeded in n
making our way back toward the
school house. When we arrived there l.
wlckman wanted to get up a posse '
composed Of neighboring renchers and c
and return Immediately to d
the scene of the shooting I opposed b
this plan for was satisfied that the c
only hope of capturing Hllstrom would I
be to shoot him first. Such a plan I s
was unwilling to undertake upon my ;
own responsibility and Immediately s
left for Astoria to report the matter C
to Sheriff Lanville" a