The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1904-08-30
A MOUNTAIN CRIME
CHRIS ELLIS SHOT TO DEATH
SUNDAY MORNING.
Charge From Shotgun In Hands Of
Unknown Murderer Strikes
Victim In the Face.

Cold Spring, Weston Mountain, Aug.
29.-The dark recesses of the Weston
mountain again sends forth the ghastly
evidences of the hideous crime Of MUIR
der The officers are securing the can
yons and slopes on the scent of ths only
clue left by the murderer-foot prints
along the Selby wood road, leading
south Of Cold Spring and Fletcher's saw
mill. So far the murderer has not been
apprehended, and the mystery is no
nearer solved than on Sunday morning,
when the body OF the murdered boy, yet
warm, was found.
Chris Ellis, 20 years old, son OF Mrs.
Malinda Ellis, widow residing at Cold
Spring mountain resort, IL miles east
of Weston, was shot and killed Sunday
morning about nine O'Clock by an un-
known man with whom he had been
walking along wood road.
Ellis had left his home to go to George
Selby's wood camp, saying that he in
tended to negotiate harness trade with
Mr.. Selby, about an hour before the
shooting. The last seen Of him alive
was at VIM. Wisdom's wood camp,
where he stopped to chat few minutes
Not long after he had gone on his way
the report of gun was heard in the
neighborhood, but no attention was paid
to this common occurrence.
The body of young Ellis was found in
the wood road not far from Selby's
camp and about mile southeast OF
Fletcher's Mill, at point where the
road passes through heavy growth of
timber and underbrush. The load of
shot the slayer used shotgun, judg-
ing from the size of the wound had
evidently been fred at distance OF a
few PAGES. 1t entered between the
eyes and came out in front of the right
eye, scattering brains, blood and broken
pieces of skull over the road. He had
partially drawn off his coat, as though
preparing for fist fight with some one,
and had tossed his hat few yards away.
The body lay undisturbed as it had fall
en-. There was no indication of any
sort that he had been touched, SO that
robbery could not have been the mo-
tive of the crime. The day before he
had given his harvest wages, 800, to
his mother.
The tracks of the two men led in a
leisurely manner along the road for a
distance of three quarters of mile from
the point where he had been joined by
his companion, who had evidently come
from the breaks. After the crime, the
slayer walked along the road for short
distance, turned to look at his victim,
and then set off at sharp run. At
least, SO the tracks indicated. They
could be followed for about a quarter of
a mile, and then disappeared in thick
ct, being lost sight Of entirely.
Ellis was young man of good habits
and Of very quiet, peaceable nature,
who was well liked by his associates.
He was by no means quarrelsome, and
was without weapon Of any sort, but il
murder was committed itmust have been
the result of a sudden quarrel. One
theory is that Ellis's companion may
have been carelessly handling his shot
gun and fired 1t accidentally; that he
was youth, perhaps, and was so badly
frightened and Mortified at the awful re-
suit Of his carelessness that he hurried
from the scene and has not since mus
tered courage to tell Of the accident.
The tracks were those of a fine shoe
with sewed sole and neatly-rounded toe.
That day, nobody had been seen in the
woods with shotgun.
| The coroner's inquest was held by
Justice Miller of Milton. DR.. Cashatt
OF Weston examined the remains. The
| jury found that Ellis came to his death
from gunshot wound inflicted by a
person unknown.
] Bagley Sold To Joseph Scott.