The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-11-18
ENGAGED TO. BE MARRIED.
The Nuptial Knot Would Have
Been Tied Yesterday.
HE WAS HEIR To A FORTUNE.
Stories About His Death and the
Cause Denied by His Brother
and His Landlord.

Genial Tom Martin, the son of de-
ceased millionaire, died at the CONNER
cisl Hotel early Tuesday morning and
was quietly Inferred in the family buryIng-
ground on the following day. The circum-
stances of bis death gave rise to many
rumors which were quickly spread broad
cast over the city. for he was we'll known
among men about town and his family IS
one of the oldest and was once one OF the
wealthest in the city.
1t was said that he was financially en-
barrassed. that he committed suicide and
that his body was hurried to the grave be-
fore the Coroner. heard of lis death or had
time to make an investigation. IL was
known that he was engaged to be married
to beautiful young lady and that tie
union, if he had lived, would have been
solemniZed yesterday. so it was minated
that rather than face his trouble aud ask
her to share it he put an end to bis life.
These stories are emphaticallg denied by
his brother, James Martin, who declares
without hesitation that Toms death was
caused by heart disease, and that there
was.no earthly reason why he should cou-
nit suicide. The Coroner has heard the
rumorS that have been flying about the
city, bat has not yet decided to order an
investigation.
Edward Holland, proprietor of the Com
mercial Hotel, at which Martin died, de-
clared that the suicide story was without
foundation.
"Mr. Martini" he said. 'has lived at the
hotel for twelve months or more. He was
employed by the San Francisco Gaslight
Company and earned, ] think, about S120
month. know nothing about his finan-
cial embarrassment. he always paid his
bill, and if he was In want his family was
abundantly able to take care of him. He
drank at times, but never to excess. On
Friday evening -he omplained of pains in
his side, and on Monday evening when ne
came in he said he was very sick. | knew
that DR.. Vincent Buckley had been treat
ing him for heart disease and / told him to
go TO bed. He was shaking with a chill at
the time, and assisted him in undressing
and tucked him in, saying that would see
him again before going to bed.
Some time later one of the servants
told me he had fallen out of bed, and I
fastened back to his room and fouad him
breathing heavily and unconscious. ]
sent a messenger for DR.. Buckley and
another for MIR. Martins relatives. DIR.
Buckley could not be found, but DR.. R. E.
Bunker. came with the messenger. j.
Downey Harvey, Mr.. Martins stepbrother,
his mother and his brother. James Mar
in. who also lives at the hotel, were quick
~ gathered around his bedside. Mr..
Martin did not seem conscious. but
died at ? O'Clock in the ID orning."
James Martin said that he and his
rsa 1h-of har Dnr 4
the burial for the following day, but had
no reason for haste.
81 assure you," he said, shat there is
no reason for any sensational story con-
corning my brothers. death. I believe that
1t was due to natural causes. Nv brother
was man who was never out of employ
ment and never was in want. He would
have fallen heir to 8 large estate Il he had
lived.
"Ido not think he LETT will. He had
box at the Safe Deposit vaults. and a few
days ago / obtained Judge Coffey's per-
mission to open it. but there was no will
there"
The deceased was born in this city forty
one years ago. His father was a wealthy
liquor-dealer and was at one time presi-
'dentot the Hibernia Bank. Several years
ago Tom went to Portland and invested in
his fathers business. He sank $40, coo in
the venture and returned to the city, here
he found employment in bank. He was
married but bis wife died several years
ago. He was childless.
The certificate of cause of death filed by
; Dir. Bunker at the office of the Board of
Health shows that Martin died of heart
disaaaa