Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1908-09-15
DIES BY HIS OWN HAND
CorOner's Jury Attributes George Sell
by's Death to Suicide Under
Temporary Insanity.

ness Of his neighbors, George Selby, a
well-to-do rancher living about three
miles west of Dallas, met death by his
own hand Thursday afternoon, hav-
ing first fired his house. barn and out
buildings. Such was the purport Of
the verdict rendered by the coroner's
jury Friday afternoon.
The whole truth Of the strange trag-
edy will probably never be known. but
enough testimony has been brought
to light to prove substantially the
theory of suicide and discredit the
vague rumors of murder that were for
short time afloat.
Selby was man about so years OF
age and came to Oregon from his
native state, Virginia, about rs years
ago, settling on a small tract of land
which he purchased from Judge Boise,
where he lived until the time Of his
death. His sole means of livlihood
was from the sale of cattle and OF
wood which he cut on his farm. An
Investigation of his bank account
shows that after selling his livestock
during the Fall Of each year, he depos-
tied all Of his money in the bank,
drawing upon it only occasionally for
the purchase of the necessities of life.
There is no evidence Of his having
kept money in any large amount in
his house.
The story of his death, as CLEANED
from the fragmentary testimony given
at the inquest is as follsws: On We'd
nesday evening Selby called at the
home Of George Medley, his nearest
neighbor, and seemed to be very
respondent, complaining that he had
not slept for more than a week. He
declared that he had no friends in
Dallas and that all his neighbors were
working against him, and bitterly
upbraided Medley because he had
stopped visiting him, accusing him
(Medley) Of being 'just like the rest. T"
Medley endeavored to soothe him,
telling him that he was sick and sug-
gesting that he come to Dallas for
medical attention, but Selby refused
to do 80. Finally, however, he gave
Medley a dollar and told him to get
some medicine for him when he came
to town the next day. His actions
were all very strange, according to
Medley's testimony, and all of his
conversation was flighty and incoher-
ent. Medley came to Dallas on the
following morning and was still
here when the catastrophe occurred.
At about 10 AS, W. W. Miller passed
by the Selby farm, driving into Dallas,
and he says that everything about the
place was apparently all right. He
did not see Selby and drove on without
stopping.
About an hour later Mr.. Walter and
Mr.. Reed, Selby's nearest neighbors
excepting George Medley, saw an
immense volume OF smoke rising from
the direction OF his farm ands sur
missing that the house was on fire,
hurried to the scene as rapidly as
possible. When they arrived, the
house, barns, cowshed and several
outbuildlngs were reduced to piles Of
embers. The woodshed which stood
nearest the house, was only partially
consumed. Selby was no where to be
seen, and 1t was some time before they
discovered his remains amid the
smoking ruins OF the house.
J. A. Coovert's son hastened to
Dallas and notified Coroner r. L..
Chapman who drove TO the scene
of the fire Immediately. When he
reached the farm, the fire had died
down sufficiently for him to walk
across the ashes and embers to the
ruins OF the bedroom, where the
remains Of the dead mans body we're
located.
His head and limbs had been almost
entirely consumed, and only a few
fragments OF the spinal column, the
pelvic cavity, shoulder blades and a
few charred portions of the viscera
remained. Nearby lay a Winchester
rife with one exploded shell in the
chamber. This shell had evidently
been fred before the heat had become
sufficient to discharge II, since the cap
was dented.
The melted portions Of his pocket
book, and melted slugs OF money,
amounting to about $40, were found
near his body. All OF these circum-
stances seem efIectually to remove
evidences Of a motive for murder and
to point strongly and conclusively to
suicide. tits believed that the deceased
in a ct OF insane dependency fired
the outbuildings and house and then
shot himself, expecting the flames %
destroy all traces Of his body.
Selby had no relatives 10 Oregon
and the authorities were for a time at
a loss TO know with whom they should
communicate in regard 70 the disposal
Of bis property. Mr.. Stuart one OF
his neighbors. however. said that he
believed that the deceased had rela-
tives living In or near Clinton, Henry
County. Missouri Leters were mailed
AZ once 70 the Sheriff % Henry county
and TO one DR.. Salmon, residing 10
/ Clinton, Informing them o. the occur
renee and asking Information COO
cerning the Whereabouts Of bis rela-
uves. u any there Were. residing in
that county.