Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1909-06-11
DEGREES HIS OWN DEATH
Shot Fired By Himself Ends Life of
E. kimball, Respected Pioneer
of Polk County.

u. hiuOdli, an OLD and h0D0red
: resident of this vicinity met his deatf
~ his own hand at his ranch abou
three miles southwest of Dallas near
Oakdale, Wednesday afternoon.
Coroner r. L. Chapman was sum.
moned to the scene Immediately after
the body was discovered, but it was SO
clearly case of suicide that he did
not deem an inquest necessary.
The wife of the deceased was not at
home when the tragedy was enacted,
having gone with a party OF women
OF that vicinity to neighbors home
to spend the afternoon gathering
gooseberries. A number of the women
in the party heard the reports OF the
gun with which the unfortunate man
effected his suicide, but passed it over
as shot fired by some transient
hunter In the neigh borhood.
Later in the evening, Mrs. Kimball
left for home in buggy with the
daughter of Mr.. Nelson and one of
her friends. AS they entered the
yard, the Nelson girl, who was driv-
ing, was Mortified to see the body of |
the dead man lying so near the road
way that the wheels of the buggy
almost grazed his head. Mrs. Kim
ball, seated on the other side Of the
buggy, was fortunately spared the
shock of the terrible discovery and,
with great self-control, the girl drove
quietly on and allowed her to alight :
from the rig at the house, still In
ignorance of the fact of her husbands ,
1eath.
This done she turned around and,
going with all possible haste to the
T. W. Robinson home, notified them !
# the sad occurrance and sent Mrs. I
Robinson back at once to break the 4
al news to the widow Mrs. Kimball
7as prostrated when the full reaIiza- I
on of the blow that had fallen =
awned upon her, and her condition
considered extremely grave. g
There is every evidence that the B
licide was committed deliberately y
nd was carefully planned before u
and. The gun had been fastened ]
ith a chain to tree and a string A
tached by means Of pulley in such +.
manner that one could stand directly VI
front OF the muzzle and discharge n.
e weapon. The gun had been fired NJ
'ice, apparently indicating that Mr.. w
imball had tested the efficiency of Z
S device before putting it into actual II II
10 against his own life. F
He received the charge point blank
the throat severing the jugular B
in and the wind pipe, death result Il
In a few moments. For a long n Es
ne he had been respondent and ill
d delusions resulting from his ST,
'lancholy condition are supposed to Ed
We lead up to his rash act Of self WI
:. Kimball was born in 1880 in the A.
to OF Ohio, and crossed the plains r
Oregon at the age Of %, settling Th
1t near Smithfleld and afterward Mr.
wing to the place where he lived at
time of his death. He was one of y - :
volunteers in the Indian War in vi
s, serving through the entire cam Sal
gn with great credit to himself. X
lis wife, one son, Allie, Of Salmon y y I I
er, and two daughters, Mrs. Ben Sin
'mpson and Mrs. J. W. Robinson,
his vicinity survive him. The fun Hel
will be held from the family resi- Ola
ce this afternoon at 2 o'clock, and = = :
re mains will be entered in the old nj
etery near the Odd Fellows ceme- c
southwest Of this city. p \