The herald., 1897-05-04
MiIIionaire's Sensational Taking
OFT at Saticoy
HE WAS Determined TO DIE
AN EPISODE OF HIS EARLY LIFE
CAUSES MENTAL TROUBLE
Had on Several Occasions Attempted
His Life-A Report That His Di-
vorced Wife Had Appeared
on the Scene

The sensational suicide Of E. w. Her
lreld the millionaire land owner, at his
beautiful country place three miles
northeast of Saticoy Ventura county.
on last Friday morning at o'clock Is
still the chief topic of conversation
among the residents of that and Santa
Barbara counties, where the deceased
was we'll and favorably known. The
Herald, in its issue of last Sunday morn
ing, contained brief announcement of
the suicide, and that has been the first
and only account yet published: for,
owing to some mysterious reason, rela-
tives have, so it is said, endeavored to
keep the matter from becoming public.
Notwithstanding their diligence the
facts have leaked out. and various sto-
ries are being told by his acquaintances
as to the reasons which caused him to
take his own life.
During the past six weeks it has been
observed that Mr.. Herrald's mind has
been greatly agitated for some un-
| kuOWH IedSOH, anu Ilc lS ICPOl tCd W
have acted strangely at times. Mrs.
Herald, who is woman of about 30
years of age and of charming appear
ance. became uneasy about her hus-
band, fearing that he was losing his
reason, and during the early part of
April she telegraphed for her parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. Harris, who reside on a
ten-acre orange ranch near Monrovia.
1 NJ -, I1 hN.-
of his daughter, and has been there ever
since. Mrs. Harris having Joined him
two weeks ago.
THE FIRST ATTEMPT
Relatives kept close watch over Mr..
Herald, as it was thought he might at
tempt suicide, but their vigilance was
of no avail. for on the morning of April
10, about 9 o'clock. one OF the ranch
hands had occasion to enter the large
barn and as he did so was horror strick-
en- to see his old employer hanging
from one Of the rafters with a rope
around his neck, seemingly lifeless. The
body was cut down and carried into the
house. Another employe mounted
horse and hurriedly went to Ventura.
and summoned DR.. c. L. Bard, who,
| in conjunction with DR.. Kelsey of Santa
Paula, who had also been sent for,
worked over the old mans weak form for
several hours. and finally succeeded in
resuscitating him. The physicians kept
the matter very quiet, and the family
and ranch hands impaired the informa-
ton to neighbors and friends that Mr..
Herald had been stricken down with
apoplexy, but that he would recover.
1t is said similar report was telegraph
ed to his brother, Hon. f. B. Herald,
a wealthy banker, residing at Fort
Worth, and one of the most prominent
men of North Texas.
Mrs. Herald saw that her husband
was determined to kill himself, and ac-
cordingly gave instructions that every
cartridge and shell about the place be
hidden. In few days Mr.. Herald was
able to walk around his ranch, and one
day the following week he went down to
Saticoy and sat in front of the postoffice
for several hours, talking with his
father-in-law, and at the same time ex-
hibited large bundle Of papers, thought
to have been deeds, notes, mortgages,
etc. His actions were very peculiar, and
those who saw him supposed he was
alarmed and apprehended danger.
USED A SHOTGUN
AS time passed he was thought to be
gradually improving and hopes were en-
tertained that he would soon be free
from dependency. but on last Friday
morning shortly after o'clock the entire
household were shocked upon hearing
the report of shotgun, as the full mean
| ing instantly flashed through their
] minds, and a few minutes later they
| fr11 hn
lionaire in the barn. In some manner
he got hold of two shells which were
loaded with No. 8 shot, and putting them
III double -barreled shotgun he placed
the weapon in front of him and pulled
tie trigger the contents of one of the
shells entering his abdomen, lacerating
that portion of the body in a horrible
manner, causing almost instant death
Coroner Baker of Santa Paula was no.
titled and arrived about noon with jury
to hold an inquest, but, If reports are
true, the coroner at first met with nc
little difficulty, as some. of the relatives
were not inclined to relate any of the
circumstances concerning the suicide
but upon being threatened with arrest
they gave sufficient information to ena-
bic the jury to return verdict that the
| deceased came 10 MS Qeatn as q reSuiI
Of gunshot wound inflicted by himself
The interment took place at Santa Pau.
la on Saturday afternoon.
SOME PECULIAR FACTS
There are many rumors afloat as to the
cause of the suicide. One Is that Mr.
Herald was in financial straits and that
he was about to lose a large amount OF
property because a note held by Ven
tura bank was about due. This is hard
" possible, as his brother at Fort Wortl
has plenty Of money at his command
and as the brothers were much devoted
to each other assistance would have
come from Texas on an hours notice
r. requested Another cause assigned Is
domestic difficulties. 1t is said that Mr.
Herald. on account of his old age, hao