The San Francisco call., 1898-02-02
SUICIDE OF MINISTER
 THOMPSON The Santa Rosan Ends His Life w hiIe
 Deranged. . Sewers His Jugular= Vein. With a Large Bowie
 Knife. Disease of the Ear Believed to Have Affected His
 Brain. ::
MOURNING IN soNoMA.
A PopuIace Grieves Over the Sad
 Taking of of the Popular "
 Statesman. 7
Special Dispatch to The Cali.

SANTA ROSA, Feb. 1.-HOn. Thomas L. Thompson. late United States Min ister to Brazil, Representative in Congress from this district, Secretary of State under Governor Stoneman and who for almost thirty years, un- til the disposal of the property a few months ago to Finley, Dunbar & Rich ards, was editor and proprietor of the Sonoma Democrat, published in this city, committed suicide at his home on Mcdonald avenue this morning
 The act was committed with large bowie knife. a souvenir that for twen- ty-five years had been in the family, and the details are narrowing in the extreme. The cause of the suicide, news of which spread like wildfire. and came as a shock to the entire commu- nifty. was undoubtedly temporary in sanity induced by imaginary business troubles and augmented by physical infrmities !
 For the past few days the family had noticed that MT. Thompson did not appear in his usual good spirits. and by different methods they attempted to cheer him up. but without avail Mrs. Thompson thereupon sent word to her brother-in-law Robert A Thomp- son, who was in San Francisco. that her husband was not appearing as well. as he should, and: requested him to come to this city to see him. Robert A arrived last night The even ing was spent in the family's usual manner, Mir. Thompson and his brother remaining talking beside the fire un- til quite late. Upon his retiring MT. Thompson seemed to have regained his usual spirits, and < this morning at. breakfast nothing was noticed in his actions that caused the slightest sus-. picions. In fact. he. seemed to have. regained his usual health and feelings completely.
 Upon arising from. the breakfast ta-: ble MT Thompson was accompanied by. his wife and brother to the. foot of the stairs, where he left them for a moment and stepped up to the sec ond floor and entered the bathroom door, A"few moments afterward Miss Frances Thompson, hearing a strange. sound, arose from the breakfast table and went toward the bathroom, from which the sounds seemed to come. thinking perhaps some one was i'll. As she opened the door she was con- fronted by her father who had been turned. toward the door. as he heard his daughter approach. And there a ghast-. ly sight met her eyes.
 MT. Thompson, with his clothing cov- cred by blood which spurted from an uns1ghtly gash in his throat, the drip ping bowie-knife with which the deed had been. committed gripped tightly in his outstretched hand, staggered to- ward her. His object was apparently to close the. door, which he had reached just as she. pushed 1t wide open. Shrieking, almost crazed by horror at the sight, she. could not resist his ef forts and the door was closed in her face and locked. <;
 The family broke In the door at once but it was too late to save him. There he lay beyond all human aid In the middle of the floor in a pool of blood. ::
 Physicians were hurriedly summoned but their skill was not needed. The soon rushed in, anxious to be of assistance. Throughout the city the. news sped rapidly. and the avenue was soon lined with pedestrians bound in the direction of the residence Car riages containing prominent Masons, Odd Fellows, leading attorneys, bank CTS, newspaper men and many other friends of the deceased were soon drawn up in front of the house, their
 
 to the stricken family.
 The authorities came with the rest, and Coroner Young made his appear. lnce shortly after noon. This afternoon he body was viewed by the Coroner's ury but the verdict will not be re- turned nor the testimony of the. family. aken until tomorrow morning.
 Thomas L..=Thompson was native of. Kanawha County, Virginia Cnow West Virginia), and was born: May 31s* S38. When: F years of age ae entered! he office. of the West Vfrginfafl, pub= ished at. Chart erton,: and became ia : niliar With the printing business. ..:He. intended the Buffalo-:Acad- my. and: in= 1855 camesto. California by: way of .Panan1a.: Upon arriving :here le worked for. a short time at=the. eases n the San Franc Herald He was. ater appointed to a position: the San. Francisco Postoffice, and served: as: Jerk for two. years under the adn1in -- stration of CoIoneI.C. l.. Weller. He=i esigned this position in 1858 and re-en --#i aged in the newspaper. .busfness,ll hortly afterward marrying Miss Ma < ian Satterles, daughter :of:= Nvfllianli:j Judge of the District Court 2 f San Francisco. < :.:s ss.:: s:'= s: Fl
 In 1860 he purchased the sonolnal Democrat and located in Santa Rosa :. later. he sold and moved to Vallejo, J ut shortly afterward repurehased. hist aper and returned to this city, 1T
 Mir Thompson has served as, .Sec+:l etary of State under General Stone+ +I,t. t.,e