Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-02-09
rur LANCASTER SUICIDE.
A oueer way of settling a Small
DeDt.


Coroner Meredith held an inquest on
Friday evening at Lancaster. upon the
bodv of f. Willard, young doctor who
committed suicide at that place by shoot
inc himself on Friday morning. From
the testimony taken by that official it
was learned that Willard, who was 27
wears of age, met S. A. Drummond, the
editor of the Antelope Valley Times, in
Los Angeles on the 18th OF January last,
and informed his new acquaintance OF
| his intention to open drug store at Lam
caster Drummond naturally extended
| the courtesies of an old resident OF that
place. and promised to do all he could to
helm the Young man to make his new
venture a success AS they rode up to
Lancaster on the train Willard showed
Drummond draft for $500, and informed
| his new friend that he was temporarily
embarrassed, but expected to get some
money at an early date upon
the draft. On their arrival at Ian
caster, Drummond introduced Willard
| to Mr.. Constable, the proprietor OF the
hotel at that place, and made arrange.
5ments for the young DOCTORS board at
his expense. He also lent him some
money subsequently with which to pur-
chase a stock OF goods in Los Angeles,
but on his return Willard stated that he
| had been unable to make any salts
factory arrangements. Shortly after
wards the young man received some
money and settled up lis accounts with
Drummond, with the exception of a
balance of $17 SO, which, it was naturally
agreed, should be paid at the doctor's g
convenience. A few days ago Willard
announced his intention of leaving Lam
caster, and Drummond requested him to
leave his case OF dental tools as security
for the $3.50 he owed. He
refused to do so, however, and
nothing more was said about the matter
until Friday morning, when Willard met
Drummond on the street and stopping
him, expressed q desire to talk to him
for a few minutes. Putting his hand
| back to his hip.pocket in threatening
manner, Willard said that he thought
| mis- friend had treated him shamefully in
asking him to leave his case of dental
tools as security, after he had settled his
debts like gentleman. Drummond said
he could prove that Willard owed him
$17 so, if he would walk to the Justices
room, and turning on bis heel walked of
followed by the young dentist On arrival al
Constable Joe Johnson's blacksmith
shop, next door to the Justices room
Willard again stated that he did not owe
Drummond anything, and when the lat.
ter eudeavOred to prove it the young
man called him liar and threatened tc
thrash him. He placed his hand back
and drew a revolver from his hip pocket
4 xx,l~ n.,,, ~,,1 a1r
sledge-hammer and raised it over his
head in an attitude of defense. At this
moment johnson, noticing their actions
placed both men under arrest and told
them to stop their foolishness. Willard
replaced the pistol in his pocket anC
paced nervously up and down the black
smith shop for 8 few minutes, Drum
mond retiring to the other end o
the shed. Suddenly Willard turned
towards the door of the shop, anc
when about three PAGES outside ht
drew his pistol and placing it tt
his breast, pulled the trigger The
hammer fell, but the cartridge failed t.
explode, whereupon be cooked it agar
and fired, shooting himself in the lef
breast. On hearing the shot, johnson
and his assistant, Sias butcher, rushed
forward, and the latter seeing the pisto
in Wizards hand. grabbed bis arm a.
he was about to fire again, and as b,
wrenched the weapon away it was dis
charged, and the bullet pierced the roo
of the shop.
At tLis juncture Willard fell to tn.
ground. but was picked up by farme
named John Stewart, and butcher, wht
carried him into the Justices room
where he died shortly afterwards. Th,
jury, on hearing the facts above rec orded
returned verdict to the effect that tn,
deceased came to his "death from a gun
shot wound in the left breast inflicted b.
a revolver in his own hands, with inten
to commit suicide"