The morning call., 1893-11-26
HE WAS HOPELESS
The Suicide of an Aged
Speculator.
CLAIMED ROYAL ANCESTRY.
A Pathetic Epistle Left for the
Coroner.
HIS BEST FRIEND A WOMAN.
A LineaI Descendant of King Alfred
the Great and Chariemagne
With but ST. 20 in Cash.
S BEST FRIEND A WOMAN.

An old man, with gray hair and mus
tache, whose life history may be we'll
worth reading, lies at the Morgue. His
name Is August Serbia. and it is believed
that he came from New York and was
mining speculator.
Serbia became tenant of Miss May
Squlres' lodging-house. 636 Golden Gate
avenue. one month ago. He was gentle
manly fellow. who apparently had no oc-
cupation. Miss SQuires, while passing his
room on Friday afternoon, heard him
grooming and summoned physician, who,
believing that the man was dying, sent
him to the Receiving Hospital, and there
Serbia did die Of morphine poisoning at
o'clock yesterday morning.
In Scriba's rooms the Coroner's deputy
found trunks and valises. corded and
labeled for shipment to Mrs. GarrigaD,
in M0ntrose-on-the-H Hudson, New York.
He also found glass which had contained
morphine, and several very interesting
documents. One of these was a letter to
the Coroner. which read as follows:
SAN FRANCISCO, November "a
To the Coroner: Weary of the struggle for
existence ! have taken twenty-five grains OF
morphine. Better that than starve surrounded
my body cremated in the new crematory and
send lhe ashes 10 Rev. Gouverneur Cruzer,
Montrose-on- the Hudson, New York. Tele-
graph TO Mrs. ArDa b. Plarr, 1119 q street,
Washington. d. c. Very truly, A. serbia.
And please have my trunks, rifle and bags
forwarded by express as directed on the same.
Addressed to the editor of the New
York World was the following pathetic
eplstle:
Ola, friendless. hopeless and alone, deserted
by God ano man, return to nature the life she
gave without regret or fear. From childhood
my aim has been to lead life acceptable 10 the
10 him, ana so L have all my life leaned upon
him. never undertaking anything without ask
Ing his guidance and blessing. ana yet every
thing seems 10 have gone wrong with me.
Perhaps relied too much upon him and not
enough upon myself. | cannot understand it,
Where was taught to look for help faied to
ind 1t. Perhaps 1t Is all mistake TO believe
that God cares for men individually. Six of my
grandfathers In direct line were Lutheran clergy
men, good men aud righteous serving God and
helping men. yet L am deserted and forsaken
In my old age.
L forgive all whose malice, injustice and un-
charitaoleness have contributed to the ending
of what had hoped and striven TO make a per-
feet life. May God forgive them ALL
avail myself OF the divine drug which Provi.
dence mas given to man TO relieve him from
rDysical ana mental suHerlng when it be-
comes intolerable. A. NJ. serbia.
TIE most remarkable document left by
Serbia was genealogical tree written
with great care and precision. In it he
traced his ancestry to Alfred the Great of
England. Charlemagne and other royal
personages. His will was found on the
washstand. and had apparently been writ
ten Just before Serbia took the poison. 1t
read as follows:
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. "a.
In the name of God. amen. l. Augustus NJ.
Serbia, by the grace of God, Il descendant of
Alfred the Great and Edmund Ironsde OF
Gharlelnagne, and OF Otto the Great, and OF
Hugh Capet and Wittikind. of Malcolm Can
more and ST. Margaret, DO hereby declare this
10 bo my last will and testament.
l hereby give. bequeath and devise unto Mrs
Mary A Garrigan of Verplanck In the State of
New York all the personal and real property of
which may be possessed. TO have and TO hold
for her own use and benefit forever. All which
Is In consideration of her kindness and friendly
sympathy shown to me at a critical period OF
my life, when had been deserted by alt who
claimed To have been my friends My only re-
greet Is that l have not a large estate to be-
queath her. God bless her true and faithful
heart. A. NJ. serbia
SAN FRANCISCO. November "a, 1898
Will this bag, together with my Two trunks
rifle and large bag TO be sent to Mrs. Mary A.
Garrigan. MontrOse- on. Hudson, New York.
She was my faithful friend when all others
had deserted me, and but tor her l would have
starved In my own home. God bless her.
A. NJ. serbia.
Under this was written:
7:40 P. NJ. l have just swallowed fifty-one
halfgrain morphine pills. and am beyond the
meanness and seliishness of mankind. Like
my poor old ancestor, Duncan, 'malice, domes-
lie or foreign levy, nothing can trouble him
more." just put my body in Il pine box. and
carry il 10 the cremafOry. / have taken up
arms against sea of trouble. and by opposing
ended them The help 1 hoped for did not
come. Amen.
Miss SQuires. the landlady, was the only
witness of Importance at the inquest. which
was held last night. She said that Serbia
came to her house one month ago, and
that she understood that he was sDecu-
lator in mines and came from New York.
She knew nothing about his antecedents
Serbia had but ST 20 in his possession