The San Francisco call., 1896-07-25

235 Post street after leaving the Orpheum, |
and that within fifteen minutes after Mr..
Hug and his company left the tragedy
occurred.
DR.. Farrell says he asked Miss Head If
she had touched the man after he shot
himself and she replied in the negative.
II examined her hands and clothing"
said the doctor, "and found no blood
stains. There were no signs of a struggle
apparent. Mr.. Stetson's clothing was not
disarranged or disordered. She was too
much excited to give clear account of
what occurred. She and Stetson were
alone"
Charles Hug, who was interviewed yes
terday afternoon, told this straightforward
story:
II met AL Stetson last evening nd asked
him TO dine with me. At first he declined,
saying that he was not feeling well and
had not eaten anything that day. Then
said You must come and eat something.
l won't take no for an answer. Come
with me to the Pup and dine At dinner
we drank only claret- We decided after
dinner to go to the Orpheum. [ should
say it was $3.50 when we went in. The
first act or scene was on when we entered.
"Stetson saw Amy Head there in one of
the boxes. Perhaps he knew she was go
ing or received word at dinner to that
effect He excused himself about 10
O'Clock, saying, L must leave you now
When left the Orpheum l saw him talk
ing with Miss Head and others. Later on,
little after IL O'clock we met again at
the Colum bia-Green's, on Powell sire ct.
asked him to take drink and we had
one drink. Then we all walked up Powell
street to Geary-Miss Head, Mr.. Stetson
and myself. We parted there. 1 went to
my home on Sutter and Cough streets,
and 1 supposed they went to 235 Post
street.
1.-The next heard was summons from
Jimmie. the hackman, who stands there
at the corner of Grant avenue and Post
street. near the Bohemian Club. He had
his carriage to take me to the room where
Al Stetson had shot himself. Miss Head
was in the carriage. but she was so much
excited that she could not give clear ac-
count of what had taken place. 1 asked
her if she had called a physician. She
said no, but that there was doctor in the
building-Dr. Farrell. We reused him up
aDd had him go upstairs. Stetson was
| lying on the floor, but was still living.
The pistol lay at his feet. did not
touch it."
Charles Hug does not entertain the
slightest idea that Mr.. Stetson committed
suicide. 81 would be willing" said Mr.
Hug, ''to take my oath that AL Stetson
did not shoot himself purposely. 1 fancy
that be was fiourishing the pistol in a
playful manner to make the girl believe
that he was desperate, and when he
| placed the weapon to his head, supposed
that all the cartridges had been ex-
tracted.
"There was nothing to prompt him to
take his own life. He had not suffered
business reverses or disappointments of
any kind. He was cheerful and happy as
usual during the evening. aud mentioned
after dinner that he felt unusually we'll. !"
"How much time intervened between
the shooting and your arrival at the room
235 Post street?'
81 should think half hour" replied
Mr.. Hug. Eyes, Mr.. Stetson must have
been lying there alone during that time.
DR.. Farrell was not called until 1 called
him. Miss Head did wake another man
in the building to get assistance, but he
declined to respond, advising her to get
one of Stetson's friends. She then sent a
hackman with carriage for me. Yes, we
drove rapidly. DR.. Farrell responded as
soon as we notified him. Afterward ]
went out to summon Stetson's cousin,
William Wheeler, and DIR. Morse. Stetson
died while was out. Grove P. Aver was
also summoned. We carried the body
down the stairway to the Morgue wagon.
1t was very heavy and took all Of Us to
carry it,"
It would appear from DR.. FarrelI's own
statement that he was summoned imme.
diately after the shot was fired, but the
clearer narrative by Mr.. Hug shows con.
clusivelv that Mr.. Stetson lay in the room
bleeding and unconscious for at least a
half hour. If consciousness returned to
permit him to speak no one was present
to hear him and note his utterance.
A gentleman who was well acquainted
with Mr.. Stetson at once put aside the
theory of suicide.
II knew him very we'll" said he, 'and
knew that he drank occasionally, but he
did not drink 20 excess. He had no bust.
ness reverses to mourn over. His affairs
so far as know. were in good shape, and
his prospects in life promising.
ne was interested Win BULLOCK, an
Eastern man of some wealth, in an enter
prise looking to the construction of rail
road to the Yosemite Valley. Bullock hac
been the builder of railroad near Phoenix
Ariz., which did not prove remunerativ,
and it was contemplated to take up tn,
rails OF the Arizona road and use them on
the Yosemite road.
Perhaps Mr.. Stetson expended $4,000 o.
$4,000 in surveying and obtaining tn.
right Of way for the proposed railroad
When the San Joaquin Valley road wa
started Mr.. Stetson worked awhile in get
ting subscriptions for the company anc
also made some collections. He did gooe
work.
Eyes, he was capable, intelligent ant
clear headed man. He was not embar
: rassed by business difficulties so far as
know. and / knew him quite we'll. He
was the last man TO think of committing
suicide, and I am confident that he dit
not take his own life deliberately. It was
| surely another and remarkable instanc,