The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12
DISCORD IN THE FAMILY.
He Displayed Great DeIibera-
ton in Preparing for
Death.
TOOK A DOSE OF MORPHINE.
Widow and Daughters Disagree
Over the Disposition OF the
Remains.

STOCKTON, CAL, Sept. n.-Frank s.
Hatch a wealthy Stocktonian, committed
suicide in the Alta iodging-house in this
city to-day. He has been missing from
his home, 1888 West Oak street, since 10
o'clock yesterday, ana last night his wife,
becoming alarmed at his unusual absence,
asked the police to search for him. 1t was
thought he had gone to the State Fair at
Sacramento, but shortly after o'clock
this afternoon he was found in dying
condition in Main-street lodging house
from the effects of heavy dose OF NOR
phine. He died about an hour and half
afterward. although two physicians worked
over him and applied every known re-
storative.
About two years ago Hatch married
Mrs. Belle Christian, who was heir to a
considera BILE fortune, and the domestic in
felicity that followed is said to be the cause
of his taking his life. He was himself
well-to-do at the time, and his children
objected very strongly to the union. This
led to family quarrels, though the laugh
tiers, of whom there are several grown to
womanhood, always evinced much affec-
ton for their father.
A little more than year ago Hatch sold
out his blacksmithing business in this
city, and since then has devoted himself to
looking after his property interests here.
When he left his home yesterday he
told his wife he intended to visit house
owned by him and from which some ten
ants were moving. Instead of this he
went to the Alta clearinghouse and Sc
cured room. Then he went to the cigar
store of II. o. Haas and secured package
of valuables which he had left in the
tobacconist's safe. This package he had
deposited with Haas directly after his
marriage with Mrs. Christian, and told
him to deliver it after his death to his
daughter, Gertie Hatch. and to no one
else, naming several into whose hands he
did not wish it to fall. Yesterday he
asked for the parcel, and writing a note
placed it within and sealed it up. He
then got his boots polished, and while
doing so chatted with Chris Ryer half
brother of his wife, who was in town on
visit. That is the last that was seen of the
Stockton capitalist until found in dying
condition this afternoon. On the bureau
close by was two-ounce vial that had
been filled with morphine, most of which
he had taken. On the table were several
letters and with them note addressed to
Coroner Fred Clark, which read:
eff / have passed over to the silent ma
iority please send these letters as ad-
dressed. If not, hold them all intact to
be delivered to me-"
The letters were addressed to Mrs. Belle
Hatch, his wife; II. S. Sargent, banker;
William Fitzgerald; II. o. Haas; John
Jory, the undertaken and Deputy Coroner,
and Joseph Joyett.
The wife of Hatch and his daughters
were summoned and saw the husband and
father die. Mrs. Hatch did not appear to
be much purturbed over the condition she
found him in, but with the daughters it
was different. After his death they pleaded
with the wife to be allowed to bury him
from his own house in which they lived,
but she was obdurate and refused. The
scene was an affecting one. Undertaken
Jory's letter was opened, and in it de-
ceased asked to have his body taken to his
daughters home, so he was removed there
despite his wife's protests. In this letter
he named several prominent men who
were his close friends and asked to have
them act as pall-bearers. He concluded by
saying that he knew he had violated law
OF the Masons, to which order he belonged,
but asked them to look on his act with
charity. 1t Is probable that he will be
buried by them.
Hatch was native of Maine and about
so years old. He came to California in
1857 and mined in Sonora County. In 1866
he located in Stockton and accumulated
comfortable fortune here.