The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-03-22
LOUIS cnRIsnAMSoM, OF
C0WYCHEE VALLEY, SUICIDES
He Is Believed to Have Been Mentally
Deranged-Left Considerable
Valuable Property.

Wcst VI tHc City III tHc SoWycHe Nduey,
committed suicide last Friday afternoon
by shooting himself with a 44-calibre
rifle, the deed having been committed
in field, directly on the dividing line
between Christianson's land and that of
a neighbor named Strangeway. These
facts were established beyond doubt by
Coroner Rosser, who, in company with
H. L. Tucker, a friend of the deceased,
went out to the scene of the tragedy on
Sunday morning. There was suspicion
in the minds of some when the news first
reached the city that Christianson had
been murdered, but letters written by
him, which were found and were proven
to be in his handwriting, in connection
with many other circumstances, shovel
that he alone was responsible for his
death.
The first person to learn of the sui
eide was a neighbor, Peter Swanson,
who found the body Saturday morning
He called another man to watch over
the remains, and going to the postoiIice,
sent word by the rural carrier to the
city. DR.. Rosser and Mr.. Tucker we're
notified, but decided that it would he
best to defer going to the scene until
Sunday morning. Arriving at the place
where the remains still lay, they dis
covered that Christensen must have
rested his rifle on the ground, leaned
over it with the muzzle pressed against
his right ear, and discharged the weapon
with the aid of a small forked stick.
The ball passed entirely through the
head, ranging toward the nose and COM
ing out near the left nostril. After ex.
aiming the letters and having them
translated-they were written in Nor.
wegian-Coroner Rosser decided that an
inquest was wholly unnecessary, and the
remains were brought to the city and
prepared for burial by Undertaken
Shaw. The funeral was held from The
undertaking parlors Monday afternoon,
Rev. Henry conducting, and interment
was had in Tahoma cemetery. A large
number of the neighbors and friends of
Mr.. Christianson attended.
Why Louis Christianson should com
nit suicide is mystery, and in all prob
ability it will always so remain. He
was but SO years of age, was in gool
health. and usually gave evidence of a
happy and contented mind. By his in
dustry and frugality he had become pos
sessed of one of the best ranches in the
valley, comprising 100 acres Of lend,
nearly all under cultivation. He lived
at peace with his neighbors, having mad
so far as is known, trouble with but two
persons. These were John Russell OF
the Tietan basin and his neighlwT
Strangeway. The difficulty with the lat.
ter was slight, and was caused by dis
pute over boundary line between thelr
farms. In one of the letters left Chris.
Hanson says Russell is in possession OF
information concerning him which he
"could not bear and live" Not even his
closest friends can imagine the nature
of this knowledge, and unless Russell
chooses to tell, it will never be known
There is belief in the minds Of many
since the suicide of Mr.. Christianson
that there was no real and sufficient
cause for selfdestruction. He lived Ill
alone in the solitude of companionles'
lie. and it is thought that this unnat
ural condition weighed so heavily upor
him that his mind gradually became af
: fected, until, tortured by imaginary trnu
hles, he sought rest and peace in tl''
grave. Many little things he has said
and done in the more recent past lead
to the conviction that he was mental,
unbalanced He had distrust of banks
: and has kept his money secreted in var
ious places about the ranch. One of hi;
letters told where money could be found
} and in the hiding place $50 in gold, 8;
in silver and some small change wa,
found. There is belief in the minds Of
some that further search will disclose
more gold and silver, which the unfortu
nate man may have secreted and for
gotten. A short time ago he visited hi
poultry yard in company with friend
and while they were there a chicken
scratching in the loose earth uncovered
several silver dollars. This led to q
search, when . jar containing over 80
was found, which Christianson admit
ted he had placed there and forgot
ten.
The deceased had several relatives liv
ing in the United States, who will inner
it the bulk Of his property. Much Of hi'
personal possessions he left to friends
leaving . label ON each article bearing
the name Of the person to whom he de
sired 10 leave 1t.