The herald., 1893-11-06
BLEW HIS HEAD TO PIECES,
G. u. Mueller's Suicide at
Mint Canon.
The Gruesome Sight That the Cor
0ner Discovered Yesterday.
The Dead Mans Two Friends Were
Already Digging His Grave-A
Letter Which Explained
His Act.

In lonely little log shanty, in the
most unfrequented port Of Mint cafion,
G. U. Mueller committed suicide last
Saturday.
On Saturday morning Coroner Gates
received a telegram from Nswhall, stat.
ing that dead man had been found in
a cabin, seven miles from Humphreys
station.
The coroner set out for Newhall, and
arrived there shortly after dark.
A seven mile drive through q lonely
part of country took him to his desti-
nation.
As the log cabin was neared the coro-
ner and his driver noticed three men
who we're digging, what the visitors
rightly supposed, to be a grave.
The silent grave diggers saw the ap-
preaching buggy and stopped their
grueeome work to inform the corner
that Mueller had died OF heart disease.
They said that they had looked in
through the window, and seen him sit-
ting in his chair with his head lying on
the stove. They had shouted to him,
and as he had not answered and had
been in poor health for some time,
they had concluded be was dead.
The door was locked and the coroner
was obliged to tear away the window
frame and crawl in in order TO obtain
an entrance.
When the two men got inside the
room was in darkness, and after strik.
ing his last match Coroner Gates found
| lamp which he lit,
Startled by sudden exclamation
from his companic1, Coroner Gates
turned sharply, and although used to
scenes OF horrcr, was sickened by the
terrible sight which met his gaze.
There was blood everywhere; the
coroner looked down and noticed that
his shoes were already stained; the
table was covered and the walls plaster.
ed with the crimson stains.
Sitting inert in his chair, with his
head lying on the stove, WAS the body
OF man.
Coroner Gates gave one look, and
turning to his friend, expressed his
opinion that terrible murder had been
committed. Only the back portion of
the dead mans head remained intact.
! The remainder was scattered in blood
stained spots about the room.
A portion of the skull lay on the floor
three feet from the body, and letter on
table at the far end of the room was
bespattered with blood and brains.
The coroner's first impression was
that murder had been committed. but
eloser investigation showed that the
tragedy was one OF suicide.
The blood-stained letter, and double
barreled shotgun which the dead man
had held between his knees and fred by
means of etick which he still graeped
! between his stitfened fingers, told the
whole story.
The letter which the coroner read is
| given below:
Nov. 5, 1898.
To the Coroner of Los Angeles;
"Lifs is burden to me. Sick in body
and worse in brain, take this means to
relieve myself. Blasted hopes and con-
tinual bad luckis another cause for it.
For long time | have only had a strug.
Cling existence. My constitution has
never been very strong 80 that l could
not stand the rough times right along,
and am SO that do not enjoy life any
longer, and see no use for me to push on
any further. q. E. MUELLER"
With the letter was a will in which
Mueller had left the scanty share of
what worlds goods he possessed to the
man he owed, and two watches, the most
valuable property he owned, to the two
friends who were digging his grave out
side.
The will reads as follows:
II leave everything over to George
Kempton OF Newhall to take charge OF,
go that he can square the account him.
self what | owe him. | think my ac-
! count is something near $400, or the
last bill will show it. There is about A
cases of honev left at the honey house,
only one or two CAGES good for eating.
The eilver watch, with plated chain I
leave to @. d. Rush, and the other nickel
watch leave to Henry Thomas. Both
will be in the trunk. ff
80. W. MUELLER.
Up. S.-Mr. Kempton is the only man
| owe anything. If anyone else makes
any claim it will be without founda-
tion.''
There is nothing left for the coroner
to do except permit the dead mans
friends to bury him in the grave already
dug. and after seeing this was done Cor
oner Gates drove back to Newhall.
Mueller had been on his claim for
come considerable time. living on loans
raised on his land. The unfortunate
man had evidently become crozsd by
the utter solitude OF his surroundings
and by his i'll health.
II there were any other reason for his
self destruction they were buried with
him.
A dog belonging to the dead man was
found by the coroner lying by bis mas
ter's body, and ,he animal whined so
piteously that the two men picked it up.
and taking it with them, left it in charge
of the storekeeper at Newhall.
All lovers OF babies who SAW the beau
tiful oil painting epresenting the Awak-
ming of Love in the Mellin's Food ex-
hibit at the Worlds Fair, will be glad