Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-07
MYSTERIOUS / sUICIDE.
e.. d,ArtOfs Takes His Life Under
Very Peculiar circumstance.


Very Peculiar Circumstance.
On Friday evening a portly middle.
aged man entered the New Atlantic Ho-
tel on Pacific street, near Montgomery
avenue, and hired room for the night
He retired and was not again seen. His
seclusion throughout the day aroused
suspicion, and last evening the door of
the room was forced open. The occu-
pant lay in bed dead. On table by the
bed was an empty vial labeled ''strych-
nine, and in wa er.glass were the rem.
nants of the poison, proving the cause
of death Also on the table was sealed
envelope addressed in round business
hand which contained note upon which
was written the following:
"You need not hold an inquest, as
so of my own accord. My wife knows
what owe, and to whom. l hope she
will pay every cent Of it, il she expects
luck in her grasping operations.
D'ARToIs.
81 do not want her or any of her chill.
a,s ,,rei.: q % mourn for me. The by procrites
bounded me to my death"
On the back OF the envelope was writ
ten, ITO save time notify Mrs. d 'Artois,
No. 20 Glen Park avenue" The other
effects found in his clothes were pocket
book, notebook and some old papers. On
a sheet of the notebook was scrawled:
81 got $l.5O from l Isaacs for my
watch and chain. They are worth $40,
so do not let the worthy Israel make
this much out of me.
A letter written from a daughter
"Adele" in this city to Dear Papa.' in
Los Angeles, shows straitened family
finances, and trouble with a certain
Emil, presumably son. The note.
book was filled with figures, apparently
being notes of collections made. There
were several business cards in his p0ck.
cts of the firm of Charles Meinecke &
Co. of3l4 Sacramento street. His clothes
were cheap gray tweed. The body was
brought to the Morgue.
A Call reporter Immediately pro-
ceeded to the street indicated in the let
ter, and after considerable difficulty
found Mrs. dArtois, the wife of the
suicide, at 81 Glen Park avenue. After
the lady made her appearance the news
was broken to her as gently as possible.
She did not seem to be much affected,
but was very retieent in answering ques-
lions, saying that she had nothing to
say, that all inform alton must be gotten
from her SOD, who is now in Los Angeles,
but had been travelling with his father
throughout the state in tide employ of
Charles Meinecke & Co., wholesale
liquor dealers, up to last week, when
they returned to the city, Mr.. d'Artois
remaining here and his son going on to
Los Angeles. The lady stated further
that she had been married thirty years
and has two children, the son already
mentioned, who is about 26 years old,
and daughter, who was present at the
interview. The young lady seemed
even more reticent than her mother.
Mrs. d'Artois attributed her husband 8
action to insanity, saying that he has
on several occasions been quite insane,
and had also suffered from apoplexy.
She said that she had not seen him for
two days, but was not much surprised,
as she frequently did not see him for
long periods of time. The last words
the reporter heard as he left the house
were ''This is hard news. He must
have been crazy. You know no man in
his sober senses would do such thing 7"
MIR. d'Artois was born in France and
was abouts IS years of age. He was q
pioneer in this state, and during the
civil war joined the army on this coast,
being member Of the California volun-
teers. Notm much could be learned about
his career last night, which seems to be
shrouded in some mystery. Us. +, Call.