The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20
Wrote His Wife a Letter Saying
He Was Tired of
Life,
LOST A FORTUNE IN TACOMA.
II Is Presumed That His Financial
Condition Led Him to Take
His Life.

Edward A. Hatherton, who was for ten
years City Architect, has been absent from
his home since March L. and in conse-
ouence his wife is almost distracted, as
she has reason to believe he has ended his
life.
For many months prior to his departure
from home he had been respondent. He
frequently intimated to his friends that he
was tired of life and intended to do away
with himself. No heed was paid to his
threats, however, until few days after his
disappearance, when his wife, fearing the
worst, began to make anxious inquiries
about her missing husband.
She appealed to her friends to assist her
III locating him, but after futile search
they have sought the aid of the Police De-
partment.
Mrs. Hatherton and her friends are
strongly of the belief that the missing
man has committed suiciae and they have
been daily calling at the Morgue hoping,
yet fearing, that possibly Hatherton's body
might be identified among the unknown
dead received there. The Coroners of the
adjoining counties have also been notified
of his disappearance and furnished with a
description.
On the evening of February % Hather-
ton left home at the usual hour for his
office. He babe his wife the customary
good-by and appeared to be in unusually
good spirits. He did not return that night,
however, and he has not since been seen.
Next morning Mrs. Hatherton, who had
grown uneasy over the strange absence of
her husband, reported the fact to her
brother-in-law, George H. Winterburn,
and the latter paid visit to the office and
also at the home OF Hatherton's partner,
Thomas G. Ross. hoping to learn some
thing concerning his whereabouts.
In the afternoon of the same day Mrs.
Hatherton's worst fears were all but real
lied when she received a letter through
the mail from her husband stating that by
the time it reached her he would be dead.
He said he had tired of life and could not
longer stand its existence and its cares
This fact recalled to the wifes mind that
on the morning her husband left the
house for the first time in many months
he took his revolver with him. As Hath
erton had frequently said if ever he COM
mitted suicide he would carry out his
tate burial the wife is of the opinion
that he has sought some secluded spot and
ended his life with pistol ball.
Hetherton has been known as one of the
most prominent architects in this City for
over twenty years. His ell-established
aDlIlty resulted IN MS De1ng CHOSEN Clty
Architect to succeed August Laver about
seventeen years ago and he held that
responsible position for about ten years.
When Tacoma was in the height of its
building boom about five years ago Hath
erton went to that city with hopes of bet
tering his financial condition. He
remained there until about eighteen
months ago. Good fortune for awhile
favored him and he invested heavily
in real estate, but when the inan-
cial calamity, which was experienced
all over the Northwest, came, Hatherton
became deeply entangled with his invest
ments and lost about $50, 600. He then re-
turned to this City and Joined with Thomas
G. Ross in establishing a local business,
and lately the firm has been doing quite
well. The day he disappeared the firm
was awarded two big contracts which
would have placed Hatherton in comfort
able circum stances.
Hatherton, however, did not appear to
consider his growing business, and con-
tinued to brood over his losses in Tacoma,
and it is believed by many of his friends
that this fact probably caused him to con-
template suicide.
Hatherton is an Englishman by birth
and about 60 years of age. He was feet
IL inches in height, wore a short gray
beard and was man who would attract a
second glance from any passerby. When
last seen he was attired in a gray tweed
suit. He wore a plain gold ring on his left
hand and gold watch and chain.