The morning call., 1893-06-06
ENDED HIS LIFE.
Suicide of John McOuaid
in Philadelphia.
STORY OF HIS CAREER,
A Man Who Was Once a Judge and
Always Brilliant Lawyer
Blows Out His Brains.

There Is reason to fear that John a.
McQuaid, at one time leading lawyer IN
Virginia City,. New, later on a leading
light of the bar at Bodie. CAL, and after
ward Judge Of the Superior Court OF
Humboldt County, ended his lite by his
own hand in Philadelphia on Sunday last.
From the Quaker City the following dis
patch was received:
PHILADELPHIA. June 4.-John McQuad
aged 90. who came here from San Francisco IN
December last, blew out his brains at he home
of his sister to-day. He had been broodng
over The death of his wife and the disappear
ance of his son. In the dead mans trunk was
found $4,000 In cash.
Investigation indicated that the ex-
Jude and lawyer is probably the man who
took his own life.
A brilliant man and lawyer well
grounded in the rudiments of his profess
sion, John McQuaid entered practice in
the mining town of Virginia City at a
time when the successful lawyer was the
advocate who knew as much about self
acting revolver as he did about Blackstone,
and who was as ready with the one argu-
ment as with the other in winning case.
McQuaid made money, but unfortunately
domestic troubles, for which he always
blamed himself and his hasty temper to
his associates, alienated the affections OF
his wife, and she parted from him, taking
with her the only child, a son.
Then it was that McQuaid seemed TO
lose interest in his practice and soon after
the disagreement with his wife em1grated
to Bodir. Cal, where he at once secured
lucrative practice. A reconciliation be-
tween himself and wife resulted in his run
ming as candidate for Superior Judge
and he was elected. Fulfilling his term he
was afterward appointed Superior Judge
by Governor Stoneman and during his lat
ter term on the bench he again had trouble
with his wife and she left him a second
time.
Then McQuaid came to San Francisco
and opened a law office on Montgomery
street. In short time he succeeded in
winning back his wife and son, the boy
having become quite lad and showing in
marked degree abilities beyond his years
McQuald's practice increased. but he could
not stand pros speriIy. with the result that
for n third time his wife and son left him.
Then McQuaid removed to San Jose, but
about year ago he suddenly left the Gar
den City. 1t has been learned that his
wife and son agreed to give him one more
chance, but on the condition that he
should go East with them, as she had rela-
tives in that section possessed of wealth
and influence.
The end Of a brilliant if clouded career
is told in the dispatch. The death of Nc
Quaid's wife was probably the first blow.
and then the disappearance of his sor,
who had always taken the mothers part,
completed the wreck of career that once
was fraugbt with promise.
When CALL reporter hunted up Nc
Quaid's record yesterday, he found among
the lawyers who had known him fifteen
or twenty years ago no surprise at his
end, but general regret. The love of his
life was his wife and boy. and the loss of
both coming at once rendered life not
worth the living And so he died,