Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-09-19
DALLAS FARMER
KILLED HIMSELF
(PoIk observer.l


OF brooding over the fancied un.
friendliness Of his neighbors, George
t Seiby, a well-to-do rancher living
= about three miles west of Dallas, met
death by his own hand Thursday af-
ternoon, having first fired his house.
barn and ontbuildings. Such was
the purport Of the verdict rendered
By the coroner's jury Friday after
noon. fn
The whole truth OF the strange
tragedy will probably never be
known, but enough testimony has
, been brought to light TO prove sub
stantially the theory OF suicide and
discredit the vague rumors of muir
der that we're for short time afioat.
saiby was man about 80 years
of age and came to Oregon from his
native state, Virginia, about 25
years ago, settling on a small tract
of land which he purchased from
Judge Boise, whore he lived until
the time OF his death. His sole means
Of livelihood was from the sale of
cattle and of wood which he cut on
his farm. An investigation OF his
bank account shows that after sell
ing his livestock during the fall OF
each year, he Deposited all of his
money in the bank. drawing upon II
only occasionally for the purchase OF
the necessities of life. There IL no
evidence Of his having kept money
In any large amount In his house.
The story OF his death, a. CLEANED
from. the fragmeutary testimony Civ
On az the inquest Is as follows: On /
"Wednesday evening selby called '.t
the home OF George Medley, his
nearest neighbor, and seemed TO be
very despondent. complaining that
he had not slept for more than n
week. He declared that he had no
friends in Dallas and that all his
neigbbors we're working against him.
and bitterly upbraIded Medley be-
cause he had stopped visiting him.
accusing him tMedley) OF being
'iuBt like the rest"
Medley endeavorod 10 sootho him, II
telling him that he was sick and
suggested that he come 10 Dallas for
medical attention. but selby re-
fused 20 do so. Finally, however.
he gave Medley dollar and told
him 20 get some medicine for him
when he came TO town the next day.
His actions we're all very strange,
according TO Medley'S testimony, and
all OF his conversation was fiIshty
and ineoherent. Medley came TO Dali
Las on the following morning and
was still here when the catastrophe
occurred.
At about f2;45 w. w. Miller
passed by the selby farm. driving to
Dallas. and ho says that everything
about the place was apparently all
right. He did not see Selby and
drove on without stopping.
About an hour later ar. Walter
and Mr.. Reed, selbv's nearest neIgh.
sors, excepting George Medley. saw
an immense volume OF smoke rising
from the direction OF his farm and,
surmlslng that the house was on flrc
hurried 10 tho scene as rapidly as .
possible. When they arrived. the
house. barns. cowshed and severel !
'outbuildings woro reduced TO piles q
OF embera. The woodshed which Q
stood nearest tho house was only Q
partially consumed. Selby was no
whore 10 be aeeu. and II was some
Tins before they discovered his re-
mains amid the smoking ruins OF q
the house. Ia
]. A. Cooyert's son hastened 70
Dallas aud notified Coroner n. l.. ~
Chapman who drove 10 the scene OF v
the nra immediately. when he
reached the farm. the are had died .
town sufficiently for him to walk 9
across the ashes aud embers 70 tho q
rnins of tho bedroom. where the re. h
mains Of the dead mans body were O
located, n
iiis head aud limbs had been al
most entirely consumed. and only a Il
few fTasments OF the spinal column. Il
the nelvie cavity. SHOULDER blades D
and a few charred portions OF the d
viseera remained. Nearby lay Win a
chester rifle with one exploded she'll a
In the chamber. This shell had ev- a
aents been flred before the heat d
!, VI become snfhelent 90 discharge Il. a
In ~ the cap Mas dented. 81
T Ne melted portions OF his pocket 81
'ook. and melted slngs Of money. Ia
mounfing TO about $50. were found a