The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-06
DRESSED FOR DEATH.
An Unexpected Visitor Calls for
Belle Scanlan.
Young Woman Prepares for Company, and
Is Found Dead on Lounge in Her
Room Grave Suspicious.

The landlord of tho lodging-house 800
Hyde street discovered Miss Belle Scanlan,
roomer in the house, dead on a lounge
yesterday morning in her room. He noti-
fed the Morgue officials, who took away the
remains for an official investigation and
post-mOrtem examination.
The circumstances surrounding her death
were very strange, to say the least. if not
suspicious. Miss Scanlan was woman less
than 30 years of age, of attractive appearance
and not in want. She was handsome and of
good height and slender figure. which gave
her graceful appearance on the street. A
b ank-b book found among her effects showed
that she lad over S100 on deposit in a saw
ings bank. Her room was comfortable,
quite neatly kept, and with other things
went to show she was not in difficulties so
far as her living was concerned.
at about o'clock OH Thursday evening
she was last seen alive, when another lodger
in the house on Hyde street saw her enter
her room from the hall.
DEAD ON THE LOUNGE.
Yesterday morning the door opened at the
landlords touch, when he went to see what
was the matter with the young woman, who
usually appeared early. The room was in
perfect order, except the globe of the gas
lamp, which lay shattered upon the floor.
1t was the only indication of violence,
though it may have been broken in an effort
to light the gas Not sound had been
heard the night before from the room. Miss
Seaman reclined upon the lounge in a ma
tural position. but her skin had the ghastly
pallor OF death and her form was cold and
rigid. Her face was calm in its expression,
showing beyond a doubt that poison of
gripping nature had not been used. Nor was
there phial or paper or any evidence of any
poison receptacleS in the place. Evidently
she had expired from some other agency.
Ihe young woman was carefully dreS ed
in fine clothes, her hair combed and
arranged with scrupulous nicely above her
white brow. She was serene in death. One
might well imagine her reclining there for
the reception of some ghostly guests. May
be she had prepared to receive company the
wished to look her best for some one-a
lover perhaps, but death Was the visitor.
SHE HAD BEEN RUINED.
In the Morgue autopsy-ro0m she lay on a
slab until evening when Police Surgeon
Williams made an examination into the
cause Of her death. The doctor had no
history of the young woman's case, as it
deputies who had removed her body from
the sofa where she had died. The landlady
knew only that Miss Seaman had engag ed
the apartment little while ago and had
given up WOfklDB Ill d private family,
what reason was none of strangers busi-
ness.
1t was found by DR.. Williams that Miss
Seaman was well preserved and had been
healthy woman. Her vital organs were in
normal condition. excepting The right lung,
which was very much congested. From ap-
pearance it was supposed that the deceased
had had criminal operation performed
upon herself, or had given premature birth
accidentally to a child. There was consid-
cradle to support this belief. No specific
trouble could be found, and the congestion
of the lungs was probably due to these
causes, which in all probability brought on
death. The stomach and upper intestines
were absolutely empty, showing that she
had not eaten food OF any kind for several
hours.
THE DOCTOR SILENT.
Not trace of poison was discovered. The
doctor was very conservative in speaking
about the matter. and would not give posi-
tive opinion without knowing something Of
Miss Scanlan's recent history.
An investigation will be made by the de-
tectives. and interesting developments are
expected in the case.
From letters found in the room of Miss
Seaman it appears that sheehas been in this
city since January of 1888. All Of the letters
were signed by Sam Owen, an emplove of
the Oregon Railway aud Navigation Com
pany, and dated at Portland. A clipping
from newspaper showed that she sailed
from Portland on the steamer State of Cali
f0rnia under the name of Belle Owen. On
the reverse side OF the clipping was written,
in blue pencil. "Y our brother Sam"
LETTERS FROM FRIENDS.
This was evidently intended for joke,
and the name may have been used to have
secured a reduction of fare.
She had also letter of recommendation
from Mrs Mary Rowan of Portland, dated
February % 1887 which commends her as
servant. LII one of his epistles Sam advises
her to leave the Shirley House at $40 Fourth
street, as he did not think it a proper place
for her to live in. He finds that she is en-
ployed in some restaurant. and tells her of
the temptations that woman in such a
place is subjected to. Altogether the writer
is full of good advice.