The morning call., 1893-11-17
HOW ELLIS DIED.
Proven Not to Be a Case
of Murder.
HE COMMITTED SUICIDE.
Once a Resident of the Latin
Quarter.
HE HAD GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
He Had False Friencs-A Faithful
Sister Gave Him Money and
Paid for His Grave.

The mystery thas yelled the death OF
Charles w. Ellis has been swept away.
He was not murdered, but committed sui
eide while delirious.
AS stated in yesterdays CALL five
wounds were found over the heart after
the blood that flowed from the throat had
been washed Off
An autopsy of the body was made yes
terday morning. and it showed that the
blade of penknife by which the wounds
were made did not penetrate the cavity in
which the heart and lungs are located and
did not cause death. 1t was the knife
wound across his throat" that put an end
TO Ellis existence.
The room which he and his friend
Gleason occupied In the Montgomery
block suggested to the Inspector the
apartments" of Dick Swiveller. There
were bedrooms, parlor and kitchen. all in
one. There were two cots. table, a
closet containing cutlery and crockery and
an oil stove.
ii. j. Gleason. who was with Ellis when
he died. was the first witness called to tes-
tify before the Coroner's jury. He was
asked why he gave his residence as GAS
Sacramento street when he did not live
there. He replied that he had his letters
sent there.
where have you been living2" the
Coroner asked.
Gleason replied that he had been living
with Ellis in room SO Of the Montgomery
two months and had done the cooking"
Gleason. who is called Major" was
asked what his occupation was, and re-
piled that he had been a bookkeeper and
that after the death of Ellis he had taken
room on Seventh street. He said that on
Tuesday night he and Ellis retired about 9
O'Clock. Ellis was very nervous and soon
arose and began 10 walk up and down the
room, declaring that he was about to be
arrested. Witness became alarmed and
few minutes before u o'clock went out and
obtained sedatlve from druggist in the
neighborhood. When he returned Ellis
was lying upon the floor. His throat was
cut and policeman was standing by him.
Witness assisted the officer in carrying the
dying man TO the patrol wagon.
Gleason was asked whether there were
any small pointed knives in the room snch
as might have made the wound in Ellis
breast. He answered that there were
several pointed knives in the culinary
department" This department was
the side Of the room in which the oil stove
"How long have you known Ellis?" the
Coroner asked.
About two months, and during that
time he drank heavily"
Mrs. Hamilton, sister of the deceased,
was called, and said that she had q OF seen
her brother for several months. She saw
him last in Monterey a few months ago,
and knew nothing about his death. He
was reporter, 50 years old. and native
of New York.
The testimony of the surgeon who made
the autopsy was given to the effect that
Ellis death was caused by the cutting of
his throat. and the jury found that he had
committed suicide.
Mrs. Hamilton, who resides in CalIstoga.
bought a grave for her unfortunate
brother in Laurel Hill Cemetery. She
said that he was an accomplished linguist.
educated in New York and Paris. He
lived five years in the Quarter Latin of the
French capital and could speak several
languages. He wrote sketches and poetry
for New York papers. When he came to
this city he tried TO obtain literary work.
but was not very successful. She sent him
from S25 tG $50 month, and she believed
that he shared it with lazy parasites who
took advantage of his generosity. If he
had lived he would have fallen hair to q
large fortune, as an uncle, who lives in
New York. is wealthy, and had promised
the fortune to him.
He was member OF Astor Lodge No.
6O3. f. and A. NJ. of New York in good
standing, and during his stay here never
affiliated with any of the local lodges.
My Door brother" said Mrs. Hamilton,
between sobs, addressing CALL reporter
yesterday afternoon. was kind and low
ing and it is so hard to think that he
should have come to such dreadful end.
He was not bad man, but he was too
good-natured and allowed bad men to i'm
pose upon him.