The herald., 1893-09-12
BECAUSE Of BUSINESS LOSSES,
The Suicide Yesterday of Mr..
Thomas Rhodes.
A Well Known Mining Operator
Takes His Own Life.
Puts a Pistol to His Mouth and Puts
Bullet in His Brain-His
Luck Turned on
Him.

Thomas Rhodes, a we'll known and
highly respected capitalist of Los Ange-
les, committed suicide early yesterday
morning in his room at the Hollenbeck.
Shortly after s O'Clock Mrs. Jenkins,
the wife OF the head clerk, was aroused
from sleep by the sound of pistol shot
fred in the adjoining room.
The lady awoke her husband who i'm
mediately proceeded to the apartment
and found Mr.. Rhodes lying upon his
bed in pool OF blood.
A Al Colts revolver, which the dead
man still held in his hand, and stream
of blood flowing from the mouth Of the
suicide, told the rest of the story.
The deceased had evidently placed the
revolver in his mouth and pulled the
trigger, death being almost instantane-
ous, for although only few minutes
elapsed between the firing Of the shot
and the arrival of the hotel employees,
life was already extinct when the body
was found.
mains removed to the undertaking
iOOiho Vi OuAoo ~ Ous Ou pcCOAu etfbob.
The dead man was wellknown in this
city, being brother-in-law of Council
man Gaffey and a partner OF Major H.
W. Russell.
During the last three years Mr..
Rhodes had amassed quite considera-
BILE fortune in mining deals, consum-
mated in Lower California.
His success emboldened him to fur
ther speculation. and Rhodes invested
nearly the whole of his fortune in the
purchase of an interest in a mine near
Boulder. Colo.
When the recent financial panic oc-
CURED number of mines were closed
by their owners, and among them was
the property owned by Rhodes and Rus
sell.
That the loss OF his money was the
cause of tie unfortunate mans suicide
there can be no doubt, as his friends de-
clare that since the crash he had not
been the came man.
In conversation with DR.. Ainsworth
on Sunday night at the California club,
the deceased declared himself to be in a
despondent frame of mind, and several
acquaintances remarked at the time
upon his pre-occupied appearance.
The deceased had evidently contem-
plated terminating his existence, for a
card was found in his room requesting
that in the event OF fatal accident oc-
curing to him that his remains might
be sent to Los Angeles and cremsted.
There was alec another communica-
ton requesting in case of accident that
his wife be notified at once, her address
being given as the Palace hotel, San
Francieco.
An inquest was held by Coroner
Gates later in the day, and verdict oi
suicide while in atate OF temporary in
sanity induced by financial reverses re-
turned.
John T. Gaffay stated that the de-
ceased married cousin OF his wife's
and that they had been friends for o
number OF years. He had made consd-
erable money In Lower California, but
was induced to speculate in Colorado
mining property. The witness stated
that on account of the depression in
silver the mine was closed, and the de.
ceased lost his entire fortune.
Sergeant Morton testified to being
called to the Hollenbeck hotel early in
the morning.
He found the dead man still warm
with the blood flowing from a gunshot
wound IN the mouth. The deceased q
purse, watch and money lay on the
table.
Chief Clerk Jenkins testified to enter
ing the room soon after the shot waf
fred, and finding the dead body.
The funeral arrangements will be made
as soon as Mrs. Rhodes, who is at pres.
ent in San Francisco, can reach Los An.
geles.
Deceased was 40 years of age, and
leaves child of | l yesrs of fage.