The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-11-07

4
derbrlIsh just south Of the old A. y. G
football grounds on the hill the bod,
Of Daniel Pikkai was discovered yes
terday afternoon, the top Of the head
blown of. with the gun that inflicted
the injury. tightly clasped In the right
hand. The ease j. being investigated by
Coroner Pohl and an inquest will BE-
held today, although Nil indications
point 10 deliberate suicide.
While no accurate account OF the nc.
tions OF the dead man has yee been oh.
tanned by The authorities, IL IL believed
that he committed the rash deed Sun.
day night The body was still in a state
of rigor.mortis, when found, which
would not have been the case had Il
lain longer, and added 10 this conclu.
sion. Is the fact that Mrs. T.. n. Buss.
Ing, wife Of a street car conductor liy.
ing a short distance away, heard a shot
in that direction shortly after o'clock
that hight, and commented on II TO her
husband.
Mr.. Bussing and T. Nelson discovered
the body only by merest chance ye-ter.
day. They were looking for one Of Mr..
Nelson's horses, which was missing, and
following a trail. through the under.
brush, Bussing was Mortified 10 find the
body Of a man. with the top OF the
head blown away, and the hat a few
feet oft. Mr.. Nelson Immediately tele.
phoned Coroner Pohl. and Sheriff Lin.
vile, City Physician Pilkington and
Deputy Coroner Pohl Immediately left
for the scene Of the tragedy, and con.
veyed the remains 10 the morgue.
Piekkari Is Of Finnish nationality and
Is about 10 years OF age. lie has re.
sided In and around Astoria a number
of years. At one time he owned claim
near Nehalem, but disposed Of II later.
The authorities believe that money
matters led the man 10 take his life.
Since receiving the money on his claim,
four or five years ago, he has engaged
in practically no work. He suffered
greatly with his eyes, and this trouble
rendered manual labor practically i'm.
possible.
lie lived at a rooming house kept by
Mrs. Thompson, at 3 West Astor street,
and took his meals in an establishment
kept by VIM. Lappa, across the street
At this place he took his last meal
Tuesday evening, but he occupied his
room both Wednesday and Thursday
nights; leaving early Thursday morning
This was the last seen Of Peikkari in
that neighborhood lie confded 10 Mrs
Thompson before leaving, that he in.
tended going TO Nehalem, in search Of
employment. He told Of his financial
difficulty, adding, that he needed work
badly.
When he left his lodging house, Peik.
kari had little more than three dol.
lars in his pocket, but only Is cents was
found in his clothes yesterday after.
noon. lie was seen drinking heavily after
leaving Mrs. Thompson's place, and it
is the theory OF the officers investigat.
ing the case, that after spending his
money, he started for his destination,
or that he walked deliberately to the Sc.
cluded spot, to end his existence
The gun with which Peikkari shot
himself was an old style Winchester, of
u Hopkins pattern. 1t was a long
calibre, aud one chamber was empty.
An examination by DIR. Pilkington at
the scene of the tragedy showed that
Peikkari probably laid down before fir.
ing the fatal shot. The revolver was
held in the right hand, and the bullet
entered the brain little above the
right temple, ranging upward. The
whole upper portion of the head was
broken open, and pieces of the skull
were found scattered near by. One was
found by DIR. Pilkington, nearly twenty
feet from the body.
An inquest will be conducted by Cor.
oner Pohl at 3 o'clock this afternoon.
No indications of anything but suicide
have been discovered, and il Is consid.
cred quite certain that the deed was
committed Sunday night
A peculiar incident in connection with
The tragedy, is the finding Of a dumdum
bullet in one of the chambers OF the
dead mans revolver. II had been fled
nearly fiat at the end, and the au.
thorities believe that the bullet which
find into his brain was simil.
arly doctored, which, IL true. would ex.
plain the fact that the whole upper
portion of his head was torn away.