Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-06-10
ATTEMPT At SELF MURDER.
cordova s. witherspoon Has a
Streak of Bad Luck and At
tempts Suiciding at slotter-
beck's Gun Store

Yesterday morning, about half-past
s o'clock, a stranger walked into the gun
and ammunition store Of H. Slotterbeck,
and wanted to look at a pistol. Mr..
Slotterbeck's son showed him a large
Smith 4 Wesson, unloaded. He called
for cartridges, and put one in with the
pistol cooked, when the clerk ex-
claimed. "My God, mani do you want
to kill yourselfy" He replied, Suppose
dol" and turning the weapon against
his breast, fired, scorching his vest and
sending bullet crashing into his breast,
just below and at the right of his heart.
He stood still moment, and then lay
down, he said, to die. Among the
crowd that gathered at once in the store
was Mr.. Ivar A. Weld, who recognized
the victim and had him removed to
the U. s. Hotel and surgical aid called
in. DIR. I. C. Gale was first in attend
ance, and after his arrival DIR. X. d.
Wise was called in to examine the
wound, which appears to he Of fatal
character.
From Mr.. Weld AMI the victim we
learned something OF the story of his
life. His name is Corlova s. Wither.
spoon, native Of Warrensburg, John
son county, Missouri. He had formerly
been in the insurance business at that
place and also Deputy Sheriff under
two different administrations. By pro-
fession he was lawyer. He and his
wife and one child had been travelling
for some months. They had visited
Washington Territory, Oregon. and
about month since stopped at the U. s.
Hotel in this city. As their money was
nearly all gone, he paid his wife's fare to
Strong, Palo Puerco county, Texas,
where she had wealthy bsother resid-
ing, while he remained here to await the
arrival Of money from home. He had
written to the Sheriff of johnson county
for 5000 which he said was due
him, and also to his brother, who
owed him S35O0 loaned money. The
Sheriff did not answer his letters or dis
patches, and his brother wrote that he
could not pay him. This reverse seemed
to make him moody and despondent.
In this condition he looked around for
business, and, meeting Mr.. Weld, that
gentleman offered him place to live on
bis Cahuenga farm till he could get
something else to do. Early yesterday
morning he came to town to get news
from home, and finding none, attempted
his life, as we have stated He informed
reporter of the HERALD that he had
intended to take his life if hs did not
get good news from home yesterday,
and had written letter to that effect,
which was in his pocket book This
document is in the safe at the United
States Hotel, awaiting the result of his
injuries.
Hon. A. K. Conklin called to see the
victim and recognized him as one of the
Witherspoon family that he knew in
Warrensburg when he held the office of
District Judge in Johnson county. He
informed our reporter that the family is
one of high standing and influence in
Missouri. and well supplied with this
worlds goods. Mr.. Witherspoon ap-
pears to be thirty years of age, but says
he is only twenty-six. He is finely
made man, of powerful frame, and be.
fore the shooting. was in excellent
health and Of soldier-like, command
ing presence. He announces himself an
atheist, and regrets that he did not kill
himself outright. At this writing he is
resting quietly, but there appears no
chance for him to live, unless the ball
and blood can be removed from the
wound. 1t is likely that pyemia will
follow fatally if internal hemorrage
does not anticipate that result. He
expressed desire to have his body en-
balmed and taken to Missouri for burial
among his kindred, but expressed no
regrets for what he had done. Such a
stoicism in men on the borders OF death,
is not often encountered.