Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-30
SAD SUICIDE.
WILLIAM F. HUNTooN SENDS A Bull
LET THROUGH HIS HEART.
He Had Been Drinking Heavily and Was
Temporarily Insane-The
Particulars.


heart.
The news of the sad affair created con-
siderable excitement about the city last
night, as the deceased was known and
liked by almost everybody.
For the past three or four days, Mr.. Hun
toon had been drinking to more or less ex-
tent. He reported for duty at the bank
each morning, however, until yesterday.
On Tuesday night he INDUCED in stimu-
lants to excess, and was seen by many of
his friends in an intoxicated condition.
Police officer Stafford, who was an init
mate friend of the deceased, found him in
this condition, and took him home about
midnight.
Yesterday Mr.. Huntoon appeared at the
bank as usual, but it was evident to his
colleagues that he was not in condition to
work
Clerk Lorenz suggested to him that he
had better 60 home. Mr.. Huntoon began
to weep like child, and chided himself
for drinking. He then went to Mr.. Beck
man, the President of the bank, and told
him of his condition, and said he desired
to go home.
Mr.. Beckman promptly granted the re-
quest, and the Secretary left the place.
This was about $50 A. NJ.
Mr.. Huntoon was seen in various parts
of the city during the forenoon. He wan
dered about aimlessly in respondent sort
of way, and frequently wept when spoken
to by some friend. He took several more
drinks, which did not better his condition
any. Shortly before o'clock he returned
to th bank, but after remaining there
few minutes went out again. He then
went to The Play Saloon, on K street, and
Mr.. Fawcett, one of the proprietors, in
duced him to lie down for while in a rear
room. An hour later Mr.. Fawcett sum-
moned carriage and he and Mr.. Huntoon
took drive about the city. AT about $3.50
o'clock they drove to the corner of Eighth
and NJ streets, which is within a few rods
of Mr.. Huntoon's home, and the latter
alighted. He promised his friend that he
would go directly home, and Mr.. Fawcett
drove off.
Instead of going home, however, he
went into John Bellmer's grocery store, on
the corner of Eighth and NJ.
He remained here some time, and it was
noticed that he was acting strangely. He
would stand in one spot for several min
utes gazing fxedly at the floor, and then
the tears would well in his eyes, and he
would weep.
Mr.. Belimer observed that he had been
drinking, and instructed his clerk not to
give him any liquor.
1t was not long after this that Mr.. Hun
toon asked the clerk for a drink, and the
latter, Of course, declined to supply him
with it.
The young man seemed to take this con-
siderably at heart and wept bitterly for
some time.
Then he walked out into the front part
of the store where several gentlemen were
sitting. His hand sought his hip-pocket,
and just as he reached the door he turned
his tear-stained face to the party and said
Goodbye boys" The next instant he
whipped out a large 80 caliber revolver
and before anyone could reach him placed
the muzzle over his heart and pulled the
trigger.
Death was instantaneous. The bullet
pierced the unfortunate young mans heart
and he fell to the floor corpse.
There was great excitement at the store
and in the neighborhood of the sad occur
rerFa Mr.. Bellmer Immediately sent his
cle.A. Re suicides home, 72l NJ street,
to il SIN the bereaved parents. The
scene which followed the bringing of the
news to the parents was sad indeed. The
father, almost bereft of his senses by the
shock, rushed up to the grocery store and
Frustrated himself beside the remains.
Shortly afterward the body was removed to
the deceased's home.
William Frederick Huntoon was SO
years of age, and a native of Sacramento.
He was unmarried.
William Fawcett, with whom the de-
ceased was out riding yesterday, made the
following statement of what he knew of
the matter to a RECORD UNION reporter
last night:
"Mr. Huntoon, accompanied by officer
Stafford, came into my place last evening
and had a drink. Mr.. Huntoon also asked
several others who were in the place to join
him, and they did so. l could easily see
that he had been drinking heavily. Mr..
Stafford was trying to get him home,
and l also advised him to go home.
They left a few minutes later, Mr.. Huntoon
having promised Mr.. Stafford that he would
go home with him. Well, didn't see him
again until to-day, when l came down to
work. l was told then that he was asleep
down stairs on the watchman's bed. had
the bed brought up stairs to one of the card
room, and tried to get him to lie down again.
He finally consented, and when l was
covering him noticed that he had areyol-
yer in his pocket. | was afraid he might
fall from the cot and explode the pistol
and possibly iniure himself, so l tried to
get it from him. He fought me of, though,
and would not relinquish the weapon.
He wanted liquor, but l refused to give it
TO him, and tried instead to get him to
TO take a little bromide, to straighten
his nerves He refused to take this,
however. Then l sent colored man in to
battle his forehead, and this seemed to i'm
prove him considerably. Later in the
afternoon | sent for team and took him
out for ride, thinking it would brace him
up. He acted queerly. and was not him.
self at all. He frequenuy referred to some
body who had Smith & Wesson revolver
the night before, but l could not make out
what he meant. After driving around
town for an hour or so, persuaded him TO
go home, and he promised that he would.
He left me at the corner of Eighth and NJ
streets, and that was the last time l saw
him alive. TnAt was about $50 o'cl )ck."
VIM. Beckman. President of thePeoples
Savings Bank, was met by g RECORD { MON
reporter last evening, to whom Mr.. Beck
man made the following statement, in re-
Spouse to an inquiry as to his theory of
the cause of the suicide:
81 can attribute it only to Wills having
been under the influence of LIQUOR
Being asked as to why he came to that
conclusion, Mr.. Beckman said:
Yesterday the Directors counted the
money in the bank, as is their custom.
One of them asked the Cashier Mr.. Hun
toon, about some checks on file, and
noticed that he stood in seeming reverie,
and did not reply. The Director inquired
a second time, and he did not reply. Then,
for the first time in the eleven years that
we have been associated together, I spoke
sharply to him, saying, Will, why don't
YOU attend to your business there?'
"He looked up and gave necessary atten-
ton. did not think him intoxicated, but
he looked little dull. This morning he
came to the bank and told me he Ind been
drinking, and begged my pardon for the
inattention referred to. He cried like
child. and a long time. l soothed him and
fold him not to feel bad, and to resolve not
to get of again. He was deeply moved,
and so was !. never felt more sorry for
any man than l did for him because of his
emotion, for Twas deeply attached to him"
well. he asked for leave of absence
for the day, and told him. certainly. to
take it and go home and rest. That was
The last | saw of him alive"
"How was he situated financially, Mr..
Beckman? ?"
HE was well fixed. He had a good
..l,-,- woe Mt saved some