The herald., 1896-06-30
SAN BERNARDINO
Inquest on the Body Of Suicide WingfieId.
Citv Notes


SAN BERNARDINO, June 29.-The
coroner's inquest over the body of G. A.
Wingfield was held this morning by Cor
oner Heating, and the verdict was of
course that Wingfield died from the ef-
fects of poison elf-administered. The
body was inferred at 9 o'clock last night,
1t being in such an advanced state of de-
composition that this was necessary.
In accordance with the request made
in the letter to Judge Otis, the latter will
cable to London, England, this evening,
conveying to Wingfield's brother the
news of the suicide. This request was
made conditional on the body being
found and identified.
All features of the suicide go to show
that it was the most deliberately planned
affair of the kind which has ever been
known here. The cause of it was no
doubt worry over financial affairs.
Wingfield was man of considerable
property few years ago but in one way
and another It had grown smaller, his
investments all proving unfortunate and
he finally found himself almost without
resources. 1t was then that he began
planning for his death.
The searching party which was organ
lied to look for the body was the largest
one that ever left this city. special
motor train was run for the benefit of
where Wingfield was last seen with al
most 150 men on board. Arriving at the
destination the men were divided into
squads of ten each and worked under
captains appointed among their num-
bers. They formed line, the men being
separated twenty feet from each other
and worked towards a center. The
party had only been out one hour and
thirty minutes when the body was dis
covered. Wingfield had left the motor
and travelled into the bed of the Santa
Ana wash and from there followed the
windings of a small stream of water for
q distance of two and one half miles.
Stopping at pool he took the poison,
washed it down with water, repaired to
dense growth of underbrush and laid
himself out with his arms folded across
his breast and his hat pulled over his
eyes. The two-cent piece which he men
toned in his letter as means of identi-
fication was found hung around his neck
with new string. The body was at
once brought to this city on the special
train.
COUNTY CONTRACTS LET.
At the regular meeting Of the board Of
supervisors this morning, contracts for
furnishing supplies to the county were
awarded to the following bidders. all Of
them being in San Bernardino: Burial
of indigents, Aldridge Bros; drugs, A.
dolph Anker; shoes and dry goods. S. &
E. Livingstone; groceries, A. M. Ham;
meat. r. F. Garner.
The board also elected E. H. Joliffe of
Ontario and w. F. Bliss of Cotton MEM
bers Of the county board of education,
each succeeding himself on the board
DIR. A. Thompson was re-appointed
county physician and DR.. G. A. Rene
county health officer for the year begin
ming July 1st.
A communication was received from
the Republican county central commit
tee containing the resolutions adopted at
a recent meeting of the committee with
reference to certain county offices which
are now combined and held by one
onicer. The offices Of clerk, auditor and
recorder are now held by ]. w. Diss,
while that Of treasurer and tax collector
are held by Truman Reeves. The COM
mittee urges on the supervisors the ad-