The weekly Placer herald., 1854-04-15
Gold Hill Correspondence.
Suicide OF Emanuel Ska1a.


Mr.. Editor: The citizens of this place
were greatly surprised and shocked on
Tuesday morning the llth inst, at learn
ing that Emanuel Skall, IA clothing mer-
chant had committed suicide.
The store of the deceased, not being
opened at the usual hour, and remaining
closed until about 10 O'Clock, suspicious
were excited that all was not right. Two
or three citizens Immediately made a
forced entrance to his bed room in the
rear of the store, where they found his
lifeless body. Appearances went to show
that the deceased retired to bed, as usual,
undressing himself and getting into his
bed. His position when found was con-
elusive he died without q struggle. The
revolver was held so near his face that
the cap explosion opened the skin in two
places near his nose. The bali entered
the right temple. and passed partly through
the frontal portion of the brain; the blood
flowed out and congea led, covering the
right side, and extending to the breast.
The coroner was sent for, and cot being
able to attend the case, he authorized Ru-
fus Smith and Esq. Robinson to conduct
the inquest. The jury gave the following
verdict
owe, the jury, from the facts elected
from examination Of the body, find that
the deceased came to his death by means
of a pistol ball, discharged from a pistol
held il bis own band, for the purpose of
consummating selt-destruction -
81. MARINER, Foreman"
Since the inquest, paper has been dis
covered among the effects of the deceased,
written on two separate pieces OF paper,
in very broken sentences, and poor Eng
liSh, which put into shape, reads as
fol lows:--
"Citi=ens and Gentlemen: | beg you
will be kind enough to finish my business
began, but it Is impossible to finish. You
will find two small bills which | owe in
san Francisco; the amount is about five
hundred and eighty dollars; also, one
hundred and fifty do lars to MIR. Lahener,
living in New York, 24l Rivington street.
The remainder of my property wish
sent to my brother-in law, in New York :,
Mr.. Asher, that it may e sent to my
mother and brother. This is all can
say. see myself that it is time for me
to 90 into the other world am, indeed,
tired of California Nothng more to say,
on y that | did not fulfil my proposition.
Good bye to al my am indeed
ashamed of myself that | did do wrong.
What intended to do, did not. Provi
dence wi Judge my enemies. Gold and
money you will fnd-S400"
The business unfinished referred to in
the above document, was the incomplete
inventory of the goods, which was found.
He began undoubtedly to make full
statement of his affairs, but his mind was
unequal to the task He had met some
pecuniary losses in business transactions
with his brother-in-law, which seemed too
heavy for him to bear
Mr. S., was a native of Hungary, of
poor parentage, but educated by a gentle
man of rank, who, at his death, left him
quite competency. He was of a rowing
disposition, living for short time in many
prominent cities of the old world, where
his great pride seemed to he TO acquire a
knowledge of the local languages. He
was quite inguist. He was a mild and
polished gentleman, and was respected by
ali who knew him. for his urhanty and
honest dealing. His age was about SO.