NEWSPAPERS: L. H. Belser suicide in Medford, Jackson County, Oregon 

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Transcribed and formatted for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Elizabeth Corethers <Wordsmith@grrtech.com> 24 Jan 2003
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Jacksonville (Oregon) Post, Saturday, 8 Aug 1908, p. 8

SUICIDE AT THE NASH HOTEL

L. H. Belser, of Wenatchee, Washington, Took his own Life With Shot Gun-
Deed was Committed While four men were in Room.

As a climax of a spree lasting a week L. H. Belser, a real estate dealer at
Wenatchee, Wash., shot himself in his room at the Hotel Nash at 9:45
o'clock Tuesday night, dying immediately.

The rifle part of a combination double-barreled shot gun and rifle was used
for the deed, which was witnesses by A. E. J. Percival, an employee of the
hotel, his son W. E. Johnson of the Emerick restaurant and another man who
had just been engaged to stay and look after him for the night. It was done
so quickly that none of them had a chance to prevent it, and almost the
first thing they knew was to hear a report, the noise of which in the room
sounded like a cannon. The man fell to the floor, gnashed his teeth and was
dead almost as soon as the horrified onlookers reached his side.

It appears that Belser had not bene feeling well that evening, and Dr.
Hargrave was called to see him. He left a prescription, which Jr. Johnson
had filled, and was in the room when Mr. Percival and his son entered with
the man who was to stay with the sick man. He shook hands with both Mr.
Percival and his son and walked through an archway into the other part of
the double room. The gun was in the corner of the room and Belser grabbed
it and pointing the muzzle to his temple pulled the trigger.

Mr. Belser arrived in the city July 27 and engaged a room at the hotel. He
was about 40 years of age, well dressed and appeared to have plenty of
money which he spent freely. He was well behaved, however, and appeared to
be a gentleman. He had known Mr. Johnson before coming here and about an
hour before the shooting turned over to him his empty pocketbook and his
watch. These he returned just shortly before it happened.

He was in the real estate business in Wenatchee, and on his business card
is the address of his office and telephone numbers for both his office and
his residence. It is known that he has a wife and family at home. All who
met him that were seen testify to that and they feel very sorry that a man
as smart and intelligent as he should have ended his life the way he did.