The morning call., 1891-08-20
MORT HINE FIENDS.
Frank S0tO's Death Resulted
From Oyerindulgence.
Female Manipulators of the Hypo-Gun Chilly
Testify at the 1nquest-The Drug
self-Ipjected.

Four young women with faces the blood
less color of sole leather appeared before
Coroner's jury yesterday afternoon. They
were morphine ''iends" and had been sum-
moned to tell what they knew in reference
to the death of Frank Soto from "shots" of
the deadly drug.
Before they were called upon 10 testify
Joseph Martinez, a waiter, identified the de-
ceased- as pianO-player in dives" by
occupation, native of California and aged
2 years. Martin ez further deposed that
Soto had been drinking heavily and that
about $50 o'clock Tuesday morning Annie
Wilson informed him that Soto was dying,
and soon after he found Soto lying uncon-
sclous outside the door of the back porch at
20 Scott place. The witness denied that he
had taken any papers CT property from
SotO's pockets.
Then came forward Annie Wilson with a
countenance as expressonless as the Morgue
walls. Being sworn, she told how she had
gone with Soto on Monday night to see Lily
johnson in coast" saloon. After drink
Ing in several dives" they went to the
room of Mollie Williams at 825 Kearny
street.
ANNIE WILSON'S VERSION.
when we got upstairs" said the wit
ness glibly, Lily asked Mollie to give her
a Shot She also asked me to take one if
Soto would, but MOllie said there was not
enough morphine for them all. After CIV
Ing Lily shot Molie gave what was left
10 500, alter which he started out for an
other bottle. When Soto came back with
the morphine Mollie took half and gave the
remainder to Lily. Soto was going TO sleep
when Mollie woke him up and gave him
another shot in the left arm. He went to
sleep and woke up at o'clock in the morn
ing, saying he was sick. Mollie then gave
him another shot and broke the needle of
the .hypo' in his right forearm.
soon after went away with Suto. He
sat down in chair and went to Sleep
When woke him up some men said he was
dylns. L chased around looking for q
Quincy when [ met Lily and a woman
named Irene coming from Molie's room.
Ihey were both drunk, but they followed
me to the saloon and gave Soto soda sour.
AFTER giving him some black coffee we took
him home, where Lily and Irene gave him
salt water to drink. | then ran and told
Martinez, his roommate, TO come. Soon
after that Soto was sent to the Receiving
Hospital, where he died"
MORE OF THE dope FEAST"
The piece OF the needle taken from Soto's
arm WAS identified and exhibited to the
jury, after which Molle Williams, who is
dive waitress, was sworn. She also related
the disgusting particulars OF the dope
least III HtT rOOHn- her story varied some
what from that related by the Others She
said that Soto manipulated the "gun" him.
self, but she took the piece of needle out of
his arm where it was broken Off. When
Soto returned to the room for the second
time he brought two syringes as well as the
bottle of morphine. She also said that Soto
was drunk and under the influence of NOR
phlne when lie first came to her room.
The testimony OF Lily johnson and Dora
Hayes, confirmed users of the "hypo-gun,"
as they called it, corroborated the statement
made by tile Williams woman. They did
not know of Soto having taken shot
before Monday night but his room mate,
"Chileanan Joe" Martinez, was addicted to
the use of the drug. They also swore that
Soto injected the shots" himself in Mollie
Williams room.
Police Surgeon Williams testified that the
cause of Soto's death was morphine poison
ing hyp0dermicaliy injected.
The Coroner's jury rendered verdict,
finding that Soto died from a dose of NOR
phine inflicted by himself while under the
influence of liquor.