The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-12-03

!" !. :" !" !. !"
go y Saturday after
III ~ noon, about two
o'clock, Simon Won
8G-..=-~siS Topaz, formerly a
MEC IL MI member of the
w III mounted patrol,
d16 sent bullet crash
ing through his
brain. He died two hours later at the
Queens Hospital, without regaining
consciousness. His funeral took place
yesterday afternoon, under the aus
pices of Company y, y. G. H., of
which body the deceased was mem
Der. y detachment from Company +
also was in the funeral march, which
was led by the Hawaiian band. The
interment took place in Nuuanu Gem
etary.
There was a report circulated on
Saturday to the effect that Won Topaz
had not committed suicide, but was
the victim of foul play. There was no
foundation for the report, however, as
circumstances and the evidence prove
that it was a premeditated affair. The
ex policeman owed considerable
money about town, and, according to
a statement made by him, his credit
ors were pressing him for payment.
He felt annoyed at first, and finally
the opportunities caused him to be-
come respondent. On Friday night
he called at the police station, and in
the course of a conversation he asked
if bullet, sent through the temple,
would cause instant death. He was
Informed that il would. He then left,
remarking that he bad made his will.
Nothing was heard of the eccentric
Individual until the police were in
formed that he had shot himself in a
house near Smiths bridge. 1t was
afterward discovered that he had used
a 3S-calibre revolver, the ball entering
the head above the left temple. The
fatal shot was fired while he was lying
on his bed.
a coroner's inquest was held on Sat
urday night, resulting in verdict of
suicide.
A native woman who had been liv-
ing with the deceased testified that he
came home on Saturday afternoon,
and after he had been in the house q
short time, he requested her to go to
store and purchase an undershirt for
him. y moment or so after she left,
she heard the report of a pistol, and
turned back to find Won Topaz in
dying condition.
Another woman stated that the de-
ceased complained of having a severe
pain in his chest, and told her at the
same time of his financial troubles.
From hackman it was learned that
the deed was premeditated without
any doubt. The driver says that he
took Won Topaz home, and as he
alighted, he shook hands and babe
him good bye, saying he was going TO
blow his brains out. The hackman
thought nothing of the threat, believ-
ing the man to be of unsound mind.
Won Topaz was a resident of this
country for q number of years, and
was about 40 years of age when he
took his life. 1t has been enormously
stated that he was married man and
n father. From people who are famil-
lar with his private life, it is learned
that he lived with a native woman,
but was not married. He was hack
man up to the time of the revolution,
when he joined the regular army.
Later he was put on the mounted po-
lice force where he remained until a
short time ago. -
The dead mans room was searched
yesterday. A piece of paper was found
fastened to his trunk on which was
written, IL leave all my property to
Marshal Hitchcock"