The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-22
NOT AN ACCIDENT.
Suicide of a Respondent Drum
mer by ASpbyXiatiOn.
After Losing Position, Health and Happiness
Waldemar R. Schultz Seals His Room
and Turns On the Gas.

In a darkened room of HackmeieI's Ho-
tel on Eddy street lay the remains of Waldo
mar Il. Schultz at noon yesterday as Deputy
Coroner Bridgewood and q CALL reporter
entered. Information had been telerhoned
to tho MoTgue that man had died IN the
Motel from gas asphyxiation, ard wagon
for the removal Of the dead was sent there.
The investigators were met by several
friends and the weeping widow oil the de-
ceased, who tried hard TO make it appear
that death must nave been the result OF an
accident but appearances too plainly indi-
Gated that Schultz had deliberately com
mitted suicide. For that reason BridgewoOd
decided to hold an inquest this afternoon.
but in the meantime permitted the remains
to repose in aD undertaker's parlor.
MOTIVES FOB THE DEED.
This is the story of the suicide, as gath
cred from the reluctant witnesses in the
hotel; Schultz was aged 81 years and ma
tive of Germany. For several years he was
employed as Il travelling salesman by Green
berg Bros, wholesale Clothiers. While en-
jOying a lucrative salary he married pretty
Young woman and went TO housekeeping.
The couple lived happily until year age,
when the husband began to drink heavily
and neglected his business. Although ire
Quently cautioned 10 mend his ways, his IN
temperance increased until month ago,
when he lost his position. Hec0ud nor CD
tain another place, and being unable 10 sup
port his wife, lie was compelled to send her
To live with her parents at 80 Perry street
and TO break up his once happy home.
TIRE WIFE VISIT.
Then Schultz went to room at Hack
meier's Hotel. where his wife visited him
occasionally. He became melancholy. ana
So respondent at times that his spouse found
it difficult 10 cheer him. She went to see
him at 8 o'clock Saturday night and they re-
NAMED together Tor over an hour IN the
parlOr. After her departure be retired 10
his room. No. LOG, and was not seen again
until found dead.
At II 80 o'clock yesterday morning a
chambermaid was passing his room when
she noticed the OdOr Of escaping gas. She
tried the door and discovered that 1t was
locked. She inserted q pass-key III the lock
and found that the door was bolTed. The
domestic raised an alarm, and Charles Hack
meier proceeded TO gain an entrance into
the room. This he did by climbing up two
stories 10 the rear by means OF the project
ing slllS ana shutters. Reaching the window
OF room 100 he found it closed, but not
locked. Raising the sash he entered the
room and found It filed with gas that flowed
from jet turned on full.
DELIBERATE PREPARATIONS.
The tip Of the burner had been removed
and lay on the carpet beside the bed. Every
crevice in the room. including the key hole,
was stuffed up with paper, and Schultz lay
IN bed attired in his uudcrclOthing. An eX-
animation showed that he was dead. As
precauton physician was called IN, but at
IL glance he pronounced life extinct.
- could not believe Schultz was dead,
said an empoye OF the hotel. He looked so
lfelike that l tried 10 pour some brandy
and soda down his throat, but it was USE
less. You see we have had four or tive
cases Of accidental gas asphyxiauon IN this
hotel, but the persons were always found IN
time for their lives to be sRYed. / bTiug EN-
around all right very quick. Soda and
whisky is the stuff for that"
Every gas-jyt in the hotel is labeled with
a sign reading: DO not blow out the gas.
With most burners, however, this prtcau-
ton is scarcely necessary. II is almost i'm
possible 10 blow out the gas with an average
burner. The damage is generally done by
defective burners, or the gas being turned
on after the light IS extlnguished.