Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-08-12
A TRAGIC SUICIDE.
Ex-Chief of Police Martz Shoots Himself
on the Grave of His Wife.

About o'clock yesterday afternoon. as
}. ). Foster, pressman in the RECORD
UNION office, was riding through St.
Joseph's Cemetery, in the southeast SUBJ
urbs of the CRY, he saw the body of a man
lying PROSTATE on his back across one of
the graves and but q few rods from the
roadside. He called man who lives near
by, and together they went to the spot to
investigate. To their surprise they found
the dead body of Benjamin w. Martz
lying across the grave of his wife (who
died a few months ago. with a
bullet-hOle in the right side of
the head, just behind the ear. and
a pistol grasped in the right
hand. Foster drove rapidly into town. and
notified the Coroner. George II. Clark
Deputy Coroner, and Health Officer Ferral
at once went to the cemetery, and conveyed
the body to the MOrgue From the posi-
ton of the body it was evident that the I'M
fortunate man had seated himself upon the
grave and fallen directly across it after fir
ing the fatal shot. He had evidently made
his preparations with the utmost care. His
hat was hung upon one of the arms of the
small cross at the head of the grave, and
his handkerchief had been spread upon the
ground where his head would fall upon it.
In the right hand was grasped pistol of
the British bulldog pattern. with four
chambers loaded, one entirely emDtv. and
one with an exploded shell. The primers
OF two OF the cartridges were indented. in
dcating that he had made two unsuccess-
1ul attempts to discharge the weapon before
his purpose. In one of the
pockets OF his coat was found deed of a
city lot, made to him by his wife in 1882
on one of the blank pages of which was
written the following in a rather unsteady
hand:
Oh, this is a cold world, on beloved Ellen,
cannot live in this cold world without you
Farewell TO all my friends. / have done some
service for my country, but what of that? !
mold malice to no one. hope the Brother Odd
Fellows will take charge of my body. Finan-
cial trouble Is the cause Of this rash act.
b. W. MART
The news Of the suicide was received BY
the deceaseds numerous acQuaintances
and friends with the utmost surprise. for
up to few hours before the commission Of
the desperate act he had been about APP
parentlY in his usual collected and calm
frame of mind. Indeed, it was only a few
days ago that he discussed with some of
his friends the propriety of offering himself
as candidate for Chief of Police at the
next election. Others say that OF late they
noticed that he seemed quite respondent,
and took frequent occasion to speak of his
deceased wife in the most endearing terms
1t was not long ago that he remarked to a
friend that he was gratitied to know that
he had property enough to cover all his
Indebtedness and leave surplus of few
hundred dollars
Deceased was a member of the police
force prior to 1868, when he was elected
Chief and served two years in that ca
pacity. He again became an officer on the
regular force, and for long time filled the
position of Police Court Bailiff Afterward
he entered the service of the railroad COM
pany, and worked at the shops in this city
up to few months ago when the reduc-
ton was made in the force, and he was laid
off with several hundred others. He was
a member of the Society of Mexican Vet
Grams, and also of Sacramento Lodge, l. O.
O. f.
Deceased was Il native of Pennsylvania,
aged 81 years and eight months. The Cor
oner will hold an inquest on Tie remains
this evening, and it is expected that the
funeral will take place under the auspices
of the Odd Fellows.