The San Francisco call., 1897-01-05
LEFT SMALL EVIDENCE,
A Hat and Coat Labeled w. G.
Stuart Found on the
Ferry.
He Was Employed by Wells, Fargo
& Co, and May Hive Had
Business Difficulties

A brown overcoat and black derby hat
were found by captain Murphy of the
ferry steamer Bay City, lying on a seat
near the boats wheelhouse, at o'clock
last evening. The hat had pinned to 1t a
note containing the name of w. G. Stuart
ard the oit-quotcd phrase, MAY God
have mercy on my SOUL"
The find was turned over to the police
on this side of the bay as they are of The
opinion that another unfortunate has
committed suicide.
The boat OH which the suicide took
passage, if, indeed. suicide has taken
place, left the foot of Market street at 80
P. NJ. 1t arrived at the Oakland mole on
time.
Captain Murphy left the pilot-house
and was on his way to the lower deck
when he found the abandoned apparel and
the note. He Immediately concluded that
the owner of the property had taken his
life. and on his return to this City in
formed the police.
Nothing was found in the overcoat by
which its owner could be identified. The
pockets contained bunch of keys, a
pair of lady's kid gloves, a linen handker-
chief. wooden package-holder and an
English thumb dictionary. Across the
front of the dictionary was written the
name Merrifield
The Oakland police were informed and
are working in cooperation with the San
Francisco department and hope TO clear
up the mystery i'll a short time.
OAKLAND, CAL, Jan. 4.-The w. G.
Stuart who resides at 460 East Twelfth
street had not returned home at mid
night, and his family were anxiously
waiting for him. They knew of no reason
Tor his absence, for he is as punctual as a
clock, and was never known to remain
| away from home before.
II have heard of the things found on
the ferry boat" said Mrs. Stuart tonight,
"but cannot believe that they belong to
nv husband. / ain at a total loss to ac-
count for his absence from home tonight,
as it is the first time III our married life
that such a thing has occurred.
1 think it impossible that he
can have done anything so desperate
as suggested by those things found on the
boat. He wore black derby hat and a
brown overcoat when he left home this
morning. but to neither of them was his
name attached. He never carried band
in his hat with his name OIL. There has
never been any trouble OF any kind and
he was never respondent. He was
a most devoted man to his family
and never spent mis- evenings away from
home. He has been chief clerk of the au-
for several years and we have lived here
five years. During all that time he has
come home regularly till tonight. How
ever, cannot believe he has committed
suicide; it would be so unlike him to ever
think of such step.
This morning he sent me q postal Or
der from the city, and with it letter con-
tanning many terms of endearment. In it
he expressed fear that something might
happen before long, and said he was not
able to meet small bill. / have not the
letter here, but in spite of its contents
expected him home tonight"
Mrs. Stuart was greatly excited Will e
telling her story, and although she ex-
pressed SO much confidence in her hus-
band S return it.was very plain to see that
her hopes did not justify her words. She
gave indications during her conversation
OF knowing much more than she was will
Ing 10 tell, but she admitted Indirectly
that her husband seemed to anticipate
some trouble.
1t was learned positively that the letter
referred to contained direct intimation
that the writer intended to end his life by
jumping off the o'clock ferry boat.
Mr.. Stuart is 40 years of age, and has a
family OF two boys and two girls. He
was m arried sixteen years ago, and PRIOR
to coming to Oakland he lived in San
Francisco. He carried life insurance of
S20O0