The morning call., 1890-12-18
A FATAL FALL.
Detective JAS. H. Hutton Found
Dying in a Park.
His Life Was Passing Away Undersa Royal
Palm. and Crime Was Suspected.
What the Autopsy Showed.

Detective James Fl. Hutton was found yes
terday morning at o'clockin jefferson Park,
on Turk street. near the foot OF the stairs
leading from that thOroughfare, in a dying
condition. He was removed by the patrol
wagon to the Receiving Hospital, where at
$40 o'clock he died. minute or two after
being laid on the operating table.
The news of Hutton's mysterious death,
which was then believed to have been a
murder, spread rapidly around the old City
Hall, and while his body was still warm his
fellow-detectives were securing the city for
clews and evidence in connection with the
sad affair. Only a wound of the scalp gave
to Hutton's fate suspicious aspect. 1t was
a mere abrasion, but even that led many to
believe that he had been the victim of foul
crime. But his end was brought about by
natural causes-congestion of the lungs.
Good-natured " jim" Hutton was not
solicitous for himself. Indeed, he was con-
sidered too careless about his health for a
man of his years.
THE FIRST TO SEE HIM.
The first man to find Hutton in the park
was John CLAM, an employe of the Street
ID apartment. CLAM was going to his work
at o'clock, or shortly afterward. when lie
noticed Hutton reclining against a palm
tree near the foot of the steps leading from
Turk street. Findl ng that Hutton was
brea thing heavily he shook him, but the dy-
ing man did not meye. The gardeners were
call ed and The patrol wagon was sent for;
but assistance came too late.
L. Z. Cochran. carpenter, who resides
at 301 Hayes street, made the following
statement to the police Il was gong to
| my work at the building near the corner of
| Webster and Pine streets this morning,
| about 40 o'clock, and in passing through
jefferson square saw man lying along
| side OF the walk, few feet from the steps,
| near bunch IF brush. His feet were ele-
waited higher than his head. halloed to
| him, thinking lie was drunk, ana made the
remark, Get up and pay for your bed He
| paid no attention, and | called again. He
turned his head as If ne heard ME. just
then another man came along and We spoke
together. We went over aud shook him up
and placed him sitting against tile foot of a
tree close by. ! made the remark that the
man was probably sick, we could not
arouse him. The man | talked to in the
park said the man we found lying down was
drunk; that he could smell liquor on him.
HIS watch was lying on his breast and his
pistol was partly sticking out OF his pocket"
CHRONIC PNEUMONIA.
Police Surgeon Williams made an autopsy
on the remains ana submitted the following
formal relort which dispeiled the murder
theory absolutely:
James II. Hutton 60 years old, a native of
Mainei laceIated wound of the scalp on right
side of Tie head. PerIosfeum and Uranium
uninjured. Brain normal. Right lung normal;
leit lung almost obiiterated by chronic pnen-
m"ni's and peul IN to aeSn one
completely empty and contracted 10 about one
fourth It's normal size. Liver Healthy, almost
normal. Slightly enlarged. Kidneys slightly
congested Probable cause of death chronic
pneumonia.
OUT ALL NIGHT.
James Fletcher, who lives at 5 Fourth
street, met the deceased at 80 o'clock tine
previous morning, and drank with him ana
friend IN kearny-Street saloon, and also
at resort on Stockton stree t. and another
on Stevenson street, near Third. He was
with Hutton until daylight, when he went
home, telling the bartender of Jones' sa-
loon, on Stevenson street, to look out for
him.
L bomas Quinn, the bar-keeper alluded to,
stated TO the police that Hutton entered the
saloon with two men about O'Clock in the
morning and left at exactly 80 o'clock alone
He tried TO prevail on Hutton to remain, but
without success, as the deceased was i'll
cilned TO have his own way.
After leaving the saloon it is supposed
that Hutton rode out to Jefferson Park on
Turk-sITeet car for the fresh morning air to
revive him before office hours. He STUN
Died on the steps, and, being stunned by
the tall, staggered TO where he was found
dying and unconscious an hour later.
Although given to the use of spirituous
liquor, IL is urged 10 his behalf that alco-
hole stihulants alone kept him alive in
spite OF the condition of his lnng. He had
been under a doctors care ana his chest
was strapped with plasters. He believed
his heart Was failing, and had recourse to
brandy and whisky TO carry him over weak
spells which frequently had attacked him.
Inc deceased was born near Calais, Me-
He was appointed to the police force Octo-
Der 16, 1873, and promoted TO the rank of
Corporal July l, 1884, and detailed for de-
tective duty. For number of years he was
truanL officer, when he made good record
His family 1--we in Oakland. but recently he
lived at the International Hotel.
ACCIDENTAL.
Alexander Pollack, a teamster, last night
furnished the police authorities with a
statement that conclusivey proves that
Huitou's death was accidental. Pollack
| stables his team on Fillmore street. and was
| driving eastward along Eddy street yester-
| day morning. About Z 80 O'Clock he was at
the corner of Eddy and Octavia streets
| when he observed man staggering along
the south side of the former street. The
man was plainly under the influence of
| liquor, and started TO walk down the steps
| on the Octavla-street side, but appeared to
| skate to the platform below. He fell on the
| platform, but reganed his feet and stag
| gered ahead. AS the man reached the top
| of the second flight of stairs Pollock saw
him pitch forward and fall. The teamster
| did not stop to Investigate how the man
| Jared, bat continued his drive cityward.
Poilack last night viewed the body of
Hutton, and positively identified the de-
ceased detective as the man he had seen
| fall in the park in the morning.
An inquest will be held by the Coroner
to-day at noon.
STRANGE FATALITY.
The dec eased detective leaves a widow,
two sons and a daughter. The daughter,
who is married, resides at Seattle, and one
son at Tacoma. The other son lived with
his parents in Oakland. A strange fatality
seems to have followed the family, the
Oldest son, Henry, having been accidentally
shot while hunting, and married daughter
living at Los Angeles died from the effects
of burns received by her clothing catching
fire while she was dressing her babe The
deceased was well-known by the Oakland
officers and was frequently engaged in cases
in that city. He was employed in the
Blythe contest, and was defendant with
w. II. ii Hart in the suit for $4,000 dam
ages brought by Dr. Frank Rene, who was
arrested for an attempt to abduct Miss
Blythe. A nousuit was granted in the case,
which was recently tried in the Superior
Court of Alameda County. The deceased
was formerly prominent member of the
Order of Chosen Friends. He also belonged
to the Policemen's Protective Association
of San Aancisco.