The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-09-01
Attempted Suicide of an
Irate Husband.
HE SUSPECTED HIS WIFE.
The Latter Escapes and Goes
Into Hiding.
BUT CLAIMS SHE WILL RETURN.
Two Versions of Family Disagree
ment Which VIII Probably
End Fatally.

Deserted by his wife and suffering from
a probably fatal gunshot wound in his
breast, A. w. Nicholson lies in the Oak
land Receiving Hospital lowering be-
tween life ard death. AS stated in yester-
days CALL Nicholson, who is laborer
employed by the Harbor Commissioners.
attempted suicide at suburb of Oakland
called Elmhurst by shooting himself in
the left breast, slightly above the heart.
In farmers wagon he was conveyed to
the Oakland Receiving Hospital about one
hour after the shooting and was attended
By DR.. johnson, who pronounced his
wound of serious nature.
The circumstances attending the at
tempted suicide are particularly affecting,
and in the neighborbood in which the in
Jured man has resided have been CON-
mon talk for some time past.
For several months Nicholson has occu-
pied house in. an area way running from
Leaven worth to Hyde, and between Jack
son and Pacific streets, and has been
known by the sObriQuet of Mick" by all
OF his acQuaintances. He is a married
man and the father of six small children,
and appears to be universally esteemed by
those who know him best.
But owing to the fact that his wife is
said to have tired Of his affection, he has
become respondent of late and his rash
act is not at all surprising TO his friends.
Although rather uDcommC NEGATIVE con-
corning his family affairs, Nicholson has
lately announced that be would either kill
himself or "some one" who had been the
cause of his domestic troubles, and that
some one he said was William Lane, an
electrician in the employ of the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company, at present at
sea on the steamship Peru, plying between
this port and China.
The two families had been neighbors
until quite recently, and upon the death
Of BITS. Lane the wife ofiNicholson took il
upon herself 70 comfort the distressed
husband by looking after his household
during his bereavement She acted as
any kind-hearted neighbor would, but
Nicholson asserts that Lane took adVan-
tage of bis wife's kindness, and little by
little afienated her affections until she
finally quilted her family.
This occurred about twelve days ago,
and Nicholson sought his wife at the resi-
dence of her aunt. Mrs. Heseley, at Elm
hurst, near Oakland. He failed TO locate
her. and has since been behaving strangely
to his friends. When about to depart
a second time for his wife's supposed
hiding place Nicholson gave his watch
TO his eldest son, and told him that in case
be did not find the latteF's mother he
dDulu Mil ulDSSll Ile pAOlcsScu " 10
unable to live without her. and purchased
revolver from pawnbroker's establish
ment on kearny street
1t is said that Mrs. Nicholson was not
in her aunts home at the time her nus
band called, but the farmer who conveyed
the injured man to town professed to know
that she was in hiding in the vicinity, and
after being refused an audience with her
Nicholson turn ed the pistol upon himself.
he formerly lived at 1713 Leavenworth
street, and OF late has threatened to kill
himself and his wife as we'll If the latter
refused TO return to her home.
Inquiry among the neighbors of both
families in the vicinity Of LeaVenwOrth
and jackson streets revealed the fact
that Mrs. NicholsOn's friendliness with
Lane has beer well known ever since the
latter's wife died. He has been frequent
visitor at the Nicholson household
Since Mrs. NichOlson's desertion of her
husband and her departure from home
her many small children have been
cared for and looked after by her former
neighbOrs. Nicholson is being sincerely
sympathiZed with by his friends and neigh
bors, but his wife appears to have earned
the enmity of the residents in the vicinit Y
of her former home.
Mrs. Heseley, his wife's aunt, visited
him yesterday. to tell him that his wife
intended going home to care for the chill
dren, and he mutely displayed his happ-
ness and satisfaction.
Mrs. Heseley does not speak very favor
ably OF Nicholson, characterizing him as a
political rOunder, drunkard and desperate
man. She says that he often beat and
threatened to kill his wife.