The morning call., 1893-05-11
HIS NEW PISTOL.
Caused Accidental Death
to w. |. Morgan.
SO SAYS A CoRoNER's JURY.
Coroner Hughes CONSERVATION at the
Morgan Was Deeply Involved.

A jury of twelve citizens of San Fran
CISCO discovered yesterday that the death
of William l. Morgan. who was found on
Tuesday afternoon i'll a closet in his Office
at 512 California street. shot through the
heart, was due to an accident
Coroner hughes has had three disagree
ments with his juries during the past ten
days and yesterday his peaceful air of
resignation almost left him.
Some little excitement was noticeable as
the hour appointed for the inquest drew
near, and when Attorneys r. b. Mitchell
and j. A. Stevens entered and announced
their intention Of watching the case on be-
half Of the Morgan family it was fully ex-
pecied that some sensational evidence
would be offered.
But 1t was not so. The inquest was
purely formal. Joseph A. Murphy, cash.
Ter OF the H ma Insurance Company, testi-
fed 10 having heard the report of pistol
snut from the direction of the closet at the
back of his premises. and further, to hay
Ing S3nt for police officer to investigate.
with the result that deceased was found
quite dead, in sitting posture, with
pistol at his feet ana a box of cartridges
scattered over the floor.
Asked how he knew it was pistol shot
witness replied that he thought it must be
because he ''smelt powder" whereat Per-
RE kewen, who was a silent witness of the
whole proceedings, woke up suddenly and
stroked his military mustachlos with fierce
ardor.
George Bargate. capitalist of Vacaville,
spoke OF having seen Morgan as late as II
A. NJ. on the fatal day. Morgan had in-
UnE Enh hIG tct IL, ctrni d ltn,a inn rr1t
an account in the company's books. He
seemed to be in the best Of health and
SPIRITS, and said, come and see me before
you leave town." Mr.. Bargaie said that
he was on his way to pay second visit to
deceased's Office when he heard the nsws.
Did you ever know of Morgan possess
ing pistoi~
well heard he had had trouble with
some one concerning right OF way on
Belyedere Island and that on that account
he carried pistol"
DR.. A. p. OBrien was called to prove
the nature OF the wound and to show as
an eXpsrt that the pistol must have been
held against deceased's heart in horizon
tai position, as the bullet went in very
straight and the discolOration on the sur
face of the wound showed that the weapon
must have been held very close TO the
body.
William Hoifschneider. of the firm of
Winterburn & Co., printers. and Morgan's
predecessor in the presidency of the Bel
vedere Land Company. said that as late as
/ o'clock In the afternoon of Morgan'S
death he conferred with him regarding a
proof OF cover for a souvenir book which
deceased had been getting out.
AT this point the question Of the strych-
nine found in Morgan's vest pocket came
I'D. Witness explained this by saying
that he had advised Morgan to buy the
poison to destroy gophers which were in
inring fruit trees. He understood all Nor
gan's accounts were straight with the Bel
vedere Company.
Attorney Edgar \. Wilson testified 10
what he knew of Morgan's financial stand
ing. He said that Morgan held large
lump OF stock In the company, which he
could have sold any dav for SIC, 600,
but for which he wanted 1000.
Mr. Wilson detailed the trouble between
Morgan and Charles Paff, who claimed GER
tain rights of way which the company con-
tested. Paff was tw wice arrested for break
ing down gates OH the Belvedere property,
and had once retaliated by arresting Nor
gan for threats against life. He said that
Morgan had been always afraid OF per-
sonal attack from Paff, and had expressed
his Intention of buying pistol with which
to defend himself. There was also an OBJ
noXous dog belonging 10 Patf, for whose
| deiectation Morgan had purchased some
strychniue.
Morgan dead in the closet, told how the
cartridges lay scattered and appeared to
have fallen suddenly from deceased's left
hand while the pistol dropped from his
right.
Then Coroner's clerk Bolger was called
to testify that he had traced the pistol to
Slreye's store, where, together with the
cartridges, it had been purchased during
the luncheon hour on the day of Morgan 5
death.
Other witnesses had been summoned,
but failed TO appear. But the jury
said that they had heard enough and had
made up their minds as to their veydict
whereupon Attorney Mitchell said
We're quite satisfied, II the jury are. Ii
| is evident the whole thing was an acci-
| deHt."
On reviewing the testimony it was evil
| dent that there was an entire absence OF
motive for the deed, as Morgan was
| shown to have been happy in every way,
| and 10 have been man Of unusually
| hearty spirits. His life WAS only insured
| for 5000. But the evidence pointed
| strongly to suicide in the minds of most
| present, and Coroner Hughes could no.
| believe his eyes when he rea q the verdict,
| how deceased had died of guns hot wound
| inflicted "by the accidental discharge of a
| pistol while in the act of examining II
| after loading. Signed r. F. Bunker, fore
| man"
"Is that your verdict, gentlemen ?" asked
| the Coroner.
1T is"
Then. gentlemen. I must take excep.
| ton. You wish 10 say that deceased took
| his pistol and box of cartridges into the
| closet, sat down, loaded his pistol. and
| pointing IL in direct horizontal line al
| his heart, accidentally shot himself. TIC
my MUD it's as clear case OF suicide as
| ever saw Gentlemen, you may CO."
md Nrif mn L ot,
| the jury went their way
Ii is curious TO note that no one ap-
| peared to testify who was in Morgan's
| Office at the time of the shooting, so as t.
| describe how Morgan was seen to &c
! toward the closet, carrying his pistol and
| cartridges-two bulky packages-in his
| hands.
One Of the witnesses who failed 10 ap.
pear was ID. A. Mattingley, who for five
years was Morgan's secretary and who
| only resigned his position on the 1st OF
| this month. Speaking of Morgan he said
Il liked Mr.. Morgan exceedingly and he
treated me as well as l could possibly wish
| for.
Il know nothing about the Bslvedere
Land Company, as l was not concerned
therein; but | do know this, that Morgan
| at the time Of his death, must have been
heavily in debt l would rather not speak
| more definitely. AT the same time he was
the last man in the world | should expect
10 commit suicide. / visited him frequent.
| ly during the few days that elapsed be.
| tween my resignation and his death, and
he was the same as ever, hearty and cheer.
| ful. But one never knows.
II was actually in Mr.. Morgan's Office
| at the time OF his death, but l did mol
! know where he was, and heard no report
| Mr.. Weston (another witness who wa.
present at the inquest, but did not testify
was there. and he did not know what hao
| happened"
So until something more definite i.
known Of Morgan's circumstances the
mystery surrounding Morgan's death will
stand unexplained, unless the verdict rem