Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-09-19
MAX NIEPEL THINKS SUPPOSED
SUICIDE OF RELATIVE IS
IN REALITY FOUL
PLAY.
HAD LARGE SUM OF MONEY
New York Man Wants Investigation
Of Death of Paul Niepel in Woods
Near EOla; Coroner Chapman
clings to Suicide Idea; Murder
Theory UntenabIe.

Expressing the belief that hi.
brother, Paul Niepel, whose dead bod,
was found in lonely piece of wood
land near Eola about two weeks ago
had not committed suicide, and init
mating that he had been murdered
Max Niepel, Of Dolgeville, N. Y, ha,
written Coroner R. L. Chapman ot
Dallas, asking an investigation.
In his letter Niepel says that his
brother had a large sum of money
and valuables in his possession, In
cluding suit case. He also says that
the dead man was planning a visit 10
his reiatives in Dolgeville, where his
brother and aged mother reside, and
uses this as an additional foundation
upon which to base his murder theory.
Clings to Suicide Idea.
Coroner Chapman takes a different
view of the affair from that advanced
by the New York Niepel. He be-
lieves that the man made way with
himself by his own hand and that no
other person Or persons had a hand
in his end.
"All indications point to suicide, J"
said Mr.. Chapman Saturday. "The
mere fact that the man died from a
bullet wound fired inside the mouth
disproves the murder theory,
in my Judgment. No valuables were
found on the body, and if the dead
nan had any such possessions, they
nave not been discovered. There is
not one chance in a thousand that the
nan died any other way than by his
)wn hand. If l thought otherwise !
would certainly institute an investi-
ration. Under the circumstances the
county has no money to delve into
he matter further and, if the dead
nam s brother wants the matter look
d into in all its details, the thing
or him to do is to hire detectives and
robe the affair in its entirety"
Mystery Shrouds Death.
There is considerable mystery sur
ounding the death Of the man. But
title is known of him in the locality
there his remains were discovered,
nd there were no indications of a
truggle where the dead man lay. tie
,as not seen with any companions
nd it is the belief of the authorities
nat Niepel, for some still unaccount-
BILE reason, in a fit Of dependency or
,mporary insanity, sought out the
,nely spot and ended his earthly ca
,er with bullet in his brain. 1t is
Omitted, of course, that if Niepel
ad large sum of money in his pos
,ssion just previous to his disap-
earance, the absence OF any valua-
les on his body would tend to con-
nm the murder theory, but there is
, indication that he possessed funds,
id nobody can be found to either
,nfrm or deny this possibility. u
First clue to the Identification OF
,e dead man came from a former
,mpanion in Portland, who SAID that
, had been on a camping trip with
m a few weeks previously, but he
d not say anything about NiePel s
,ancial condition. 1t is possible,
,wever. say the authorities that the
,rtland man may know more about
jepel than he has yet told, and IL
,nears that if further information Is
come II must be through him.
Coroner Kept Busy.
Coroner Chapman declares that he
S been kept busy since the news
the finding of an unidentified body
,s first sent out from this city. lie
vs he is daily the recipient OF let
rs from all portions of the country
om m relatives of men who have mys-
disappeared, asking for
of the dead man. soon
ter the body was brought to the
,rgue here. Coroner Chapman had
.ot5ooraph of the features taken and
ali iuGuirers he sent a copy oil TINS
mess -, But the complete identifi-
tom of the remains by means OF the
,rtland man above mentioned ana
! further description wired from his
otber in New York, leaves no doubt
to his identity. -
The remains will be buried T1 VelS' 4
lowing instructions from New YORK
ativps. 1,