The union Democrat., 1870-01-01
Suicide OF n Californian.

Richard Fowler, resident of Stockton for
several years. who also resided at and was
Post Master at Copperopolis during the pros
perons days of that village, and more recent
ly of Murphy's Camp, Calaveras County,
committed suicide on the Sth inst, at Kansas
City, Missouri. The following particulars OF
the suicide appear in the Kansas City Times
of December llth:
'Qn last Wednesday afternoon, near twi-
light, sickly-looking emaciated man, shak-
ing with a severe chill, and bearing uumis-
takably the appearance of one who was suf-
fering with disease, entered the general en-
trance Of the Sheridan Hotel situated on Fifth
street, west of Wyandotte, staggered up to
the counter and desired to register his name
Cuddy, one of the proprietors, handed him
the register, and he wrote in a trembling
hand the pame E. 7. Williams. "Will you
be kind enough to write down where you are
from ~ asked Cuddy. TIE visitor refused,
and simply ElInbIed out, ineaherently, words
which were taken to mean that he was Just
from Omaha. He was shown to room No. l2,
and Immediately retired. On Thursday morn
ing, it appearing to the proprietors of the
Sheridan. that Williams was very sick, they
sent for DR.. Joe Wood The doctor quickly
repaired to the house and found the man in o
delirious condition. Medicine was prescrib-
ed, aud an attendant White. directed to re-
main in the room and attend to his wants,
and thus Thursday passed The man E. r.
Williams, so-called, exhibited symptoms of
great mental agony, produced partly no doubt
by the disease and other circumstances COM
bined At about half after eleven O'Clock
Thursday night, White went out of the room
on some business: a few moments elapsed the
sound of the discharge Of firearms is heard:
an entrance to the room is made, and there
was sight revolving in the extreme. The
pale, emaciated man Law On his back strrg-
Cling with death, his life's blood ebbing fast
Yesterday morning Coroner Adams was mott
fed of the occurrence. He quickly repaired
to the room and summoned a jury of inquest
The verdict of the jury was that Williams
came TO his death by pistol disch arged by his
own hand. From an examination of his ef-
| foctS. it was elected that he bad been in busi-
ness in California nt place called Murphy's
Camp; that he had been there as late as the
| 25th of November. There we're also several
| letters found addressed to R. Fowler. signed
| by Edward Fowler as "Your brother. From
the heading of the letters, it appeared that
Edward Fowler was the agent of the Mutual
! Benefit Life Insurance Company of New Jer-
sev, office No. 20S. Olive street, St. Louis,
Missouri. Coroner Adams telegraphed Ed
ward Fowler. acquainting him OF the occnr-
renee, to which telegram he received reply
asking for a description of the man. From
these letters. to which we have referred above
it would appear that the name of the unfor-
tunate man was not E. T. Williams. but r
Fowler, as there was not a single document
which bore the name Of Williams. From s
| list Of his effects it would appear that he wa:
possessed of large smount of jewery
Whether he was engaged in peddling it, OF
how it was obtained, there is no evidence t
show"