The morning call., 1892-03-05
SHOT THROUGH THE EYE.
Suicide Of an Engineer at the
Russ House.
He Was Crazed by Liquor and Sent Bullet
Into His Brain His Property Held
fer Board Bill.

A muffled report was heard in a card.
room adjoining the Russ House billiard
nail at minutes to 8 o'clock yesterday
morning. Special Officer Tom Fields and
several employes of the Russ, including
Night Clerk Noon, Alex Wasman and John
Houston, heard the shot and entered the
room.
They found Robert Fowler, a guest of the
mousse lying in pool Of blood and dying.
Lying beside him was a small revolver, with
i which he had shot himself through the
right eye. The bullet entered the brain and
ueath occurred in few moments. The
coroner was summoned and the suicides
remains were conveyed to the Morgue.
Deputy Mcnamara. who went out on the
case, obtained the following information in
reference to the deceased: Fowler was
aged 40 years. native of England and un-
married. He was mechanical engineer,
| and certificate granted him in 1884 by the
| Liverpool Board of Trade was found in his
| possession. BE arrived from the East four
| months ago and had since stopped at the
Russ. II was believed that he received
| regular remittances from the East, for he
| was always nicely dressed and well supplied
with money. Most of his time was spent
| acout the bar and biIliard-rOom Of the
! hotel.
HE DRANK FREELY.
He never gambled. but drank freely and
| was always perceptbly under the influence
! OF liquor. He had been expecting another
| remittance for several days, but il did not
| arrive and he drank more than usual.
Wednesday and Thursday he appeared on
| the verge of deirium tremens.
For greater part of Thursday night he
| loltered around tie Office, and about 80
| o'clock yesterday morning he entered the
oiiliard-room and sat down in a corner
| alone. After remaining there in silence for
some time he walked into the cardroom ad-
| Joining in :he rear. Then he placed the
| pistol to his right eye and fired the fatal
| shot.
lie never appeared respondent, and 1t Is
| supposed that he was craZed by drink when
ne ended his llfe When the Coroner's
DEPUTIES were shown the room occupied by
| the dec ased they found that Fowler's
| trunks had been opened. The employees
| ana proprietor OF the house refused to turn
over Fowlers effects, claiming they had a
| right to detain them until board bill owed
| by the deceased is paid.
10 determine the exact authority pos
sessed by the Coroner the following letter
| was at once sent TO the new City Hall:
AN OPINION ASKED FOR.
CoRoNER's OFFICE,
San FRANCISCO, March 4, 1892.
| Hon. John II. burst, city and County At
tof1leV-DEAR SIR: X. Fowler an engineer by
occupation, residing in the Russ House. COM
/ this morning When The Deputy Coroner went
| there TO look for evidence and take charge
OF the pei sonal effects of the deceased the pro-
| ptietor OF the house refused TO allow The deputy
10 enter the room and take charge of the effects,
| on the ground that Fowler indebted 10 the
| house for boald and lodging. he saying his at
torney advised him to the effect that lie WAS al
lowed under tue law 10 retain possession OF the
effects until his demands for board and lodging
were satisfied.
Please give me your opinion as to the rights of
the coroner In the premises as 10 whether under
the new law he is allowed to take possession OF
tue ELECTS OF deceased persons, and also whether
The proprietor of any hotel or lodging house Is
allowed 10 retain possession OF The effects Of de-
ceased persons for an Indebtedness for board
aud lodging contracted by them during lifetime.
An Immediate reply will greatly oblige. yours
respectfully,
WILLIAM 1. GARwooD. MD Coroner
BY ). Brdgewood, Deputy Coroner.
During the afternoon the Coroner re-
ceived an unsatisfactory opinion from At
torney burst. La his opinion the Coroner
has no right to remove the effects of a de-
ceased person when an inkeeper has lieu
upon such property No answer was made
as 70 the right of the Coroner to enter
FUwler's room in search of evidence.