The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-11-07
FREED MARTIN BERG
YESTERDAY
coRoNER'S JURY IN MATTER OF
DEATH OF ANTON ANDERSON
RETURNS A VERDICT cHARo.
ING IT TO ACCIDENT.

Yesterday morning at 10 o'clock,
upon the summons Of County Coroner
/ w, G, Pohl, the following named gem
tlemen Of this city appeared nj his
office nj the corner Of Eleventh and
Dane streets, an Jurors IN the matter
OF the inquest on the body Of Anton
! Anderson, who died nj ~. Mary's hos
pltal on Monday from the effects Of
IL gun shot wound received on Sunday,
October 2Sth .at his home place In
the Lewis and Clark country, and at
the hands Of his friend and compan-
ion. Martin Berg, In a drunken tussle
for the possession Of the gun in ques-
ton. MesarE. william Dench, fore
man I'd. Halock. L. r.. Selig. G. G.
Rosenberg, q. G. f.nZell and r. o. Pc
teraon They viewed the remains and
then listened TO the testimony Of six
witnesses. beside Sheriff NJ. r. Pom
eroy. Deputy Mclean and Martin Berg.
The testimony Of the six men al
| luded to had 10 do with the actions
OF the principals In the tragedy be-
| fore the same was enacted and while
they wers abroad In the country. and
| from the home Of the deceased, where
/, transplred. But none OF Il indicat-
ed any bad blood or vicious inclin-
a,ions on the part OF the men In
volved.
Martin Berg was the only living
witness to the real circumstances sur
rounding the death Of Anderson and
he told the same story he has told
repeatedly since II happened. in jail
and out Of II. all Of which has ap-
peared nj length In these columns;
and that II was caused by an over-in-
diligence In bad liquor and through
the scramble for the possession OF the
old shot-gu without n scintilla OF
bad feeling, was evidently borne In
on the fury, for at the conclusion Of
the case they brought In a verdict
that Anton Anderson came to his
death through the accidental discharge
OF n shotgun. but refrained from
mentioning Martin Berg In their con-
clusions.
II was thought at the time of the
rendering OF the verdict that Berg
would be held pending the investiga-
ton to be made by the district at
torney's office, but Berg was released
yesterday afternoon by Sheriff Pom
eroy upon the order OF Coroner Pohl,
and he Ia now free man, though n
very unhappy one.
The funeral of Anton Anderson will
take place this afternoon In the Lewis
& Clark cemetery. Rev. Eleffsen Of
nciatng. There are no known rela-
| tlNeN OF tne ueNtHSth III AhiS NSuhhis -
though there are many friends who
will undoubtedly be in attendance.
Martin Berg was interviewed short
ly after his release by reporter Of
this paper, and he was free to confess
his grateful sense Of the terrible pre-
dicament he had escaped, and heart
lily deplored the death Of his friend
and neighbor. He was perfectly con-
scious Of the vital cause of the dread
full contretemps. and made the solemn
promise, to the reporter, to the sher-
ifr, and others around about at the
time, that so long as he lived he would
never touch liquor again and he looked
and spoke ms though he meant 1t from
his very soul.
Thus ends one of the saddest chap
ters In the booze history of the
county and 1t is hoped that Berg will
adhere to his vow. for, aside from
that weakness, he seems to be an hon
est and well intentoned man and dis
posed to act the part OF a good ciu-
zen.