The herald., 1894-08-28
WAS IT SUICIDE OR DISEASE I?
Thomas J. Weldon Found Dead
in His Bed.
Some Curious Circumstances About
the Tragic Affair.
A Post STortern Finds Healthy Heart
and Other Organs-The Death
Something of
Mystery.

Thomas j. Weldon, mem ber of the
Los Angeles police commission, and
candidate for the Republican nomina-
tion for county treasurer, is dead.
He was found in bed at his room, in
the Columbia hotel, yesterday morning,
at 8 O'Clock. The very suddsnness OF
the affair created much speculation as
to the cause. As he was known to be
man in good health, go far as outward
eigns go, his death from natural causes
did not seem to bs within the range OF
probabilities. The theory OF suicide Is
hard to believe. He was in good cir
cumstances financially, and as far ss
could be learned there we're no eventa In
his domestic life which would cause
desire for selidestruction.
One theory ia that he took dose OF
morphine to allay pain in his stomach
and the dose proved too much Tor him.
This ia held to be carried out by post
mortem which was held yesterday sitter
noon.
Mrs. A. Cuyas, the landlady of the
Columbia hotel, states that at 8 O'Clock
the wash Chinaman called for Mr.. Well
don's clothes and as no response was
made to his knock at room AZ, the
chambermaid unlocked the door and
was horrified to find Mr.. Weldon lying
in bed, dead. The landlady at once
called up the mayors office and notified
them of the event. She Gays that several
gentlemen came down, among Them the
coroner VINO took charge Of the remains.
Mrs. Cuyas states that Weldon retired
Sunday night at O'Clock. His appear
ances were the same es usual. When
she eaw his room the next morning
every thing was in the condition that
could be expected OF man who retires
for the night. He had lived at the house
for about six months.
2. A. Howard, secretary of the board
OF park commissioners, was next seen.
He stated that he answered the tele-
phone call from the Columbia hotel.
He entered the room occupied by Mr..
Weldon and found him lying in bed
very much as if he Was in an easy sleep.
His head was slightly turned to One
eide, and one leg was drawn up trifie.
Coroner Gates stated that from Mr..
Weldon's mouth there issued froth,
eishtlv mixed with blood. He had
found O bottle of morphine, about half
of which had been used, wrapped in
paper, tightly corked in the top drawer
of the bureau.
"How about those letters which are
esid to have been found in his room ?"
was asked Of the coroner.
II know nothing OF any letters" gaid
he, land the only thing found was the
bottle of morphine, and that in the
place just described"
The body was removed at IL o'clock
to Orr & Patterson's, where post NOR
tenn was held late in the day by Drs.
Ainsworth and Bryant. at, the conclu-
sion DR.. Bryant stated that the heart
wac found to be normal and there was
no evidence OF other trouble. He said
that in hia opinion death had resulted
from an overdose of morphine and that
the drug had been taken to relieve
pain.
When coming from Santa Barbara the
other day MIR. Weldon complained of
stomach trouble and the physicians
state that he had gaBtralga Of the
etomach, very painful disease.
Mr. Weldon's intimate friends sre ex-
ceedingly indignant at the suicide theory.
They assert that his family relations are
yerv pleasant and that he was q man of
cheerful disposition and in good hnan-
clal circumstances. His family were in
San Francisco, they say, in order that
his daughter might take music lessons.
His SON wac attending the Stamford
university.
Mr.. Weldon carried insurance upon
his life OF sl2,500. OF this amount
$4,000 was in the Bankers Alliance,
taken out on February 7, 1889, and $1O,-
900 in the Chicago and Northwestern,
Masonic institution, of Chicago.
Aha Of
Weldon will be held this morning at 8
O'Clock.
Thomas J. Weldon had lived in Los
Angelica for 30 years. He came here
from Nevada county, where he had lived
for several years, being engaged then in
the lumber business.
Mr.. Weldon went into the lumber
business with the Griffith Lumber COM
pany shortly after his arrival here, and
afterWerd WAS in the same business with
Kerckhoif & Gunner.
In 1880 he sold out his interests and
took position in the Farmers and Mer-
chants bank He was for seven years
connected with that institution in vari-
ous capacities, and then, when in 1887
the California bank was organized, he
went in there as cashier.
Mr.. Weldon was also atockholder in
the California Warehouse company OF
shis city, and at the time of his death
was president and treasurer OF that con-
Germ. He had resl estate interests in
this CITY beEides his regular business.
HI, business relations brought him in
contact with great many people during
his career in this city, and made him a
well-known man.
He was memb OF Pentalpha lodge,
+. and A. NJ; also of Signet chapter,
r. A. NJ; Cenr de Lion oommandery,
No. 8, X. T., and Al Malaikah temple,
V. M. 8.
Mr.. Weldon was native of Nova