Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-08-29
SUDDEN DEATHS.
The Coroner Holds -Four Inquests in One
Day.


Day.
Yesterday was a busy day for Deputy
Coroner George Clark. In the fore
noon he held an inquest on the remains of
Joseph Sheppard, bette, known as sold
Shep." The evidence showed that deceased
was found dead in small hut beneath the
wharf at Front and l streets, and that death
resulted from exposure and general debil-
ity.
AN UNKNOWN.
At 10 A. NJ. a jury inquired into the death
of the young man who was killed by being
run over by the cars, near Florin, Saturday
morning. He was struck while crossing a
trestle and dragged about thirty yards. He
had on q hickory shirt, dark suit and a
cheap cotton nat. His body was badly
mutilated. There was nothing ON his per-
son which would indicate who he was.
He was stranger, from all appearances a
tramp, and about thirty years of age.
JOHN MITCHELL.
Las evening an inquest was beld over
the remains of John Mitchell, who fell
from the Cathedral and was killed Mon
day afternoon. G. W. Menke, who was at
1
lated how the accident occurred, which
was the same as that stated in the
RECORD UNION of yesterday. The jury
found that the name of deceased was John
Mitchell, a native of England, 50 years, 7
months and days old, and that he came
to his death by falling from a stage swung
from the north side of the new Cathedral,
distance of 72 feet from the ground.
They exonerate Charles Menke from all
blame, and in their opinion his death was
accidental.
]. 5. WHEELER.
The first witness to testify at the inquest
held on the remains of j. s. Wheeler, who
shot himself Monday night, was his son,
John Wheeler.
The witness said: Deceased was my
father. We had been rooming together for
about month ON X street, between
Seventh and Eighth. He came home
Monday night few minutes past II
o'clock. He had been drinking For some
time past he has been quite respondent.
When he came in l was in bed and asleep.
He woke me up and said that my sister
and l were trying to cheat him out of some
property. He took his shoes off, pulled
handkerchief out of his back pocket, then
he went down in his hip pocket again,
when | got scared at his excited manner
and ran out. | thought he had pistol |
don't know that he usually carried a pistol
ran down stairs TO the sidewalk Then |
heard shot and heard him groan. A
couple Of men came by and l called them
ID. We went up stairs together and found
my father lying sideways on his bed with
pistol near his right hsnd. He had shot
himself in the left breast. He had never
to my knowledge threatened to take bis
~ he r.f.a Nf for I
fired the shot about 1920 O'Clock, which
was about five minutes after be got home.
Mrs. Adeline Wheeler testified as fol-
lows: Deceased was my husband. The
last time | saw him alive was Monday
night, about u o'clock. He was at my
nouse, No. 623 L street. He called on me
just after dusk. He had been drinking.
and for some time had been respondent.
He showed me 8 revolver while at my
house Monday night, aud told me that be
intended to kill himself. He left my house
about u o'clock, saying he wanted to see
one more person before he killed himself
He kept saying that he was discouraged
and had nothing more to live for. He has
told me several times that he would take
his life.
Miss Victoria Aschenaur testified as fol-
lows: Deceased called at my residence
Monday. When he called l was down
stairs, and his daughter came and called
me. l went up, and he talked about some
trouble in his family. He then asked
me for handkerchief. We stepped
into my bedroom together to get the
handkerchief. held up my handkerchief
and said: See-all my handkerchiefs are
mourning ones" He said "Weil, never
mind; may be I have one in nv room 5"
He then said Vic, have you got that
pistol?" meaning one that had borrowed
from him some ten months ago. said ::
Yes" and raised the bed clothes so he
could see it. He then said Have you
oiled it ?" and replied: No" He then
took it, and said he would return it when
he oiled it. He then bid me good-by and
left. AS he went down stairs he said ::
Vic, you have been very good to me-"
Miss Edith Wheeler, daughter of the de-
ceased, said her father was native of
Waterford, Ireland, aged Al years, 10
months and 26 days
The jury brought in verdict in accord
ance with the above facts, finding that he
came to his death from gunshot wound in
the left breast, an act of his own hand, in
flicted with suicidal intent