The morning call., 1892-03-07
SEITZ SHOT. HIMSELF.
Mysterious Death of the Aged
German Investigated.
Statements Of His Friends and Eeighbors
Show That He Threatened to Put
Bullet in His Brain and Did So

'Who fired the bullet that entered the
brain of Charles Joseph Seitz, who died at
the City and County Ho spitai Saturday
night ?"
That was the question the Coroner and
four detectives and as many patrolmen
started out to solve bright and early yester-
day morning. After thorough investiga-
ton il was shown, almost concusiyely,
that the fatal bullet was from pistol held
in Seitz's own hand.
As stated In THE CALL yesterday the
aged German was found Saturday after
noon at his chicken ranch on the San Bruno
road in a daZed condition. Blood poured
from wound In his right temple, and he
was removed to the County Hospital. where
be died. He was in such daZed, stupid
state when he arrived at that institution
that he merely muttered yes" to all Ques-
tons asked. Several stories were crcu-
lated in reference TO the manner in which
he received the wound. One was that he
had been surprised by robbers, and shot by
them while Offering resistance. Another
theory was that he had been shot with a
parlor rifle in the hands of young man he
had told 10 stop shooting his pigeons. Both
OF these stories vanished before subsequent
investigation.
RESULT OF THE AUTOPSY.
An autopsy on tie remains was made by
Dr. Williams. 1t showed that the bullet
entered half way between the outer edge of
the right eye and ear. passed through the
rlght temporal bone into the brain and
lodged under the skin Of the lett temple.
A fracture OF the skull connected the points
of entrance and exit. Tie wound was made
by bullet of 50 caiiber and this showed
that parlor rifle could not have been the
weapon used. The skin around tho wound
was burned, part of the right eyebrow
was singed of and there were powder specks
on the right side of the nose. This showed
that the weapon had been held within few
inches Of the face when the fatal shot was
fired.
After the autopsy the officers felt certain
that murder had been committed. When
Ihuse who lived in tho vicinity of SeiiZs
abode and knew him well were Intercepted
they furnished evidence that placed the
matter N an entirely different light. Friday
night SeiiZ entered L. Ii. BODIES saloon with
Adam Eek, an aged man who had been his
neighbor for years. After taking several
drinks SeitZ said that If he thought he
would die easy he would blow out his
brains.
FRIENDS STATEMENT.
1t was his friend Eek, who, with Others,
went 10 BIS house the next afternoon and
found him lying in pool of blood. The
front door was locked on the inside, and. in
them In. Eek picked up an old-style Colts
pistol with one chamber empty IL ar the
blood-staIned bed upon which SeitZ was
lying when his visitors raped 1T the door.
In answer TO questions by the officers Eek
made the following statement, which has
been verified in every detail:
SAN FRANCISCO. March 6, 1892.
l live on Henry street, next 10 the scuOOl-
house. Have known Charles j. Seilz for ten
Twelve years. lie Is German, heavy drinker,
goes on periodical druHks aud remains drunk
for week or ten days al time. / saw him on
Friday evening. wnen lie was 81 umk and very
much excited. lie said The Freuchmau had ac-
eused him of shooting his pigeons. ana that lie
(SettZ) would shoot and Kill himself II ne thought
lie would die quick. have heard him make The
same remark many times. When drinking he
eats nothing. ana Is very excited. lie lelt my
room Oh Friday evening about IL O'Clock. aud
said be was going 10 bed. did not see him
again uuiii yesterday Saturday. about >
o'clock, when ] went 10 his house, found the
blinds closed and the door locked. / Knocked
at his door, he opened Is and came our and sat
In tile kitchen. When L looked In The window |
saw him sitting on the edge OF his bed his face
about Two feet In font OF hIm. | TOOK the
pistol, put IL In my POCKET and gave il 10 Ofi-
GERS f. +. Byrnrs aud b. MeMuntry. / batAed
Sellz's face. He aid not talk, and mumbied
something. lie had Sill 10 IN his pockets. lie
owes several persons money. Ihluk lie killed
himself ADAM Eek.
WHAT LITTLE GIRL SAW.
About 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon Hilda
house 10 buy some eggs. The front door
was locked, and looking in at the window
she saw SeitZ lying on tile bed in u pool oil
blood. The frightened girl summoned her
father. who returned TO the house with her.
Upon their arrival they found Benjamin
Schnltsken, grocer. there with bill. Eek
and BOde arrived about the same time, and
the whole party followed Eek into the
house when SeitZ opened the door.
WHO did this" asked Bode.
The wounded man gasped something that
sounded like Two men,"
The men then picked up an old, rusty
parlor rifle. ana this caused the story that
SeitZ had been shot with such a weapon.
PARTED AS FRIENDS.
II was learned that Eek had a quarrel
with SeitZ last Friday night during meet
ing in Schurz's hall. The men afterward
settled the diff ulty and parted late at night
as friends. Eek at first refused TO answer
questions, fearing that he might be accused
of the shooting, but the police finally in
duced him to understand that silence would
tell against him.
The deceased was aged SO years and ma
tive OF Germany. He was formerly q scav-
enger. and four years ago bought four lots
on the San Bruno road, where he had since
lived and raised poultry for the market.
Eek lived next door to him In one of the
shanties rented by SeiiZ. The suicide has
no relatives here, except a nephew, who
knows little about him. His brother, John
Seitz, lives in San Luis Ooispo County, and
has been summoned by telegraph to come
here and take charge OF the property Of the
deceased.