Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-22
FROM EAR TO EAR.
FERNANDO CHACoN EFFECTUALLY
CUTS HIS THROAT.
Having Lost His Leg and His Friends He
Was Tired of Life and Ended 1t in a
Cell in the City Prison.

Shortly after O'Clock yesterday morn
ing, Fernando Chacon, an old Mexican,
who was confined in the city prison,
committed suicide in his cell in horri-
BILE manner.
Chacon was taken to the police sta
ton on Saturday afternoon at O'Clock
by Detective Bosqui, at the request OF
an old woman named Josefa Montana,
with whom he had been living for some
time on CASTELAR, street. The woman
called upon Chief Glass earlier
in the dav and stated that she
was very much afraid of Chacon, who
had been very despondent of late, and
had threatened to do himself harm on
several occasions. Detective Bosqui was
accordingly sent out to bring Chacon in,
and on his arrival at the station the old
man was taken into the chiefs office.
The Mexican wasunable to speak word
of English. but through the medium Of
Mr.. l. H. Polk, who happened to be in
the Office at the time, Chief Glass ques-
toned him.
In perfectly rational manner Chacon
stated that about six months ago he was
taken to the county hospital for treat
ment while suffering from lntlam-
matory rheumatism, and as last
resort the surgeons at that institution
amputated his right leg. He was re-
Gently discharged from the hospital but
being unable to work, he was not well
coined back to his old haunts by his
former associates. This fact, and the
treatment he received at the hands of
Josefa Montaflo, who was evidently
anxious to get rid of him, preyed upon
his mind, but his greatest source of
alarm was that he would be sent back
to the hospital. AS he hated that place,
he had threatened, and was still deter
mined to kill himself rather than re-
turn.
After talking to the old man for some
time, Chief Glass promised to find an
asylum for him at the county poor farm,
at Downey, and ordered that he be
locked up in the city prison for medical
treatment until Monday.
AS is usual with all persons before
being taken back into the Jail, Chacon
was searched and among other things, a
large clasp knife was taken away from
him, as it was feared that he might
do himself an injury. He was then
turned over to the jailer, and locked up
in a solitary cell. Though evidently not
overjoyed at the fate in store for him,
the old Mexican was apparently resigned,
and slept TRANQUILITY all night. He was
awakened shortly before O'Clock by
Jailer Clayton, who left him in order to
superintend the preparations for the
breakfast of his charges. After an alb
sence of about ten minutes the jailer re-
turned to Chacon's cell, and hearing a
gurgling sound threw open the iron
door and looked in. To his amazement
and horror he saw the body OF the old
Mexican stretched upon the floor, in a
pool OF blood, which spurted out of a
frightful cash, extending from ear to ear
across his throat, completely severing
the jugular vein, windpipe and muscles,
and laying bare the spinal column.
Though still warm, the unfortunate
man was already dead; but in spite OF
the fact that death had occurred so
speedily, it was evident from the posi-
ton in which the body lay, that after
inhicting the CHASTITY wound, Chacon
had endeavored to aggravate it by rend-
ing the severed flesh with the fingers OF
his right hand, which still clutched the
flesh.
A large bowie knife, the blood-stained
blade OF which was ten inches long and
as sharp as razor, lay close by the
body, in such position as to prove
conclusively that it had fallen from the
dying mans hand.
1t was learned that Chacon had con-
cealed this weapon by suspending it
around his neck with cord which al
lowed it to hang in scabbard between
his shoulder blades, and that in this
Hammer he succeeded in eluding the
vigilance of the officer who searched
him on Saturday.
The coroner was notified and the body
was removed to the morgue, where an
inquest will be held this morning.
Chacon was native of Sonora, Mexico,
and prior to his sickness had been in
the employ Of Hancock Johnston as a
laborer.