Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-07-27
Another Suicide.

John Protopsaltis, a Greek. yesterday
afternoon committed suicide at ll3 New
High street by shooting himself in the
mouth and left side with four balls from
a bulldog pistol. He lett letter,
stating that he should die by his own
hand, but that Others compelled him to
do it.
The deceased was first.rate cook and
while living in Arizona accumulated
about $1,000, with which sum and q
French woman, who was living with him.
he started about two months ago on o
visit to France. After arriving in New
York, on one fatal night while he was
asleep, his money and the woman disap-
peared.
On awaking to knowledge Of his loss
he became crazy aad violent, and after
starting back threw his baggage out of
the cars and was decidedly wild in his ac-
tions. The railroad company brought
him back, and about q month ago
be arrived in Los Angeles and found en-
ployment at j. Marietich's Queen Chop
House as one Of the cooks Of that estab-
lishment He was very sad and de.
spondent at times and said that he aid
not want to live. Yesterday he went to
his room, ll3 New High street, wrote
note to his roommate as above stated,
and then fired bulldog pistol into his
mouth, and side four times, as four
shells were empty and the inside of his
mouth was torn to pieces, and then
passed away in long, lingering death
occupying nearly an hour. An inquest
was held in the evening by Coroner Ma
deau at the undertaking rooms Of Messrs.
Ponet 4 Orr, when the facts Of his sad
career were brought out.
Juan Bassila testified before the Cor
oner's jury that he was roommate Of
the deceased; had known him for
month. He sometimes said that an
Italian was going to hang him. Had
never seen him drunk or drinking intox-
icating liquors. The deceased was
about 40 years Of age. Yesterday he
went to the room which they occupied,
and finding the door locked, raped
against it, when he was shocked to hear
three pistol shots in the room in rapid
succession. Witnoss ran for an officer
and found Officer Steele, who climbed in
at the window and found the deceased
in . dying condition, with pistol by
him and two bullet holes in his left side
and one or more shots in his mouth.
The suicide breathed for forty minutes
and then died. He appeared crazy Fri
day evening.
A. Marieiich testified that the de-
ceased had been cook in the Queen
Chop House and appeared wild or crazy.
Mr., Carllis testified that he had
known the deceased for five years. Knew
him in Arizona where he kept rsstau-
rant and owned small ranch which he
sold before he went to New York. He
was native Of Olympus. in Greece, and
told witness from time to time that an
Italian at Bob Eckert's was going to
hang him, but the Italian did not even
know the deceased.
Before killing himself Protopsaliis
wrote letter to Bassilla in modern
Greek in fine penmanship.
81 am dying for nothing. am not a
murderer. Inever was bad man as
people may say. Bassilla, II you plesse,
write to my brother what is the cause.
Signed, PRoToPsALTIs.'
He seemed to apprehend that people
might think that be had murdered his
runaway woman and that he would be
hung, and when he heard Bassilla
knock at the door thought he was pur-
sued and shot himself to death.
The jury returned verdict that the
deceased came to his death by his own
hands while laboring under temporary
insanity.