The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-11
His Bruised Body Found on the
Cliff House Beach.
HE DID NOT COMMIT SUICIDE.
His Friends Fear He Had Been
Drinking and Fell Overheard.
A Brother Of James Brown Potter and
One of the Most Prominent Men in
,Tacoma-He Went to San Francisco
to Have a Good irne and Conducted
Himself Irrceularly There.

San Francisco, Feb f0-The body of
young man found on the sands of the
ocean beach below the Cl;G house on sun
day was that of H. Cranston Potter. of Ia
coma. In the back of his head IS a great
wound that cracked the skull for several
inches The bridge OF the nose 5 also cut,
and the forehead is a mass of hru ses.
Though the facial wounds may have been
caused while the body was being washed
upon the sands by the ocean waves, the
frsghtful wound in the head Is of such
nature that the friends of the deceased
who have viewed the remains believe that
Potter was murdered. IL was thought at
first that Potter had fallen from the clin
and been dashed TO death on the rocks be-
low. He was a large and heavy man,
weighing at least 100 pounds IL he had fall
len upon his head his skull would have
been broken and the wound would have
been sufficient 10 cause death. In that
event. however, there would have been
more than one deep cash; the whole top
OF the head would have been smashed in
The depth and extent Of the cut In the
skull of the deceased shows that II must
have been caused by great force. An iron
bar in the hands OF a strong man would
have made just such wound. Whether
ii be case of murder. which is suspected;
OF accident which may be probable, or of
suicide, which Is secuted by all Of Pot
ter's friends and acquantances, there IS
much mystery surrounding the manner in
which the young Tacoman met his death.
The first man TO identify the remains
was ID. @. McNaughtOn. a private de-
tective from Tacoma, who is in this city
on business. He read in a morning paper
a brief description of the personal prop
erty found on the body. Among the
/ trinkets was a small silver money case.
engraved ON which was the monogram
"H. G. p" In a notebook was found
card of Bryan's drug store, on the back OF
which was written Hicks, Tacoma In
front OF the name Hicks was another
which the water had obllterated Nc
Nsughton visited the morgue. ana on
viewing the remains at once noted re-
markable resemblance TO Potter. As
he thought the latter was IN
Tacoma, however. he was not
certain of Identification. The de-
tective returned home, and there
found copy of a Tacoma paper OF the I'd
inst. in which there was personal note
stating that III. Cranston Potter and a. u.
Hicks had gone on a pleasure trip to san
Francisco, having sailed on the wnaleback
Everett Then McNaughton returned TO
the morgue and positively idenuhed the
body. He telegranhed at once TO =. j.
Kershaw. of Tacoma. stating that young
Potter's body was in the morgue. Mr.
Kershaw wired McNaughton to arrange
with Thomas Watson, the grain broker OF
this city, for the shipment OF the BODY 10
the north. Watson received telegram 10
the same effect, and at once nad the re-
mains transferred 10 an undertaking estao-
lishment, whence they viii De sent 10 Ia
coma tomorrow morning.
H. Cranston Potter arrived in this city
on the 3d inst. with A. q. Hicks. broth
er of DR.. Hicks, who Is the family physl-
clan of the Kershaws and the Potters at
Tacoma The young men took separate
rooms at the Occidental hotel. As they
81 4faa NJ
knew but little of their movements. The
guests had only valises with them, and
seemed intent on enjoying themselves.
That they We're not always together. and
that Hicks knew but little of his friends
movements was shown by the fact that he
asked the clerks several times on his
return to the hotel If they had seen Pot
ter Hicks had intended 10 return to Ta-
coma on the whaleback last Thursday.
At that time, however, he had lost track
OF Potter, and wired his brother in Ia
coma to that effect. Evidently he did
not think his friend had met with mis-
adventure, for his telegram did not awak-
en- any alarm in the north
Hicks decided TO sail on the Nalla Walla
last Saturday morning. lie told the hotel
people that he expected TO meet Potter at
the Occidental that morning before the
hour of the steamers departure. As his
friend did not appear. Hicks left note for
him at the hotel counter in which Potter
was addressed as old man." and was
asked TO settle the account. Hicks assured
the clerks that Potter would doubtless be Ia
during the day and pay the bills, and then.
taking his valise, he boarded the steamer
and sailed for home. Just before going,
Potter's friend wired to Or. Hicks at Ia
coma. saying he had taken passage. and
that Potter was yet among the missing.
This dfspatch caused alarm at the missing
.r,z
20 several friends here 10 look out for him
Among these were Thomas Watson. the
grain broker
Watson knew Potter well. for ne had
done considerable business with the firm
of Kershaw & Co. OF which the deceased
was a member Potter had called upon
him several times since bis arrival here,
and on each visit had asked for money.
As he was financially good for any rea-
sonable amount Watson readily accom-
rnodated him, except upon the last occa-
sion when he lectured Potter severely.
on the afternoon OF Monday. the 81 inst,
the dav OF his arrival Potter called on
watson and borrowed s26. On Tuesday
he borrowed 81 more, and on Wednesday
he was again out of funds and once more
horr-evsed So He again called on Watson
.Iate on Thursday afternoon, and ask
81 for money They had long con-
verSation. which lasted unttl dark.
Mcarwhsle treF walked up California
street Watson noticed a woman standing
A. the corner. and thought she was wait
ing for Potter He accused Potter OF Inn
r8sinr on his friendship IL endeavoginE 20
borrow money for caroUsaL The young
man denied that ne was doing anything
improper. but Watson pointed out the wo-
man and SAID: "She Is waiting for you"
Again Potter denied the friends charge.
hflf subsequently he acknowledge that
the woman was a friend ~ his. and. CALI
ing her over. ne introduced her 70 Watson.
The grain broker told Detective McNaugff-
tor, tonight. 20 whom he eonflded ais ex-
y.a.~{e-7p. with Potter fsat ne could Identity
fhs woman Watson then ieft Potter. but
on Friday morning the latter called a. fhe
grain brokers' office for additional accom-
r,r.sasRnu watson showed reluctance 10
advance more funds but he says. Potter
tod hin ne had had no Breakfast. where
upon watson gave MIN small amount.
None of fsCtter's friends saw him oB ifs-
gaw nent. bat or Saturday afternoon 30
vss seen 60 Market street Mssh another
nan bv a boy uamaeS Hood whc knew he
4eeea Sed in Tacoma Where fns young
rnan went between Fr38ay morning snd
the hour vhen ne uaei MS death ls lsn-
known. The bs5y raj been N the @aser
cnsy a few ho8rs whsn sg WHs fgsfa8-
Notes fn lead perel on the pages -
notebook found IN the dead mans vest
vxera feefhle and the h0ok ssef haG Bez
received q very severe s2aEaR2- t-oszsss >
~atca was allied Nifa Faud. The erEsta4
VAS nntsssnx and the hands were gone q ne
only co.a found on tas body ~2s 1S-<sfis