East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-09-18


carousal and the loss of considerable
sum of money with which he was to
buy wood at Meacham, and which he
gambled away or spent over saloon
bars, j. NJ. Stewart, of Walla Walla.
blew out his brains yesterday MORN
ing at the corner OF Main and Webb
streets. The suicide occurred about
$40 clock, shortly after the deceas-
ed had been awakened for the morn
ing passenger train.
There were two men within so or
90 feet of Stewart when he fired the
shot into his head, but neither noticed
him until they heard the report of his
pistol. ]. F. Hickey, freight brake
man for the O. II. & N. testified be-
fore the coroner's jury that he had
Just finished eating breakfast at the
French restaurant and was passing
RAIDERS corner on the way to the de-
pot, when he heard the pistol shot.
and turning saw Stewart fall, face
downward on the ground. The other
witness to the affair was Lester
Knowlton. driver of the Hotel st.
George bus. who was sitting on the
drivers seat OF the bus I'm front of
the hotel when he heard the shot and
looking around saw Stewart upon the
ground.
Immediately after the shooting Cor
oner Henderson was notified of the af-
fair, and at o'clock jury was en-
paneled as follows to investigate the
same: II. ]. Taylor, d. Turner, T.
F.. Howard, J. w. Mccormack. f. u.
Mossie and ]. w. King.
Aside from the two witnesses mem
toned above. William Girton, a young
man of this city. and in whose com
pany Stewart passed the first half of
the night. was called before the jury
and his testimony throws light upon
the motives for the deed. The testi-
mony of Girton was as follows:
Drinking and Gambling.
II first met ]. NJ Stewart in Billy
& Genes saloon on Main street about
p. m. September 16. From there
we went to the Idle Hour saloon about
S p. m. We then went to Helms sa-
loon, where Mr.. Stewart gambled and
lost $50. We were there about three
hours. We then went to the Wind
sor house on Cottonwood street, where
l left him. and a short time after
wards | met him again In front of the
Hotel St George. He then asked me
about n place to get a bed, and I re-
ferred him to the st. George hotel.
"He drank heavily at the different
saloons and exhibited his revolver at
different places, but made no threats
Of using II. He was about so years of
age"
Following the inquest. Girton stat
ed that there were three games going
In the Helms saloon-one roulette.
one poker and one of some other de-
scription.
On being searched at the coroner's
inquest the sum of 81 was found on
Stewards body; also a quart of whis-
key In a beer bottle. with the brand
of the City Brewery upon 1t. AS this
bottle had not been opened, II is
thought that It was purchased by
Stewart after he arose yesterday
morning, and before he decided to
kill himself.
From the circumstances surround
ing the death OF Stewart II is believ-
ed that after arising to catch the
train yesterday morning he came to
a realization Of what he had done the
night before, and while downcast over
the loss OF his money, decided to end
his life.
Verdict of Suicide.
The verdict of the coroner's jury
was that Stewart came to his death
by his own hand as n result OF pistol
wound inflicted with a 3S-calbre re-
yolver, the time and location also be-
ing designated
During the day yesterday the re-
mains of SteWnrt Law in RAIDERS un-