The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1858-03-03
From the San Francisco Herald. Jan. 2lst
Extraordinary Suicide at San
Francisco.


Extraordinary Suicide at San
Francisco.
We are compelled to chronicle, this
. ingone of those painful occurrences
which repetition has made so common
that the details of each apply almost di-
rectly to the other, but which nevertheless,
incte at once to grief and earnest rcncc-
ton. Adolphe + Branda, native of
Norfolk, Va, and aged thirty two years.
was, during seven years. a confident; !
clerk and book-keeper in the house of
Macondray & Co., Of this city He had,
by strict attention to business-and, as
was supposed, by scrupulous honesty
obtained the unlimited confidence and
esteem of bis employees, but lattelly he
had acquired those habits Of luxurious
living and dissipation which have ruined
so many young men, and on Tuesday
night it was discovered that he had over
drawn his account with the firm to the
amount of nineteen hundred dollars. He
pursued system OF making false entries
which had saved him from previous de-
lection No effort was made to subject
him to a criminal prosecution, but he was
charged with the crime aud voluntarily
acknowledged it, 1t appears that lc-
gacy was left him some time ago, and he
stated to Messrs. Naconlray 4 Co.. THAI
he expected SIS, 600 toarri1e il a short
time--$l, 900 Oh his own actouni, and i
like sum on accoI.t Of lil nj tEcr-t,
be Invested here. and that be would then
refund the money he bad taken. Nl
more was raid about the matter, and yyo-
tcrdoy morning he sent word to tine store
that he was too unWell to be at lis post
at the regular hour for commencing bu-
siness, but lie would reach there NJ two
o'clock About one o'clock he went to {.
livery stable, hired horse, and rode out
on the Preside road to Lone Mountain
Cemetery Within the bounds Of tie
cemetery: and 1T a spot upon the north
side, he wrote . letter, directed it to Mr..
Macondray, placed ii together with a tea
dollar piece in a handkerchief, and tied
the bundle to the horn of the saddle
IIe then turned the horse loose, aud it re-
turned to the stable in the city, where
the bundle was opened, the letter found
AID sent to Ma 0 + y. That gentleman
opened and read it, and was Mortified al
its contents. We cannot present it en-
tire, as it contained matters not for the
public, but will give brief digest Of
its principal parts. Branda confessed
that he had committed q great wrong
that implicit confidence had been pla-
ccd in his integrity, and that he had
abused his trust. He added that his feel
ings of remorse were unbearable, and
that he intended deliberately to commit
suicide; that by the time Mr.. Macondray
received his communication he would
most probably be in the presence of lis
God, to whose mercy he commended
himself He also indicated the precise
spot in which his body would be found
MIR. Macondray, after reading this let
ter, at once hurried with it to Coroner
McNulty, and that gentleman immedi-
ately repaired to the place designated.-
His horse was soon in readiness, but Just
as he was about to start, a messenger ar
rived with intelligence which the follow
ing paragraph will explain
1t appears that Branda, as soon as he
had written the letter and turned the
AlOIoe Ioooc, WphG W " opIt IjltlNdy OH
the road between the Preside House and
the Ccmetary, and there swallowed a
large dose of stryrchnine. A milkman
residing at the corner of Larkin and Bush
streets, who happened that way, found
him lying IN agony about three o'cll OK,
and conveyed him to the house of MIR.
Chard, a little south of the Preside
House, and near to Sage's ranch, where
all possible attention was shown him.
AT tour o'clock the Coroner arrived, and
during the next hour, in the intervals be-
tween the paroxysms, Branda conversed
freely and nationally with him. He &C.
knowledged his offence, and also that he
had swallowed large quantity of strycL-
nine, and desired to take no remedy AS
he wished to die. All that medical skill
could do to save his life WAS done-but
in vain; at FIVE o'clock he breathed his
'sstgasp. The body was brought to the
IONS he had occupied on Sacramento
..sreet, over Hammond's store. An in
quest will he held, this evening, at seven
o'clock.
1t is stated that Branda's mother is
now resiling in France, though others
say Rome.
This deplorab.e affair has caused great
grief among the members Of the house of
Macondray & Co., and q large circle OF
friends of the deceased. 1t has also Civ
en- rise to many speculations, and rumor,