The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-07

Donohoe, but found that Armstrong
effects were held for money due for board
and lodging.
The deceased used to get remittances
from England. but toward the latter part
OF last April they began to fail him and he
had recourse to the pawnshop. On
April % he obtained $40 10 on his watch
and chain in the Nevada Loan Office.
Three days later he pawned an English
coin and two rings for $14 10. On May Ii
he secured Sc from the Golden Gate Loan
Offie on pair of diamond cuff buttons,
and week later he got 81 25 on an opal
pin and two collar buttons. The last
article pawned was billiard cue, on May
80, on which he secured 81 rs.
Armstrong was evidently at the end of
his tether and it was then that he began
moving about from one clearinghouse to
another. He and Mrs. Nellie Hughes
were very intimate and on several oc-
casions she helped him financially.
Last Sunday he called upon her and
they had a quarrel. Armstrong lost
his head and attempted to choke the
woman with towel. Her screams brought
assistance and Armstrong departed. Next
day Mrs. Hughes had him arrested on a
charge of threats against life. On his
promise to leave the City in four days
Judge Joachimsen allowed him to go on
his own recognizance. The time expired
last Friday and Armstrong kept his prom
Use by taking his life. Last August he had
falling out with Mrs. Hughes, and on
that occasion he broke several panes of
glass in her house and was arrested for
malicious mischief.
When Armstrong; effects were searched
at the Morgue number Of letters were
found. One of them was addressed /:
'Henry w. Armstrong Esq, Upton
Lodge, Kingston-on-Th England"
and read as follows:
July 5.
My Dear Brother: When you receive this you
will have heard the news of my death. Do not
let the manner of my ''taking off" affect you.
1t was the easiest solution of the situation.
have one last request to make OF you am in
debted to Mrs. Hughes 315 Leavenworth street,
San Francisco, to the amount of 5000, for
board and lodging and money. She is poor
widow and has treated me with UNMARRIED kind
ness Would you, as last favor to ME, send
her present of that value q do not believe she
would accept the money? would suggest a
diamond (solitaire) locket and chain. She has
my "photo" and think would wear it for my
sake. / beg of you to do this for my sake.
Give my love to your wife, Alice, to Richard
and Emily and to Anna. Allow me again to
assure you, dear Henry, of my appreciation OF
your many and continued kindnesses. Your
affectionate brother WALTER.
P. SIN sending the locket to Mrs. Nellie
Hughes write her nicely, thanking her for the
kindnesses shown me. w.
Another was addressed "Mrs. Peters, in
care of Mrs. Hughes, 315 Leavenworth
street." and Endorsed "To be delivered
after my DEATH" It's contents were letter
addressed MRS. Nellie Hughes, 315 Leaven-
worth street." and small gold chain with
a charm which had been made out of an
old copper cent. 1t had been worked into
a keystone, with the liberty head on one
side and on the other the deceased's ini-
tails, "W. A." ingeniously formed SO as to
make square and compass.
The letter addressed to Mrs. Hughes was
stamped so that the Coroner would not
open it. A message was sent her to come
down to the Coroner's Office and open the
letter, but the answer to DR.. Hawkins WAS
"Mrs. Hughes is in Sausaiito on yachting
excursion with Commodore Cutie and will
not be home until Sunday night" The