The herald., 1896-07-11
Marmaduke P. HiIand browns
Himself in Echo Park
REGRETTED WHEN TOO LATE
He Cries for Help but Life Is Gone Be-
fore II Arrives
Dr,ck and Despoodency the Causes - Had
Taken the Kelley Cure but Returned
to His Old Habits

The suicide epidemic Is again raging,
and yesterday saw another added TO the
list of unfortunates who, wearied or lie
and its sorrows, sought the quickest
method of relief. A little after o'clock
in the morning the body of Marmaduke
Pierce Hiland, a well-known insurance
agent of this city, was recovered from
the waters of the lake at Echo park, into
which he had a few minutes before
thrown himself on self-destruction bent.
About 4:4O o'clock John H. Reynolds,
the carriage merchant, whose residence
stands on hill close by Echo park lake.
was awakened by cries for help coming
from the water. and, jumping up ana
looking out of window, saw the form
of a man struggling In the lake ABOUT
fifty feet from shore. Hastily puliing on
his trousers, without waiting to dress
further Mir. Reynolds ran out OF TN"
house and around to the boathouse on
the edge of the lake, where he procured
a skiff and rowed to the spot.
He found the drowning man had ceas-
ed to struggle by the time he reached
him, and was floating face downward
on the surface of the water. Tne pody
was quickly dragged ashore, but life was
extinct, or at least SO Mr. Reynolds anu
Hiram Speh thought. Speh is Herman
who has charge of the lake and boats
and had been attracted to the spot by tue
cries Although the man had been IN
the water but ten minutes from the time
the first cries were heard, and he was
seen struggling, they considered MN
dead, and made no attempt at reSuscl-
tation.
On the shore near by lay the suicides
coat, vest, cane and paper bag con-
tanning eggs. The body proved to be that
of NJ. p. Hiland, residing at 1916 Court
street, and a note hastily written on the
back of a large MANILA envelope which
was found in one of the pockets showed
conclusively that he had jumped in to
end his existence. 1t read as follows:
Dear Anna: / expected this would
end it, but 1 could not help it, All I've
got is yours. Kiss baby for me. Oh,
how l love her."
This note was evidently intended for
his wife Anna, and the baby referred 10
is the youngest of his four children, three
girls and a boy the eldest 16 and the
baby not quite years old. 1t was writ
ten in clear, legible hand, although
evidently done hurriedly. and was the
only explanation left for his deed. The
coroner was notified and had the body
removed to Kregelo q Bresee's. where
an inquest was held later in the FORE
noon.
Hiland was 81 years of age, native of
Illinois, and son-in- law of John Char
ter, a wealthy resident of this city, whose
daughter he married when quite young.
For some years the couple resided on u
ranch at the mouth of san Gabriel can
yon, between Azusa and Duarte. Final
| ly Hiland moved into the city and took
| the general agency OF several insurance
| companies, having his office in the VIII
| son block at First and Spring streets.
| About three years ago he began drink
| ing heavily, and his wife's parents turn
| ed against him on account of his dlsso-
| lutte habits. and endeavored to get their
daughter TO leave him. He took the
| Kelley cure and for a time was all
| right. Then, having tevere attack Oh
| the grip one day, while at Santa Monica,
he took glass OF whisky, which did the
| work and he once more became slave
| to drink. AT last drink caused him to
| lose his position as agent of the insur-
| ance companies and he became despond-
ent, possibly thinking that, with him out
Of the way, his wife and children would
| be looked after by her father better than
| ne had been able to do.
| Mrs. Hiland said he left home Thurs
| day morning feeling quite well. which
| was the last she saw of him until she
| viewed his corpse on a slab in the
! morgue. He was seen by acquaintances
on the street at different hours Thurs
| day during the day and evening, and
| had been drinking heavily. No one saw
| him go toward the lake, and it was evil
dent that, after he had once waded in
| and got beyond his depth. he changed
| his mind and yelled Justify for help,
! which arrived too late.
| At the inquest the testimony of his
wife, Mr.. Reynolds, Hiram Speh. and his
| business associate, A. r. Hamilton, was
taken. the jury returning a verdict of
| suicide by drowning. When Mrs. Hiland
was led into the room where the body of
her husband lay, a most affecting scene
| ensued The poor woman threw herself
| on the inanimate form and her piteous
| cries and appeals to the dead were heart
| rending. She was with difficulty led
| from the room, and is completely pros
| trated by her sudden bereavement