The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-02-17
Prominent Young Astorian Ends
His Life With the Fatal
Pistol.
TWO SHOTS WERE FIRED
No Cause Assigned to Rash Act
That Closed the Career of
Wealthy and Popu-
lar Citizen.

Emil Schimpff. manager Of the North
Pacific Brewing company. shot himself
through the head yesterday morning In
1T OF dependency. The bail pas
scd through the skull and death was
instantaneous, The body will be ship
ped tonight to Scranton. Pa, the for
rner home Of the deceased, where II viii
be buried
When telephone message was re-
ecivcd yesterday from the brewing es-
tablishment conveying the news that
Manager schimpf had blown out his
brains. people who knewhlm secuted the
story as nbsurd. Jovial and beloved
by all with whom he came In contact.
he was the last man In the world one
would consider a suicide and the story
OF his death was dscredited. His
friends insisted that some mistake had
been made. but II was not long before
the lifeless body was taken to the
morgue Coroner Pohl summoned a
jury and an inquest was held during
the afternoon. The Jurors were Thomas
Ryric, David Airth. Richard Cearns. J.
II Hansen. A. Il. Minard and o. \.
Cole. The witnesses examined were
Dr, 4. 4, Finch Joseph schamberger
aud Leo Il. schimpff, the latter bro
ther of the decca sed,
The evidence adduced at the inquest
threw but little light on the causes lead
ing up TO Mr.. SchmpH's rash act.
Mcssrs. schamberger and l.. f.
Sehlmpff testified that deceased had
been despondent for several days past,
ard that his condition was due TO wor-
ry over the pending trial Of c, II.
Bsckwith bookkeeper at the brewery.
whose accounts were recently discover
ed to be short. The surety company
which had guaranteed his bonds was
prosecuting the bookkeeper, and Man |
ager schimpff necessarily was compel
led to secure evidence against the ac-
cnsed. This worried him greatly. and |
frequently to friends he said that he |
deplored his connection with the mat
ter, Up to Sunday he had appeared |
very gloomy, but on Sunday he seemed
In excellent spirits. He went TO the
brewery yesterday morning and was
quite jolly, and there was no iptimation
Of what was to follow.
Shortly after o'clock Manager
schimpff left the office and went to a
barber shop across the street, On his
return he walked out OF the office and
was not seen again until his body was
found In the hayloft OF the stable at
he brewery. He had gone to the loft.
his coat and vest, seated him
self on some loose hay and placed the
nuzzle of the revolver to his temple.
Examination OF the weapon showed
hat the first three shells failed to ex-
,lode, Presumably the fourth shell
lid not miss fire, but whether this bull
ct or the tifth ended the career of the
foung man will never be known. Mr.
'chamberger heard the two shots and
imposed some one was shooting ON the
letraoks at the rear of the brewery.
lie made search of the premises and
ound the body lying on the floor of the
oft.
The news of the tragic end of Mr..
chimpff caused q sensation. To all
he local business men he was known
S bright and successful young man,
nd enjoyed deserved popularity. That
e should have had cause to kill him
ELF was never for a moment believed, $
nd his friends are confident that he I
as suffering from temporary aberra- d
on of the mind when he took his life. l
n every hand the most profound sor- G
Nv was expressed. for during his brief d
ssidence here the young man had c
ade hosts Of friends. lie was 50 years t
age, u native OF Scranton, and un- n
arried. Mr.. and Mrs. Leo e.
ahimpff had been visiting him and o
e still in the city. The terrible af- G
'r has completely prostrated them. n
All sorts OF absurd stories have gone Il
e rounds since the shooting. On the "
reefs II has been stated that Manager Il
'himpit himself was short In his ac- Il
unts, and that Mr.. Beckwlth was in
II to shield the real eulprlt. other
orles were current TO the effect that
r schlmpff had been arrested. These c,
lries were, OF course. false. The pre- e
aament Of the accountant Is the cir. a
instance that turned the mind Of "a
manager aud prompted the suicide, "a
scores of friends called az The morgue 3,
4 evening 10 view the remains, witch d
4 be Inferred ut Scranton. N
ie'eahed was quite wealthy aud nj
Hfl iufHf tnI4ffaf IA, a.. at.tt | g..