The Alaska citizen., 1915-10-18
MINER SHOOTS SELF THROUGH
 HEAD AND DIES
CHARLES SCOTLAND TIRES OF LIFE AND KILLS
 HIMSELF

Charles Skofland, q Norwegian
 miner, about 33 years of age, com
 mitted suicide Saturday evening at
 the California saloon by shooting himself through the head with .3S
 calibe Iver Johnson revolver. The
 shooting occurred at about s 50
 o'clock, and, although Skofland lin sered barely breathing until 9:29
 o'clock, when he died at St. Jo seph's hospital, it was seen that
 there was no possibility of saving his life.
 Skofland entered the California
 about 6:30 o'clock. He brought a friend up to the bar and called fo: drinks, going to the back of the big room immediately thereafter. He was seated on a chair at the end of the row on the east side of the room. when he was seen to draw the pistol from his pocket put it to his head and fire The bullet went into the skull at a point just above the left ear and came out almost directly opposite
 It vas found on the floor approxi- mately 2S feet from the body by Chief of Police Wiseman. who was the first official to arrive on the scene after the shooting. Pat Hagen, of Graehl. was sitting
 about eight or ten feet from Skof- land when the latter committed his
 rash act. He states that he turn ed his head toward the man just to his head and fire He immediate a. l,r inn, to hn DF LN man and took the pistol from his grasp.
 Andy Mckenzie, the proprietor of he California; was at the bar. He states that the first he knew of the occurrence was when he heard a noise which sounded to him like the explosion of an electric bulb. When he was apprised of what had occurred, however he immediately sent for the federal and city off cials and called Dr. H. J. Mccall um to the scere. A condition ,f
 semi darkness prevailed in that part
 of the room where the act was com
 mitted, the lights not having been turned on.
 Chief of Police Wiseman, Chief Deputy Marshal Joe Miller and Com missioner John K. Brown responded to Mir McKenzie's call for officials
 Dr. McCallum came a few moments
 later and attempted to stop the flow of blood from the mans head. and
 Skofland was removed to the hos
 pital. Judge Brown stated yester-
 day that it will be necessary to hold
 an inquest and that it will probably
 be held some time today, although he has set TO exact hour.
 As far as can be learned, Skofland
 had resided here for about five
 months, coming from Nugget creek in the Chitina district It is stated that he had worked there for about
 five years previous to coming here. Since his arrival in this part Of the country he had been employed most of the time on the Scrafford anti mony properties, having been paid off with the lest of the crew when the mine closed down about two weeks ago
 Tom Skofland, brother of the
 deceased, is mining on Little Ell dorado. He arrived in town yester- day morning to superintend the 'uneral arrangements. Ire daconsed s one residing in Seattle. Skofland had always borne good reputation in this community, ac- cording to statements of men who have worked with him. He is like wise said to have been well thought If on the coast.
 Tom Skofland, the brother, is able to assign no cause for the suicide
 Nor can anyone else unearth a req
 son for the mans wishing to kill himself, As far as is known there
 is no woman in the case. as was sug-
 gested by some immediately after the shooting.
 A few moments before he went to the California, Skofland went into
 the Pioneer saloon. where he paid
 his weeks room rent He then
 went to the Pioneer barber shop and was shaved, appearing to be in
 good humor. He left all of his be longings at the Pioneer and they will be examined at the inquest to see if further light can be thrown on the suicide.
 As was at first presumed, Skof- land was not a heavy drinking man, and was not in an intoxicated condition when he shot himself. Therefore the only reasoAs which can be assigned for the shooting are temporary mental Arrangement or despondency.
 Skofland purchased the gun with which he shot himself only a few days ago at Smiths Gun Store. He stated at the time that he was going to the Toloyana, and thought that it was best to have a revolver along.
 Late last night Judge Brown