Litchfield enquirer., 1858-03-18
Extraordinary Suicide in San Francisco


 It was stated in the latest California news that an inquest was held on the 21st of Jan uary on the body of Adolph F. Branda, who committed suicide near Lone Mountain Ceme- tery, in the vicinity of San Francisco, and that | Jury returned verdict that the deceased was native of Norfolk, Virginia, aged 33, and that he came to his death from an over- dose of strychnine, administered by his own 1 hand for the purpose of destroying his own 1 life It appears he had for several years been the confidential clerk and book keeper in the house of Macondray x Co.,, of San Francisco. The San Francisco Herald says
 He had, by strict attention to business and, as was supposed, by scrupulous honesty, obtained the unlimited confidence and esteem ofhis employers but latterly he had acquired those habits of luxurious living and dissipation | which have ruined so many young men, and | Tuesday night it was discovered that he had overdrawn his account to the amount of $500. He had pursued system of making false en- tries, which, had saved him from previous de- lection. No effort was then made to subject him to criminal prosecution, but he was charged with the crime, and voluntarily ac- knowledged it. It appears that legacy was left him some time ago, and he stated to Messrs. Macondray X Co.,, that he expected $20, 900 in short time, to be invested here, and that he would then refund the money he had taken No more was said about the matter, and on the 20th he sent word to the store that he was too unwell to be at his post at the regular hour for commencing business, but would reach there at two o'clock About one o'clock he went to livery stable, hired horse, and rode out by the Presido road to Lone Mountain Gen. etery. Within the bounds of the Cemetery, and at spot upon its north side, he wrote letter, directed it to MT. Macondray, placed it, together with a ten dollar gold piece, in handkerchief, and tied the bundle to the horn of the saddle. He then turned the horse loose, and it returned to the stable in the city, where the bundle was opened. the letter found, and sent to Macondray That gentleman opened and read it, and was mortified at its contents. 1 We cannot present it entire, as it contained matters not for the public ear, but will give a brief digest of its principal points. Branda confessed that he had committed great wrong, that implicit confidence had been placed in his l integrity, and that he had abused the trust He added that his feelings of remorse were unbearable, and that he intended deliberately to commit suicide that by the time MT. Mac ondray received his communication he would most probably be in the presence of his God, to whose mercy he commended himself He also indicated the precise spot in which his body would be found They immediately pro- ceeded thither and found him in the agonies of death, and he soon breathed his last. The following is the letter addressed to Captain Macondray:
 "Captain Macondray-I have injured you you, one of the best of men, Forgive me Oh, am nearly crazy and will soon be dead Think of it in few moments to be in the presence of God ! feel cool, yet mad-to think that I am thus suddenly to leave this world, this beautiful view, and all my friends Oh God my poor mother I do hope she is not alive This misery will kill her. I pray all forgive mo. feel cold this damp air i; the steamer has just fired her gun thank God, she is off. Tell George Clifford to take my pencil aud do afterwards with it as he thinks best, and to be kind to the giver. leave ten dollars give the man of the horse that amount Say to Judge Hager that am mad, and ask forgiveness of him. A. F. BRANDA.
 Jan. 20, 1858.
 On the back of this letter the following was added:
 |" You will find my body on the hill near the lone Mountain Cemetery. Please have me buried in the Mission Yard, as am, or rath- CT was, Catholic. If am wrong in leaving this world, where naught remains but misery, may God forgive me. I have been looking at the steamer how sad I feel. Please do not allow any publication to be made about me tho nota for ;nstopoo Thic ocl- fo, ,,,otb CTS sake. As write this in the saddle, fear you cannot read it. I would like Capt. Mac ondray and Judge Hager toopen my letters for me-"
 BRANDAs DYING THOUGHTS On the ground where the deceased was found were several pieces of paper he had torn from memorandum book On the first piece of paper he had written
 "Yet the thoughts of my poor mother keep my heart warm, or rather hot, for I feel that 1 am her murderer. God help me ! How slowly time passes !; it seems tome nearly half an hour since took the fatal dose, yet do not suffer. How chilly it is ! Ifeel stiff from the cold"
 Number two:
 l "Yet it is fearful to die thus, alone-to look around, see the hills, hear the roar of the ocean see your fellow beings moving in the distance, yet die alone Just after my third dose man passed and told his friends was crazy. God odfoFgiyesme. I hope am. What terrible sdspense. this waiting for death."
 Number three:
 For scienee-half of the bottle I have ta- ken !; four doses of the strch-at intervals of ] about three minutes, yet I do not suffer. I 1 feel nervous, but will note the time on the back of this. think it has been fifteen min utes since I took the first. I am cold and chilly. May some good result from my death"
 Or the fourth piece, the writing is without any order. The words are spread irregularly