The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-02
4 CORPSE In DISPUTE.
DiscreditabIe Wrangle Over a Sui
cide's Body.
A. E. Spaulding, a Citizen Of Berkeley,
Chooses His Casket and Shoots Him.
self Through the Heart.

A. E. Spaulding, well-known citizen of
o'clock yesterday morning, causing instant
death. The suicide was the result of i'll
health and deranged mind.
Mr.. Spaulding went into Stricker's cigar
store few minutes past 10 o'clock, and,
laying a small medical battery on the
counter, stated that he wished to leave it
there.
Leaving the cigar-store he walked up
Center street to the rear of the undertaking.
rooms of Durgin & Bleakley, where there is
barn. Then leaning against the barn he
sent bullet through his heart with So
caliber revolver A hemorrhage at the
mouth was the result and led to the suppo-
sition at first that the ball had entered at
the mouth. The Coroner was summoned
and Deputy Coroner Quellen came out
from Oakland.
Then followed scene that was not cred
liable to common decency. The deputy
was requested by Mrs. Spaulding to hold
the inquest at the undertaking rooms of
Durgin & Bleakley, but the deputy insisted
on taking the body to Oakland, as Coroner
Baldwin had instructed him to do. Health
Officer Powell, who was present, ordered
the deputy to leave the body in the local
parlors, and when he refused had Con-
stable Brotherton place him under arrest,
also his driver. The two had to be taken
to West Berkeley before Justice Gard for
the warrants to be issued.
All this time the body of Mr.. Spaulding
was lying in the wagon unattended, and
was carried down to West Berkeley and
back before being taken to Oakland. Cor
oner Baldwin supports the action of his
deputy. He says the deputy had no dis
cretion, but had to obey the orders given
him.
The suicide of Mr.. Spaulding is not a
surprise to those who knew him, as his
mind has been unbalanced for some time.
He had an affection of the kidneys and
catarrh of the stomach, which compelled
him to go without food for many days. He
came to have almost mania for seeking
different remedies for his maladies and his
mind seemed to be failing rapidly.
Not long since he called at the under
taking establishment in town, making ar
rangements for burial casket
Mr.. Spaulding was about 45 years OF age
and an old resident of Berkeley. He was
a member of Lomeister Lodge, A. 0. wv,
of Lomeister, Mass, his native place.
On the body were discovered several last
messages, whose peculiarities showed his
mental state. One was dated Berkeley,
January 80, 1895, and read:
Mr.. Preble-DEAR SIR: wish you would in
need looking after. A stray dog came to my
house ] wrote the Poundmaster to come and
get it. He did not. So many dogs in the
neighborhood barking nights one can not
sleep nights. It's enough to drive man to
hard drink A. E. SPAULDING.
Another was addressed to the Indus
trial Army sympathizing with their aims
and movements. 1t ran:
To the people of Berkeley: 1t seems to me un-
fair for us mechanics and laborers to do all the
town work by contract while few old maids
come in and teach our schools i've or six hours
q day and sweep off all our hard earned money.
Our schools should be taught by contract, being
let from one to three years. Just as smart peo-
pie walk the streets every day who would teach
the schools just as well for one-hah the money.
A. E. SPAULDING.
The following was to his wife:
Nh, Dear Wife: AS you do not wish any girl
to take care of our baby, think it is better
that take her along with me, as she will only
live a few wears and wear your life out. The
undertaken will take the carriage for his pay.
NV last word is for you to go to Reno to live
forever and get your health back. Get lady
to rub YOU according to my little book, my little
bow also, oiling him all over each night with
sweet oil. He will be of use to you if he lives,
Int never in this climate. Love to all. You
have been good and lovely wife.
SPAULDrNG.
The last note which he probably wrote, reads
as follows: 'sTake me to undertaking parlors.
Place me in a coffin just as am. Tell my wife
died with heart failure. If fail to die take
me to Receiving Hospital. Wife send no tele-
grams. Letters Will do.