The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-11
MURDER OR SUICIDE.
A. 3. Potter's Body Found in
a Blackberry Patch.
POISON BOTTLE BY HIS SIDE.
A Lost Laundryman Found by Berry
Pickers-His Relatives Suspect
He Was Murdered.

The remains of A. E. Potter. the former pro-
prietor OF the Empire steam laundry, who has
been missing for the past two weeks, were found
In the brush on the hillside north OF Queen Ann
town, at ii O'Clock yesterday morning. by John
Dow and Alva Dow, his son, who were out
picking blackberries. The body was in badly
decomposed condition, and the evidence would
Indicate that Potter committed suicide
The hillside on which the body was found is
very steep, and is covered with dense growth
OF brush, soft wood tree and brakes A network
OF trails, made by man and small wild animals,
traverse the hillside, through the brush to the
summit which overlooks the bay and portion
OF Smiths cove The hillside is monstrous
blackberry bed, where the berries grow In pro-
fusion. 1t was while walking along one Of the
the trails about 80 yards east of the West Street
electric railway tracks that Mr.. Dow and his
son noticed a peculiar odor. They neared the
spot whence the odor came, and pushing aside
the brush, came in full view of the hfeless body
OF Potter, lying in a small, natural ollowof the
earth beside fallen tree. His arms wee out
stretched and In his left hand was elaspeda one
eighth ounce phial of strychnine, which was half
empty. Near his right arm lay pint bottle OF
whisky About two feet away was the sriginal
wrapper and on the other SIDE of the body lay
the paper wrapper which was put around the
bottle by the druggist when the deadly
poison was purchased. The dead mans
hat was placed carefully BY his
side, rs If put down when he was preparing to
sleep. The clothing was of fine texture and
gave evidence that the possessor wal in good
circumstances. The vest was unbutpned and
the initials exposed to view upon the white
linen shirt were GA E. P" From thesuspender
on the left side key chain extendedto the hip
pocket. The general condition of tn. body was
such that 1t could not be recognized by any
marks. How Potter reached this loIely natural
k<rwwr l. II ~.s1sN. ~
brush on all sides had not been difurbed, and
three broken brakes alone gave evidnce that he
had not dropped down from the sky
The coroner was notified by telephone, and he
was guided to the spot where the dad man lay
by Mr.. Dow. The remains were removed to the
undertaking rooms of d. w. Crosl Co. The
mans pockets were searched, and 4.30, silver
Waltham watch, Merchants Iational bank
passbook and many letters and papers were
found.
reporter called at the Potteihome, at 1,4l5
Sixth street, but Mrs. Potter waaoo much agi-
tated over her husbands dealt to talk coher-
emily. 1t was learned, however, hat Mr.. Potter
was II years of age, and has beN married but
two years. He came to Seattle rom New York
state seven years ago, ant some time
ago bought an interest in the Empire
steam laundry with his brother,E. C. Potter, of
Fremont, who is at present out respecting, and
William J. Elliott Two monthago he sold out
his interest in the laundry to Eiott. Since his
marriage he has only drank toexcess twice
once year ago and the secondime two weeks
ago yesterday, the day he disappeared. He was
Last seen on that day about Els o'clock. He
rode down Front street in on of the laundry
wagons and got out near Unla street.
Mrs. Potter does not think y committed sui
eide for she says he never taled about such a
thing, and he certainly had . cause to take his
own life. She does not knoI how he happened
to be out in the brush whereas body was found,
for he was not in the habit walking about in
the suburbs.
Charles Coyle, an employed the laundry, and
Mr.. Elliott went out to the DOT where the body
was found last evening. Tey believe that Pot
ter was murdered, and thetnade an examina- |
tion of the brush and trailsn the vicinity in |
the hope of finding evidens to justify their sus-
picions. If they found ansuch evidence they |
did not communicate thr discovery to the |
coroner.
The remains OF the dea6inan have been placed |
in sealed casket, and e funeral will take |
place this afternoon at 3::oclock from Cross & |
Co.'S undertaking rooms. Rev. John F. Damon |
will oficiate, and the intment will be made in /
Mount Pleasant cemeter