The San Francisco call., 1896-02-12

Hicks came out to the Cliff House one
day last week, and had drink and then left
He saw Mr.. Potter again on last Friday after
noon, as he came into the barroom with
stranger. They had drink and then went
into the dining-room and had supper. and
after supper they drank quart bottle of cham
payne. After supper they came into the bar
room again and took another drink, and Pot
ter put down dollar ard the barkeeper placed
a 50-cent piece in change on the counter The
stranger picked up the change and said to Mr..
Potter, Here is your change" They seemed
to be very friendly, as though they had known
each other for long time.
The waiter who served them said that Potter
kicked over the table after he got through
drinking his wine and acted anything but
gentleman. Mr.. Pearson, one OF the proprie-
tors said he noticed Potter and the stranger at
the bar, and that Potter was drunk, but he
could walk all right. Every cent that the two
men spent was spent by Potter, the other man
paying Tor nothing.
When the barkeeper of the Cliff House said
to Mr.. Potter, "Here is your change Potter
back and said to him, THAT fellow is no good:
don't you trust him." Potter asked what time
he could get car to town, and 1 told him
When he came to the Cliff first it was between
8 and 4 O'clock and he left about 10 80 P. M.
While he was at the bar the first time he asked
meif would lend hlm 20, and | said, Eyes,
While Potter and the stranger were at the bar
they acted as friends. Potter took the strangers
watch once and put it on the bar and said: rs
to his friend.
The following is description of the man
with Potter: About feet 8 or 8; age about 33 !;
small mustache; black suit, with nice-ftting
cutaway coat. clean white shirt collar and
cuffs, gold link cuff buttons, dark red tie with
gold pin black derby hat. He carried q pair of
new tan gloves and acted and looked like q
gentleman.
After leaving the Cliff House we went to the
other road house, but could find no one who
had seen any one answering their description
either on Friday on Saturday. Respectfully,
EDWARD GIBSON,
NJ. WREN
Detective Officers
They will continue the investigation to-
day. In a conversation with Detective
Gibson he said they were unable to get
any trace whatever of either Potter Or his
Cliff House companion after they left that
hostelrv. He had heard that Mr.. Hood
had seen Potter talking to some one on
Market street at about noon on Saturday,
but it had been impossible to find Hood.
1t is the belief of Detective Gibson that
Potter never returned to town after he left
the Cliff House.
"Potter," he said, "evidently started to
catch the steam car which leaves the beach
south of the Cliff House after he had
missed the Sutro car. He was not too
drunk to walk, but was getting sufficiently
muddled 10 have missed his way and in
some way to have fallen into the water"
While Gibson is strongly of the opin ion
that Potter came to his death accidentally
he comedies there is probability of foul
play having taken place.
Captain Lees is more outspoken. He
saws he believes that Potter was so stupid
from drink that he lay down on the beach
near the water and went to sleep; that the
incoming tide caught him and that before
he could extricate himself in his drunken
condition he was drowned.
According to the statements made at the
undertaKers and at the Coroner's office
Detective McNaughton is mistaken as to
the character of the wound on the h cad of
the deceased. At both places the wound
is described as being merely one of the
scalp and which left the skull absolutely
intact.
The remains were shipped to Tacoma
last night by express and without being
accompanied by any one. Relatives will
take charge of them at Portland. however.
At least 100 people viewed them at the un-
dertaker's, mostly friends.
The inquest will take place tomorrow
morning. at 10 o'clock.
A strong circumstance tending to prove
the theory of accidental drowning is that
there had been no attempt TO despoiI the
unfortunate man, as his watch and chain
and other valuable jewelry and trnkets
were found upon him by the Coroner.
1t was stated on Monday by the cham
bermaid OF the Occidental Hotel that Pot
Ter had slept in his room at the hotel Fri
day night. She modified this statement
yesterday by saying that the bed had the
appearance Saturday morning of having
been lain upon. probably some time dur
ing Friday, but evidently no one had slept
in 1t, as the blankets were not turned back.
1t was learned yesterday that Potter car
ried a $1,000 accident policy, and that the
local agent OF the company in which he is
insured made an inspection of the remains
yesterday and left satisfied that death had
resulted from an accidental cause, viz. ::
from drowning, and he will SO report to
his company.