The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-01-31
Most Peculiar Circumstance Re.
ported 10 the Police Officers
Last Night.
MYSTERY SHROUDS AFFAIR
Two Men Go Ia Waterfront to
End Their Lives, Both BE-
Ing Lovers of the
Same Woman.

4 mysterious case WAS reported to
the police last night and pending an
investigation there viii be cause for
apprehension that one of the two low
ers Of some woman induced the other
lover to commit suicide. Thus far
II has been impossible to learn any
Thing dennite about the matter.
wade Hampton Smith. who Is con.
ncctcd with the Vancouver Transpor.
tatlon Company. noticed two men on
the dock last evening. and their sus-
plclous actions aroused his curiosity.
ilc watched them closely for a while.
ana the men soon after left the dock.
evidently having surmlscd that Mr..
Smith Was watching them. ono OF
the men appeared 10 be about %
years Of age. while the other was
perhaps 80. Both appeared 20 be un-
der the influence OF liquor.
Mr. smith thought nothing OF the
matter until later on in the evening
II wns dark when he walked out to
the edge Of the dock 10 see whether
,r NOT the Lurlinc was yet In sight
and the two strangers We're again seen
b, him. without letting them kno"
u his presence. Mr.. smith watched
,b,m for IA moment. The younger man
seemed TO be urging his companion
a., mmn overheard while the elder
man hcSi,ntcd.
90 ahead jump. IN FOLLOW you"
said the younger man
Thus urged. the elder man stepped
IN the edge Of the dock and poised
his hands as n for leap INTO the
lev water At this juncture Mr. Smith
called out 10 thS men, and the would
be suicide stepped back onto the
wharf Mr. smith approached the men
and ordered them on the dock. As
they fastened through the warehouse
both Stumbled and fell. the older man
inmrlng his leg. lie limped away with
his companion.
About 10 minutes later. while Agent
Smith and W. H. Smith were AZ the
warehouse entrance, the younger man
returned. bringing with him two com
panlons. Roth the men were sober
The man said he was looking FOR his
friend. and contradicicd Mossrs Smith
when they told him he had LETT the
dock with the man When questioned,
Er said both had gone to the wharf
Tor the purpose Of committing sui
eide. VIE
but would not have jumped in.
said the young man Il tried to set
the other fellow TO jump over, but II
he had done no / would not have fol-
lowed him After he had drowned
himself could have got the girl"
with this remark. he left the wharf.
Messrs Smith began TO speculate, and,
thinking perhaps the younger man had
Induced hts companion to jump over
board after the two had been driven
away from the Lurlne dock, they
notified the police, sarch was made
the peaks in the Olympia range had
not be found
From the parting remark OF the
man the police are inclined to believe
that both were In love with the same
girl. and that rs they could effect
no other compromise. they had agreed
o jump into the bay. That the young
er Of the men wanted to get his COM
panlon out OF the way was evident
from his statement to Messrs, Smith.
Roth men were strangers and the po-
lice are at loss to know who they
could he.
Further search will be made for
the young man, and II he is found
he viii be compelled to produce his
companion, or else go to Jail. The
men could both be Identified by the
Lurllne employees