The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-10-06
81 Have Gone by the Cyanide
Route" He Wrote.
A SUICIDE AT THE BALDWIN.
He Blamed Another for His Death.
The Discoverer of the Famous
East Comstock Ledge.


respondent, but his friends and family
never dreamed that his name would be
added to the long list of suicides at the
Morgue. A few hours before his death be
greeted several of his friends cordially and
cheerfully. he chatted gayly for a few
moments with bellboy and then passed
to his room in the Baldwin Hotel to cast
off burden that he had determined to
bear no longer. Once inside his apartment
he locked and boitsd the door, and after
writing letter to the public and farewells
to his wife and private secretary, the old
Argonaut, who had legion of friends and
acquaintance, lay down upon a lounge
and took dose of cyanide of potassium.
The little room at the Baldwin in which
the old miner died was occupied by him.
self and his private secretary. S. Z. Hol-
combe. Mrs. Crossman resided at 1918
Mason street with an adopted daughter.
She had not separated from her husband,
but wished to save him the expense of her
living at the hotel where he, for business
reasons. elected to reside.
Mr.. Helcombe went TO his room at 5
o'clock, and finding the door locked and
bolted on the inside Immediately came to
the conclusion that all was not right with
d
looked into the apartment through WIN
dow and saw the miner lying on the
lounge with bottle by his side. The door
was forced open and the two men ascer-
tanned that Crossman had parted with life.
His body was stiff and cold, and glance
al the label on the bottle that had con-
tanned the deadliest poison known to the
chemist told them how he had taken his
leave of life.
There were three letters on the table,
one addressed ITO whom it may con-
cern," another to Mrs. Crossman and the
third to the private secretary. When
Deputy Coroner Carew searched the
room he found fragments of other letters
that had been torn up by the deceased
just before he swallowed the fatal dose.
The letter addressed ITO whom it may
concern was as follows
am tired. My load ts too heavy to carry.
II is more than l can bear. 1 want rest and
am going TO take it. No nonsense about it,
III fail 1t Will not be my fault. / leave by
the cyanide route, with best wishes for sur
vivors and those who remain.
a fraud has had much to do with
my exit. His misrepresentation have got me
into hole. He is first-class fraud and ought
TO be sent back 10 the penal colonies in Austria
MY assets will more than pay my bills and
leave competence for my wife if properly ad
ministered. l am tired OF this life Good-by
JAMES Ii. CRossMAN.
Inc letter was written in a trembling
hand. and Crossman's friends upon read
Ing ii stated that the man who was re-
ferted to In 1t as having much to do with
his death was a man with whom he had
Quarreled rece ntly about business
transaction.
The letter TO his private secretary
treated of business matters and the settle
ment of his estate. In it the writer stated
that he was Mason and member of the
Pioneer Society, and that the latter would
probably take charge of his funeral. He
left his watch and best wishes to the sec
rotary.
Mrs. Crossman was Frustrated by the
news of her husbands death, which was
conveyed to her by Mr.. Holcombs. The
letter left by her dead husband was taken
to her late IN the evening, bat its contents
were not divulged by the family.
The fragments of one of the letters which
Crossman had torn into pieces just befor
lie died were put together at the Coroner's
Office The epis!ls proved to be com
munication from 6. P. Jackson, a min ing
engineer, who resides at 604 Castro street.
and was at one time employed by the
Park Commissioners. jackson had writ
ten in reproachful vein about an enter
prise in which he and Crossman had been
Interested and closed the screed with the
sentence, You have played high and
lost"
The enterprise was a acknowledgement
scheme that was to be started and pro-
NOTED somewhere. in Nevada. Jackson
was sent 20 survey the new Canaan, and.
after losing several weeks of his valuable
time, came to the conclusion that il would
not ''pan out"
When he returned he asked Crossman
to pay him for his time and expenses, but
the latter repudiated the claim and they
quaTreled Mr.. Jackson was not at home
and his wife declined to discuss his rela-
lions with Crossman. but said that her
husband received an important latter from
the miner few days ago, and then wrote
the reply, closing with the significant SEN
terce quoted IN the foregoing. The lady
was deeply distressed when she learned
that CrossEan was dead, but declared that
she had premoDition some time ago that
some one well known to her was going to
die and she had no doubt it was he.
Crossman's body was taken to the
Morgue, where it was looked upon last
night by many an old miner who remem-
bered the dead man as one of the best en-
gineers and prospectors ever known on the
coast.
Crossman had been a factor in ,nanv
mining booms. was On the Comstock in the
pamy days of that lode, and was well
known throughout California and Nevada,
When he came to California he began
business as an auctioneer. but soon sue.
cumbed to the prevalent mining fad and
made his way to the Comstock. He dis
covered the famous East Ledge, or Big
Bonanza, and told Flood and Mackay that
there were millions in it," His predc-
ton, as all the world knows. was verified.
and gained for him the sobriquet OF East
Ledge Comstock.
Eight years ago Crossman discovered
the Rawhide mine In Tuolumne County,
and was paid $500 for his services. The
mine was sold for SIS, 600, and is now said
to be worth 100000
Crossman also located the tin deposits
that made Temescal known throughout
the world. He had an interest in the
mines, and was negotiating. with others,
at she time Of his death for the sale of-tne
property to syndicate of English cap