The herald., 1893-09-17
A WOMAN'S LOVE.
WHY THOMAS RHODES BADE HIS
WIFE FAREWELL.
His wifs's Plstonio Regard for Another
Msn-sequsi TO the Recent Suicide
of . welI-Known Mining
Man In Los Angeles


day; The deep mystery that has sur.
rounded the strange euIcide OF Thomas
Rhodes, the wsll-known mining man, In
Los Angeles early this week, is slowly
being aupplanted by a story that has
been fomenting for several days, and in
wolves in disagreeable way the name
of the dead name wife and q we'll
known young man OF this city. who wac
frequent and conspicuous visitor at the
Palace hotel.
Last Monday morning Thomas
Rhodes, who had for several years
been associated with Major II. M.
Russell in successiul mining schemes,
took his life in the apartments at the
Hollenbeck hotel in Los Angeles by
shooting himself through the head.
The news OF his death created con-
siderable excitement in Los Angeles
from the fact that he was apparently
enjoying life with the aid Of large
income and had no known cause for
his rash act.
An investigation of the case furnished
no reason for the suicide, and the citl-
zens OF the south began to regard it as
one OF the deepest mysteries that had
developed in Los Angeles county.
Mrs. Rhodes was in this city, stop
ping at the Palace hotel, as is her GUS
tom when here, and upon being advised
of her husbands death she hurriediy
departed for Los Angeles.
Even her presence there, however,
aided the solution OF the mystery so far
as the general public was concerned and
the remains OF the popular mining man
were laid to rest without the minds OF
the eager being satisfied.
Since Mre. Rhodes departure from
this city ugly stories have been circu-
lated about her which have. In meas
ure, lent assistance to the efforts OF her
husbands friends to discover the cir
cumstances that led to his death.
In fact it is now charged and widely
believed that Rhodes, failing to persuade
his wife to confne her regard to him.
self, ended his life.
A year ago Mrs. Rhodes was resi-
dent of the Palace hotel, having COM
iortabie apartments on the second floor
and apparently having An unrestricted
call ON ber husbands capital to main
tain herself in the most enjoyable man.
ner.
She 10 an exceedingly attractive
woman, beingof Spanish extraction and
we'll educated, and naturally her pres
ence at the hotel was remarked by those
who make it their place of lettering and
admire women's accomplishments.
During her etay there she made few
acquaintanceE, but it was noticed that
she had one friend whose company she
always enjoyed, but only when hel
husband was away.
Jones was his name, and his descrip'
tion as given by those who recall him
was that of we'll dressed young Eng
lishman, with a dark and carefully
trimmed mustache, which added con-
siderable improvement to his counte.
nance.
He was q reguer caller upon Mrs.
Rhodes end frequently they we're seer
to leave the hotel together.
Whenever the husband appeared al
the hotel, however. Jones' absence wat
noted, and his temperance only oc
Cured when it was known that Rhodes
was safely on his way home to Los An.
geles.
Finally the climax came. asOne day, 90
| it is said, Jones and Mrs. Rhodes foolish
| ly had their photographs taken together
and mislaid copy found its way to the
| husband, wboee surprise and grief at
| tending his discovery ended in his com
! ing suddenly TO this city and entreatins
his wife to abandon further relations
with Jones, which, however, appeared
to have been in vain.
The candestine meetings between
Mrs.. Rhodes and Jones continued, 90 il
in ea.d, until the guests OF the hote
| began to regard them very suepiciously
Even the hotel managers attention
| was called to Jones's frequent calls, anC
a consultation between the manager ane
the night watchman resulted in Jones
being closely watched.
So long as the couple were in the
house, however, their actions were such
as to not warrant any determined actor
on the part OF the management, an(
what transpired beyond the hotel die
not concern the hotel.
The stories have continued to spread
until only few weeks ago, and now al
of them have been revived by the hus
band's sudden death.
ron the other side OF the above story
it 10 said that suicidal mania was in
herited by Mr.. Rhodes. However, on
of Tom Rhodes most intimate friend
and former partners in many mininI
adventures returned to Los Angelo
yesterday, not Knowing of Mr.. Rhodes
demise until his arrival, as he het
been absent in an isolated part o
the country ON some mining business
The party In question stated to HER
AID reporter yesterday that he knew
at once the cause of Rhodes
eelf-destruction that financial mat
ters had nothing to do with IT
as Rhodes often spoke to him OF hi
domestic troubles that on many occa
sions they bad travelled through
Mexico together, and Rhodes wa
frequently disheartened and spok
of his troubles. There had been ru
mors to this effect at the time Rhode
committed suicide, the Post article wit
Rhodes remarks to his former partner
who was interviewed by the HERALD re
porter yesterday seems to lend color t
the late unpleasant rumors.