The San Francisco call., 1898-12-08
DEATH PREFERRED TO
 PERSISTENT CUNNING
ARTIST sHRADEE SLAsHEs HIS
 THROAT WITH A RAZOR.
After Going Through Insolvency He Tries to Pay His Debts and,
 Failing, Tries to Die.

ALAMEDA. Dec 7.-Weary of an un- equal struggle against multiplying imam cial msfortunes and inability to endure the persistent bowling of unreasonable creditors, Frederick Charles Shrader, lithographic artist of considerable repu- tation and a prominent citizen of this city, attempted at an early hour this morning to end his earthly troubles by drawing the keen edge of razor across his throat. Fortunately his hand was not steady and the steel did not cut deep. Two superficial wounds are the only re- suit of the mans rashness.
 Shrader reached his home, 3SS Centrai avenue, about midnight. He made prepa- rations to retire, but instead of going to bed locked himself In the bath room and made the attempt at decapitation. Mrs Shrader thought her husband was acting strangely and made an investigation. When she found the bath room door locked and got no response rom Wltnln she called the neighbors to her assist ance and sent for Officer Lawrence. The policeman broke in the door and found Shrader covered with blood, standing in the middle of the room, brandishlnS the razor and threatening to carve the nrst man who approached him.
 Lawrence succeeded in OverpoWer1ng him. although he fought like demon. It was found necessary to handcuH hlm before he would allow a physician to dress his wounds.
 Shrader was taken to the Receiving Hospital in Oakland this forenoon. To- morrow he will be examined by the Lu- macy Commissioners. Shrader lost com fortabe little fortune in Kern County land transaction. With the financial crash went his homestead in Alameda. Being forced to the wall he filed petition in insolvency and was granted his final dis charge about year ago. Later his cred itorS prevailed upon him to give notes for the amounts the court had relieved him from paying. The notes are now falling due and the holders have been press ing him for payment.
 T was driven to this by being bounded by my creditors" said the injured man at the Receiving Hospital this afternoon, but l am sorry now for what 1 did and realize that my death would not nave helped matters. 1 was doing my best to pay these men and hope they will appre- ciate 1t some day
 Shrader refused to give the names of his creditors. He has a wife and four little children.
 Nearly Crushed in an Elevator.
 ALAMEDA, Dec. Lotto Morgan, who resides on Buena Vista avenue, Alameda, had a miraculous escape Tuesday from being crushed to. death in an Oakland freight elevator. Morgan was going up in the elevator of the establishment where he is employed and was between the sec ond and third story, when he leaned der his weight and he fell between the elevator and the wall Fortunately, there was window at the point and the eleva- tor squeeed him through the panes. As soon as the elevator passed him he threw himself across the elevator shaft and fell on the second floor of the building. MT. Morgan was severely bruised, besides be- ing cut with glass on the head and arms.
 Alameda News Notes.
 ALAMEDA, Dec. 7.-Halcyon Parlor No 146, N. s. G. w., entertained its lady friends last evening at Foresters' Hali. The programme rendered was as follows: Mandolin and guitar duet Misses Alice Agar and Florence Boyle: vocal selection, Miss Atkins; violin solo, Julius A. Haug: reading, F. Cook Caldwell; selection, R. $. Duncan.
 Pacific Hose Company No 4, of the Ala meda Volunteer Fire Department has elected the following officers: A. V Fish CT, foreman; F. E. Fort, first assistant foreman; E. A. Messner; second assistant foreman; J. Fl. Whittich, secretary; A. Stranz, treasurer.
 The Red Cross Society of Alameda has made arrangements to ship free of charge Shrlstmas packages to the members of Company of this city, now stationed at Vancouver Barracks. Packages will be received at Red Cross headquarters in the Postoffice block, the afternoons of Decem- Der IA and 15